SOMETIMES a car just feels right from the moment you step into it - exactly what you were hoping for to the point that it surpasses expectations.

Not something that happens very often to be fair, but it was certainly the case with the ninth generation Volkswagen Passat, now available only as an estate model.

Volkswagen has had plenty of time to perfect the Passat as it has been around since 1973, selling more than 34 million examples and scooping more than 100 awards worldwide in the process, making it the second best-selling VW model behind the Golf.

The latest versions are without doubt the finest yet - large, sleekly designed, beautifully engineered and extremely practical.

And its prowess extends beyond business and everyday family motoring as the Passat has also recently been crowned the Caravan and Motorhome Club towcar of the year for 2026 in two categories and described by judges as ‘overwhelmingly' the overall winner.

Four different powertrains are avalable to UK buyers - three of them hybrids - and our 1.5-litre petrol variant was a plug-in hybrid in value-focused Black Edition trim.

Performance is more than adequate with 204ps of wallop on tap for a 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.1 seconds and a 19.7kWh battery adds an electric range of up to 77 miles.

It's engaging to drive too, feeling comfortable and nicely damped on all types of road with the bonus of a beautifully weighted feel from the steering as well as being confidently agile round country lanes - despite its length.

All models are dual-clutch automatics and all have paddle shift as well, with the DSG selector now on the right side of the steering column and both the indicators and windscreen wipers on the left stalk.

When it comes to interior quality and space the feel is premium and the accommodation top notch, especially in rear where there's room for three adults to avoid shoulder contact,

The seats too are well bolstered and heated both front and back while the usual cubbies, bins and slots for smaller items complement an enormous boot - 690 litres with the rear seats in place extending to a whopping 1,920 litres with them folded down.

While a 12.9-inch central touchscreen is included as standard our tested model featured the 15-inch version that comes within the Black Edition package and benefits from ChatGPT as part of the IDA voice control set-up.

Screens are fantastic for sat nav and simple functions but I still hanker after proper buttons and dials. That said, the Passat touchscreen is pretty straightforward and not too frustrating to use.

Useful features are standard across the range and include the likes of wireless phone charging, massage seats, a rear view camera, adaptive cruise control, drowsiness monitor and Park Assist Plus with memory setting.

But Black Edition, which replaced the R-Line eHybrid model last summer, adds stuff like metallic paint, rear tinted glass, 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, an assistance pack, head-up display and a Winter package for no extra outlay.

In a motoring world increasingly dominated by SUVs, the spacious, elegant Passat stands out more than ever before.