We say A dull but very spacious estate that delivers in all areas making it - with a sensible head one e of the best in its class.Performance Three turbocharged petrol engines are available with power outputs varying from 120bhp to 207bhp. There also a few BlueMotion diesel units present with 104bhp to 168bhp available. The biggest petrol engine, a 2.0-litre TSI, can move the estate from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 148mph.Emissions The BlueMotion diesel models come with various fuel saving features, which result in a combined fuel economy of up to 68.8mpg with CO2 emissions at just 109g/km.Driving Simple to drive thanks to its smooth handling and ‘comfort’ suspension set-up, the estate model does particularly well cruising on the motorway.Feel The more powerful engine with the Passat offer a lot of torque and responsive drive despite its high gearing. The ride itself however can suffer from bumps, while body control could be improved to.Space The five-seater estate can fit four adults comfortably; the middle rear seat is only really big enough for children. At the back the boot has a loading capacity of 523 litres when all the seats are up.Equipment Entry level S models bring some decent kit like air conditioning and alloy wheels. The higher spec SE trim adds some useful luxuries like automatic headlights, cruise control and Bluetooth.Price The Volkswagen Passat Estate is currently available from £20,605, with prices going all the way up to £27,770.Quality All the materials are good except for some of the hard plastic on the lower dash. The equipment provided is very reliable and the controls are clearly presented. Feels comfortable behind the wheel but tyre noise intrusion is noticeable and can be annoying.Safety Has loads of safety equipment both standard and optional. The estate comes with anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and fatigue detection system amongst many other things.Pros Its well equipped, boasts a polished exterior look, comfortable and roomy to sit in, engines are responsive, residual values are strong.Cons Conservative styling is unexciting, tyre noise intrusion, official economy figures may be hard to achieve.Alternatives Audi A4 Avant, Ford Mondeo Estate
