Volkswagen's latest Passat is something of an enigma. On the one hand it's very distinctive because there aren't many of them on the roads and on the other, well, it just blends in with traffic so easily that you?re unlikely to get noticed while driving in one.

We figure that those who buy them really don?t care about showing off. Their faces are already smug with the knowledge that they?ve bought a car that's cheaper than the outgoing Audi A4, offers comparable quality and yet it's sized closer to the Audi A6. Just delete the snob appeal.

Mario was the first one to claim this vehicle when it arrived late last year and many of us found it difficult to pry the keys out of his hand. Following his long sojourn with the car, Mario was impressed with many aspects of this car, including the smart interior with impressive space and large 565-litre boot (don't know how many bodies he put in there) and the responsive 2.0-litre TFSI engine that displayed minimal turbo lag.

After bonding with the car a bit longer, Mario did pick up some flaws, like the relatively heavy fuel consumption (even when the car's being driven sedately) and the over-sensitive throttle response that provides perhaps a bit too much boost when you're trying to feather the accelerator.

Russell was the first to clench this car from Mario's grasp and he emerged tickled by the Passat's overall comfort, making it a supreme commuter vehicle, and its turbo punch and good dynamic ability. On the other hand, he found the styling really boring, but was still kind enough to describe it as a GTI in a business suit.

Next it was Stuart's turn and he described it as the ultimate car for impressing the in-laws. But despite admitting it is clean cut and well proportioned, he also found the styling a bit staid. In every other respect, Stuart found the Passat almost impossible to find fault with, not because of his fetish for old Golfs, but because of its enticing interior and ultra-smooth engine and gearbox. He agrees that it's the ultimate commuting device.

Later on in the long-term test, it was my turn to try out the Passat and I must admit to being gob-smacked by the interior. When I saw the first pictures of the new Passat CC early this year, I was surprised by what I saw in the interior photo. This new 'four-door-coupe' version of the Passat had a completely new and far more exciting exterior design, but they hadn't touched the interior.

It made sense to me when I climbed inside our long termer, which has all the trimmings, including leather-covered sports seats and aluminium trim on the dashboard. Boy is it smart in here. This interior wouldn't be out of place in a car twice, if not thrice, the price. All the materials and fabrics look expensive and feel solid as granite and the design is definitely on the sporty side of things, even in the way the door linings descent downwards towards the driver.

I just couldn't help but wish I was actually driving the CC version and I wonder why they don?t just let that replace this conventional Passat altogether. I guess the CC won't be nearly as practical as this behemoth, and VW must have many family buyers relying on this Passat's size, so it must make sense to keep it.

Our Passat came in Sportline specification, which gets you stylish 17-inch alloy wheels, lowered sport suspension and interior gadgets like the electronic ignition key and automatic parking brake.

As a drive, the Passat proved satisfying, if unmoving. Our one might share its engine with the Golf GTI, but the extra size and weight robs a lot of the performance and agility you?d enjoy in its cousin. In fact, it's a full two seconds slower from 0-100, according to claims. The dual-clutch DSG sequential gearbox, which is the only transmission choice you get when buying the 2.0T, impressed us all with its smoothness and responsiveness.

Leave it in auto mode and it does what you want it to do with so little fuss that you barely notice the car has a gearbox.

While there is a tinge of sadness at the big Vee-dub's imminent departure, we are looking forward to its replacement, which looks so similar that Mario once mistook the two cars in a parking lot. Can you guess which car that is?