FOR its ninth generation, the Volkswagen Passat was launched exclusively as an estate car to satisfy the needs of buyers wanting a practical family model with carrying capacity to spare. There’s a hyb

£254,200 OTR/£282,000 as tested/£5,077 pcm WHY IT’S HERE: What has a hybrid makeover – and Mulliner buffing – added to the world’s best grand tourer? DRIVER: Ollie Kew TOPGEAR’S BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT

LONG BEFORE THE SUV explosion, estates were the go-to cars for families who prioritised comfort and interior room, but whose lifestyles required greater practicality than the usual saloon could offer.

AT FIRST GLANCE, the idea of a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid seems as logical as Mr Spock: zero-emissions motoring around town, and the efficiency of, well, a diesel car on longer drives. Why, then,

FIREFLY IS AN OFFSHOOT OF Chinese outfit Nio, due here in 26. You’ll be saying Honda E, as it’s electric and rear-drive and bears visual similarity if you cover the triple lights. Down the road it’s s

Lots of small changes bring out the inner Essex of Skoda’s supermini