THE new Passat - Volkswagen's most aerodynamic estate car to date - is now available to order in the UK priced from £38,400.

Its drag coefficient is just 0.25 - lower than many sports cars - helping with fuel economy and the car is larger than its predecessor measuring 4.917 metres long, 1.85 metres tall and with a wheelbase of 2.84 metres.

It sits on VW's MQB platform and comes with a completely redesigned digital cockpit which incorporates the latest-generation infotainment system as well as a new-look head-up display.

Maximum cargo capacity is now 1,920 litres.

The new Passat is available only in estate form and comes in three trims: - Life, Elegance and R-Line. All derivatives come with a six- or seven-speed automatic direct-shift gearbox as standard.

Versions with the 1.5 TSI 150ps mild hybrid engine are available now and new plug-in eHybrids with outputs of 204 and 272ps will join the line-up later in 2024.

The plug-in eHybrid drives combine a high-tech turbocharged 1.5 TSI petrol engine with a new 19.7 kWh battery which Volkswagen forecasts will offer a range some 60 miles on electric power only - turning the new Passat eHybrids into everyday all-electric vehicles for the majority of UK drivers.

The battery can be charged at AC points with 11 kW instead of the previous 3.6 kW, and both Passat Estate eHybrid models can be plugged in at rapid public DC points, with up to 50 kW charging capacity.

The mild hybrid comes with active cylinder management which deactivates the TSI engine when conditions allow, enabling the Passat to coast along with zero tailpipe emissions.

Range topping R-Line models will be priced from £42,830 with prices for the plug-in hybrid still to be announced.