IMPECCABLE build quality, neat and spacious interior, predicted residual value percentage of new price after three years or 60,000 miles in the 40s - we could only be describing a German car. Add words like 'sturdy' and 'reliable' to the description, and that German becomes a safe, sensible and solid Volkswagen.

Throw in 'practical', 'family' and 'lifestyle' and behold the Passat estate, a car designed to mix business with the pleasures of a suburban, upper medium class weekend. And with the latest generation Passat estates, that mix has been an entirely successful one. It may not have the biggest load-lugging capacity in its sector, but it's got more style than the average wagon and bags of snob value.

The new Passat's aspirational appeal and residual standing were boosted last year through poor availability, but VW informs us those problems are over - although buyers will still have to wait up to 12 weeks for a saloon and eight weeks for an estate. Estate prices start at ú16,410 on-the-road for a Passat S with a 1.6-litre 100bhp engine. Fleet favourites like the SE 1.8 20V manual with air-conditioning come in at ú18,900, and the SE TDI at ú19,215.

Our test VR5, fitted with the cracking 2.3-litre, 150bhp five-cylinder petrol engine, costs ú22,540 on-the-road, a P11D value (road fund licence and first registration fee excluded) of ú22,365. That's ú560 less expensive than a 2.4-litre-engined Audi A4 Avant (significantly cheaper when specifications are compared), and pitched below the admittedly supremely well equipped Vauxhall Vectra CDX V6 and Ford Mondeo Ghia X V6 in our basket of chosen rivals.