Volkswagen Passat Estate Sport 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr Car Review - March 2012

With a maximum power output of 138 bhp at 4000 rpm and torque figures of 236 lb-ft at 1750 rpm, the performance credentials of this vehicle are relatively strong for a family car. A top speed of 130 mph is more than acceptable for this class and combines with relatively fast acceleration capable of reaching 0-62 mph in 10.0 seconds.

Road and wind noise is audible within the car but not disruptive and the engine also performs fairly quietly. This makes the cabin a pleasant and comfortable place to be – especially when combined with the good range of in-car features offered as standard.

The car's exterior is fairly attractive and a practical option for a family car.

Standard equipment which comes fitted with this model includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in sat nav and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 compatibility.

Rear parking sensors cost an additional £425 whilst the interior can be upgraded to leather seats for an extra cost of £1,350.

There is plenty of adjustment available within the cabin for both the seats and the steering wheel and this means that finding the perfect driving position is fairly easy. The layout of controls is practical and well organised, making the car easy to operate, although the starting system can take a bit of getting used to for new owners.

The cabin also offers plenty of room for passengers making it a comfortable car in which to ride. There is plenty of leg and head room available to passengers in both the front and back and whilst the boot may not match the capacity offered by rival models it still offers a decent amount of room with a capacity of 603 litres with the seats up and 1,731 litres with the seats folded down.

The car has a good reliability record thanks to the strong reputation of the Volkswagen brand and the car also comes with a three year warranty for 60,000 miles to help offer additional assurance to owners.

Safety levels are also fairly high for the model with the car having achieved the top five star rating for overall safety in the NCAP crash test. This is thanks to an advanced safety kit which is fitted as standard with driver, passenger and front side airbags and an alarm and immobiliser all included.

Priced at £25,110, this model is a little expensive, but is still fairly competitive for its class. The car offers a good range of features for the money and is a wise investment, especially as resale values are strong with depreciation being limited.

In terms of efficiency, the car achieves 61.4 mpg. These strong levels of efficiency mean that owners do not have to worry about refuelling and carbon emissions are more than competitive for the class at just 120 g/km – putting the car into road tax band C. Insurance costs fall into bracket 21.