Volkswagen Passat

Not so with power distributed to all four wheels. Although the 4motion's 0-60mph time is half a second slower than the standard model's, the 10.4 seconds mark is more easily achieved with every wheel driven. But there are other sacrifices. A 43.5mpg economy figure is 5.5mpg less than the front-drive model's, and company car drivers will be hit by the higher emissions of 176g/km. That puts the new model in the 20 per cent tax bracket compared with the front-driver's 18 per cent.

The 4motion models go on sale in Britain this month, with the top-of-the-range Sport version expected to cost ΂£20,000, and the SE variant estimated to be priced around ΂£19,500.