Looking to lease a practical family car? I’d recommend the Volkswagen Passat

Family life can be stressful, from loading kids in and out of the back seats to loading up the boot for a family holiday. It’s important to pick the right car for the job, and you might default to looking for an SUV.

They do have their plus points. Many are roomy inside, and the taller body means you won’t be leaning down as much to fit those bulky child seats. However, if you’re looking for the most spacious family car then I don’t think you can beat an estate – the Volkswagen Passat is one of the best. Here’s why.

Why should you consider a Volkswagen Passat?

The main draw to this big estate car is practicality, because it’s truly palatial inside. The back seats offer acres of legroom and plenty of headroom, and the 690-litre boot is almost 40 litres bigger than a Volkswagen Tiguan’s, which you can think of as the SUV equivalent to the Passat.

It’s not only hugely practical, it’s also comfortable to drive. The seats are lovely, and the suspension does a great job of soaking up bumps in the road. The Passat is a phenomenal motorway cruiser as well, with minimal wind or road noise permeating the cabin.

I also think the interior is lovely. Everything is really solid and it feels posh. The ambient lighting makes it look more premium as well, and the driving position is spot-on. You can get nice and low if you prefer a sporty vibe, or jack the seat right up for better visibility.

Leasing a Volkswagen Passat: there are some great deals around

The thing which got me thinking about the Volkswagen Passat was the insane leasing deals available through Carwow at the moment.

At the time of writing, you can lease a Volkswagen Passat for just under £290 per month, and this is with £1,733 up front over three years with a mileage limit of 5,000 per year. Need to go further? You can up the limit to 8,000 miles per year for an extra £30 per month.

To put this into context, a 1.5-litre Cupra Leon hatchback will cost you in excess of £300 per month. So you’re paying £10 per month less for a much larger and more refined car.

And this deal isn’t on the bog-standard Passat either, it’s for the sporty-looking Black Edition. This car gets 19-inch alloy wheels, front sports seats, heated front and rear seats and adaptive cruise control.

This car is powered by the 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid engine. It has 204hp, and will do up to 78 miles on electric power alone. The hybrid gubbins does eat into boot space a bit though, because now you have 510 litres back there, 190 litres less than the petrol model. That’s still 20 litres more than a Tiguan PHEV though.

Volkswagen Passat alternatives

The Passat is a great estate car, but it’s not perfect. Here are three alternatives you could also consider, and each one is better than the Passat in one area.

Skoda Superb Estate: if you want a diesel

I’d usually recommend a Superb over a Passat because it offers even more practicality than the Passat, the option of a diesel engine, and it usually costs a bit less. But this deal on the Passat flips things around a bit, because it’s around £50 a month cheaper than the Superb at the moment.

Volvo V60: the stylish choice

The Volvo V60 is soon to be discontinued, but you can still grab a new one for now. While the Passat looks a bit drab, the V60 is a really stylish thing with a lovely interior. It’s just not quite as spacious inside as the VW.

BMW 3 Series Touring: the fun one

If you want to have some fun on a twisty road, the BMW 3 Series Touring is for you. It feels much more agile and responsive than the Passat, but it’s not quite as comfortable as a result.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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