I have had my own company for 20 years now and have always run BMW company cars for my reps, from 318is to recent 320ds. I have 20 reps and, one by one over the last two years, they have been choosing Passat CC GT 170 diesels over the BMWs, and I’m quite happy for them to change as I have had quite a bit of trouble from 320 diesels lately with turbos and electrics and grew tired of them always being in the garage. Conversely, a friend runs a fleet of 67 Passats on his company and has had very little trouble with them. I have been mightily impressed with the Passat CC and am considering one myself to replace my 530d, which has also given me trouble.

Being the owner of my company I would want the next spec of engine size or car size up and, being cost conscious in wanting diesel power, find it disappointing that Volkswagen has not installed the 3.0 TDI V6 engine into the Passat, which I believe sits on the same floorplan as the A4 that can have that option. It’s a beautiful looking car, the Passat CC and certainly gives a better impression to my customers than the (‘look at me’ pratty image of BMW) and I think it deserves the bigger engine to really be on the branch of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, who all offer big diesel engines, if I remember they did do a 2.5 V6 diesel in the previous generation Passat saloon. Surely with Volkswagen wanting to stand comparison with their illustrious rivals, a big diesel is a yes. Do you know of a more powerful model coming out?