VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0 TSI

Punchy yet frugal petrol four-pot provides a potential PHEV alternative

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When the latest VW Passat arrived in the UK, it had just a single engine option: a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid four-cylinder petrol. Adequate but not exactly in keeping with the idea of the executive express. A plugin hybrid version brought some improvement, and now there's an option for those who don't want a car with a charging port: a 2.0-litre petrol.

German Passat buyers have been able to chose this 201bhp engine from the start, as well as a 261bhp version with four-wheel drive and even a couple of diesels. But if 201bhp sounds something of a disappointment, a single plant of your right foot will confirm that it’s actually rather punchy.