The all new and rather unspectacular VW Passat is Germany’s automotive industrial complex answer to the vanquished Ford Mondeo. Whereas the Ford Mondeo personally sent me into a state of shock, the unspectacular VW Passat has consistently stood as the epitome of dependable engineering for the everyday consumer. It is the tank of the European car industry and now in its latest all-new generation the unspectacular VW Passat will only be offered as an estate, or Combi as they say in Germany.

Here are some essential highlights about the latest generation of the unassuming Passat. In the UK market, the unspectacular VW Passat offers a range of powertrain options, including a newly introduced 48-volt mild hybrid eTSI petrol engine and two innovative plug-in eHybrids with an electric range of up to 45 miles from a 19.7 kWh battery pack.

Additionally, there’s a TSI turbo petrol variant available. These powertrains deliver power outputs ranging from 150 to 272 PS, and all come paired with a direct shift gearbox (DSG) as a standard feature.

As for the interior, better materials have raised the Passat into the premium sector and Volkswagen has opted for an oversized digital infotainment system. The ergoActive Plus seats with a pneumatic 10-chamber pressure point massage function also offer a high level of travel comfort.

The new if rather unspectacular Passat can also optionally park independently and cover long distances in assisted driving mode. The wheelbase is now 50 mm longer which has increased rear legroom by 50 mm and a luggage compartment capacity of up to 1,920 litres.

The new unspectacular VW Passat will be launched in the first quarter of 2024, prices will be announced at the next scheduled PR release.