Volkswagen Passat Estate Sport 2.0 TDI (170ps) BlueMotion Technology 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The driving experience for this version of the Passat Estate is still a little bit disappointing when you’re on country roads, with a fair bit of body roll and an unsettled ride while cornering. The car is very competent on the motorway with a suspension that is generally comfortable and steering that is accurate and light, although it is a little lacking in feedback through the wheel. Adjustment in the driving seat and in the steering wheel does make it easy to get a comfortable driving position, but the seats are a little lacking in support.

The engine performance from the 2.0 litre TDI unit is very impressive, especially when you consider how efficient the car is too. Acceleration from 0-62mph happens in only 8.8 seconds, while the top speed of 139mph is plenty of pace for most drivers. The Passat Estate is in its element on the motorway, where the cabin is refined and calm, with the slightest hint of wind noise at high speed.

The lines of the Passat Estate have been smoothed and sculpted to avoid the look of a traditional estate car, although it is still fairly long and wide which is inevitable for an estate car. The front end is marked by the distinctive Volkswagen badge, and there is enough chrome detailing on the grille to make the front end good looking. Inside the dials light up nicely and the trim is generally quite good, but the plastics can be a little dull.

This top end version of the Passat Estate does have plenty of equipment included with the car, and features like satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity help to mark this car out as a premium model. Cruise control and climate control are also welcome features, but many people would expect for a car of this standard to benefit from leather seats as standard.

One of the major attractions of buying a Volkswagen is that it is a car that can be relied on to keep going and going, and the Passat Estate has a good reliability record. It is also safe to be behind the wheel of the Passat Estate, with the car having a wealth of driving aids to ensure the car is stable and accurate remaining under control at all time. Should the car become involved in a collision, there is also a good range of airbags to look after passengers throughout the car.

The Passat Estate is also practical to own, with a large boot that can be expanded by folding down the rear seats, although this is a little awkward to use. There is also plenty of space to be found in the cabin.

The list price for this Passat Estate is likely to be one of the sticking points for many people, with £26,250 a lot of money to pay for such a car.

The running costs are fairly competitive though, with the fuel efficiency a particular highlight. The 2.0 litre TDI engine has BlueMotion technology which helps it to deliver an average 60.1mpg. The larger engine also carries a higher insurance group meaning that premiums are likely to be higher than in other models, but the resale values do hold up quite well. The three year or sixty thousand mile warranty is complemented by a one year roadside breakdown assistance policy.