The eighth generation model made its debut at last October's Paris Motor Show, 41 years after the original. A massive 22 million Passats have been sold worldwide since 1973, of which 442,000 have found homes in the UK. And the latest one has recently been named Europe's car of the year for 2015.The new model is up to 85kg lighter than the previous model thanks to its innovative lightweight design, yet it has a longer wheelbase and more interior space.Both my wife and I drive Passats, and have done for several years, but the latest version really did impress. Available in five trim levels from launch: S, SE, SE Business, GT and R-Line, all offer a high level of standard features, with highlights including Post-Collision Braking System and mis-fuelling prevention on all.Currently only available with diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid GTE version with a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine and electric motor will follow in October, while a diesel Bluemotion model launched in the summer is expected to return an estimated 78mpg on the combined cycle.At first glance you may not think that much has changed on the new Passat compared to its predecessor, but take a closer look and you will soon see that it is sleeker and that bit more stylish.The bonnet has been lowered and the windscreen angled rearwards to give the front end a more sportier look, and from SE spec upwards the Passat gets an upmarket chrome window trim.I drove the mid-range SE Business two-litre TDI six-speed manual model, which is aimed at fleet drivers and targeted at taking sales from the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Mazda6 and Skoda Octavia, while its design, quality and style will put it in the same bracket as BMW, Audi and Mercedes.The main differences I saw between this model and previous versions are to the interior, which is packed full of technology and is of the highest quality.As with all Volkswagens the design of the dashboard is clean and clutter-free, while I particularly liked the full-width horizontal air vent, which gives the Passat an upmarket feel. As the model name suggests, the Business model is very business-like - ideal for those who are regularly making journeys up and down the country.All new Passats now feature an easy-to-use 6.5-inch central touchscreen with a raft of information available as well as DAB radio and Bluetooth. From SE Business trim upwards, navigation is standard.The new Passat is 2mm shorter than the previous model, but the onger wheelbase means interior space has grown by 33mm. When you're sat in the back there's plenty of leg and headroom, and two adults can travel in real comfort.One of the things I've noticed about Volkswagens I've driven in the past is that they're not the most comfortable on long journeys, but that's not the case here thanks to luxurious, heated Alcantara seats coupled and three-zone climate control.I put it to the test on a trip down to London and could have no complaints whatsoever. My wife chose one as her most recent company car as it was the sensible choice for a family saloon.But this one is much more exciting. As this version is lighter than its predecessor it is more agile and faster, and it's eerily quiet too, even at motorway speeds.The steering is first rate and it's quick off the mark too, while the six-speed gearbox is smooth and has a nice shift action.And then there's the all-important fuel economy. With a manual gearbox, the low-output 2.0 TDI emits 106g/km, while the 187bhp version only emits 107g/km – meaning both sit in the 17 per cent company car tax band, and will cost private buyers just £20 in Vehicle Excise Duty.MPG figures depend on which wheel size you go for, but the Passat's current engine range can currently manage up to 70.6mpg from the 1.6 TDI Manual. The least economical model in the range is the most powerful 2.0-litre diesel model with the DSG gearbox, which gets 52.3mpg. It's a safe car too thanks to numerous features.The model I drove started at just over £25,000 on-the-road, but the addition of several options including Harvard Blue metallic paint (£540), as well as keyless entry including hands free boot opening (£510) and Area view – front, rear and side cameras to provide a 360-degree exterior view of the vehicle displayed via the vehicle's audio system (£755) took the price up to just short of £30,000.
