These latest successes follow hot on the heels of wins in the New South Wales-based NRMA Best Car Awards and Sydney Radio Station’s 2KY awards for luxury cars.

Managing director for Volkswagen in Australia, Ewan Ramsay, said he was not surprised the Passat had picked up two more awards.

"Passat has won several awards in Europe against some quality competition and these recent wins show that it is proving to be just as successful in Australia," Mr Ramsay said.

The Volkswagen Passat was released onto the Australian market in March, extending VW’s range in Australia into the luxury car sector.

"This recent spate of awards signify how quickly it has been recognised as a true competitor in its class, and with the release this month of the wagon model, the Variant, it has clearly established its own niche in the prestige sector," Mr Ramsay said.

Jim Mathers from the RACQ’s The Road Ahead, and one of the judges, said Passat starts to impress from the showroom floor.

"The Passat drew praise for its on-road performance. Its strong, punchy engine was sensitive to throttle inputs, yet was refined in its delivery," Mr Mathers said.

"Gear changes in automatic mode were smooth and subtle, and the transmission’s performance remained a highlight when you moved to manual (tiptronic) mode. It was an easy system to use, and provided a more sporty approach to driving whenever you felt the urge."