The Passat is a comfy, high quality, spacious family car. Styling is handsome and overall it bears favourable comparison with more expensive executive cars. First class materials, lots of room and good levels of standard equipment and safety features. A 2001 2.0SE at £5,300 is great value and a 1.9S TDI 130 is just over £7,000 with a 50,000 mileage.

Alternatives: Vauxhall Zafira, Volkswagen Sharan