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The new Volkswagen Passat will cost from £18,470 when it goes on sale in January, rising to £26,955. Volkswagen expects the 138bhp 2-litre TDI diesel engine to be the biggest-seller; it will be available from £21,562 in saloon guise and £22,874 for the estate.

The handsome new Passat is slightly larger than the model it replaces, but the increase in size doesn't make for a much bigger cabin. The interior has seen a raft of improvements, with new dials and a host of trim finishes similar to those in the manufacturer's flagship Phaeton saloon.

Petrol options include 160bhp 1.4, 160bhp 1.8, 210bhp 2-litre and 300bhp 3.6-litre V6 engines. However it's the diesels which are expected to account for the majority of sales, and all versions come equipped with stop/start and battery regeneration systems.

The most efficient is a 1.6-litre TDI which, when fitted in the Bluemotion model will return 68.8mpg - with a theoretical range of 1,000 miles - while emitting 109g/km of CO2. This makes it one of the least-polluting models in its class.

A pair of 2-litre TDI diesels will also be available, producing 140 and 170bhp. Most engines can be specified with a manual gearbox or Volkswagen's excellent DSG automatic.

Three trim levels will be available, and the cars have benefited from a round of specification upgrades including an improved sound-system, navigation and Bluetooth facilities. Range-topping versions also gain touch screen sat-nav and a driver fatigue detection system.

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