Never heard of a Passat Variant? That’s because this is the first time Volkswagen has put it on sale here.

SINGAPORE — Volkswagen has put the Passat Variant on sale, the first time a wagon version of its mid-sized exec car has been available here. It costs $182,300 with COE for the Passat Variant R-Line 2.0 TSI, the lone spec you can buy.

The price makes it effectively the flagship of the Passat range here, given that a four-door Passat R-Line 2.0 TSI is listed at $170,800 with COE.

At least the money buys loads of spec. VW’s 12.3-inch Active Info Display — virtual instruments that completely replace analogue dials — is present and accounted for, and the navigation and entertainment system comes with both Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

There’s a 700-watt sound system by Dynaudio, and an above-view 360-degree camera system.

19-inch wheels, a neat tailgate spoiler and sportily sculpted bumpers form part of the “R-Line” package on the Variant, along with side sill extensions and a rear diffuser in gloss black. There’s also a dedicated front grille design with an “R-Line” logo.

The Variant isn’t all show, either. The 220 horsepower, 350Nm engine drives the front wheels through a six-speed twin-clutch auto, and is pokey enough to send the whole show to 100km/h in just 6.9 seconds.

VW says the wagon tops out at a heady 244km/h, but should average just 6.5L/100km if you’re easy on the coals.

As for the car’s load lugging ability, it’s rated at 650 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,780 litres when you fold them. That’s big — Volvo’s upcoming V90 manages just 1,526 litres.

VW Singapore says the Passat Variant “completes” the local Passat Range, which also consists of 1.8-litre and 2.0-litre turbo four-door models in two trim versions each.

That puts an end to hopes of a 125 horsepower, 1.4-litre, seven-speed model for the Category A COE market here. Given the relatively thin presence of estate cars on the roads here, that’s one version of the Passat that would surely have sold in greater numbers than the Variant.

Still, the Category A market is crowded with exec offerings. And while crossover cars continue to gain in popularity, plush and usefully large wagons are scarce. The Passat Variant might occupy a tiny niche, but it could well be one that it has to itself.

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