Some years ago, after the end of the Cold War and (previous) Russian domination of Eastern Europe, the great but much devalued Skoda motor works – and the brand – was acquired by the Volkswagen group.

Volkswagen's Passat may have been dropped from the U.S. market following the 2022 model year, but it's still alive and well in Europe, and after sneaking a peek at the handsome new ninth-generation ...