RECOGNISABLY PASSAT(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 50

The ninth generation Volkswagen Passat comes only as an estate, with a more spacious interior and a premium-style cabin. There's a more sophisticated MQB Evo platform, a new era of media connectivity and the option of a PHEV powertrain that might encourage you to put off that switch to EV.

Background word count: 179

Mindful of European government and consumer indecision when it comes to the impending switch to EVs, Volkswagen has granted a stay of execution to its traditional combustion model lines. Which is why we still have a Golf as well as an ID.3, a Tiguan as well as an ID.4 and, as in this case, a Passat alongside an ID 7. The brand can't continue to invest in development of the old badges as it once did though, which is why this ninth generation Passat shares everything under the skin with the fourth generation Skoda Superb that's built alongside it at VW's plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. It also has something to do with the fact that you can only now have your Passat as an estate. You can see why Volkswagen was unwilling to let the Passat nameplate go just yet. A part of the company's line-up since 1973, it's racked up over 30 million sales. Though its days of big production volumes are over, there's still plenty here to please model line loyalists in this, the largest Passat yet.