You either get the “coupe-sedan” thing or you don’t.  It’s a European thing for the moment.  The gist of it is that people don’t like four-door sedans; they’re frumpy, they’re un-sexy, they’re family cars.  Coupes, on the other hand, are youthful, sleek and attractive.   The obvious solution, then, is to build a car with the glamour and visual appeal of a coupe and the practicality of a four-door sedan.  Voila–the four-door coupe.


It’s an intriguing trend.  Mercedes’ CLS-Class and Volvo’s S60 are prime examples, and now Volkswagen has joined the fray with the CC.  CC stands for “Comfort Coupe,” and the dramatic styling is like nothing you’ve come to expect from Volkswagen; it’s more like an Italian luxury car than a practical German family sedan, with luxurious amenities to match.  Underneath the svelte skin, however, this car is closely related to the comfortable and competent Passat.  In fact, they’re practically twins; in Europe the CC is called the “Passat CC.”
The CC is a feast of automotive design.  The roofline has been lowered, and a steeply raked windshield and backlight give it a look of motion.  A strong character line runs from the headlights to the taillights, defining the car’s silhouette.  While the sheet metal seems to have been pulled tauter, the CC’s face is bolder and more pronounced, with a broad, narrow grille and handsome complementary sculpting in the bumper.  Frameless door glass adds a delicate touch, and a large panoramic sunroof lets the sun shine in.   A range of seventeen- and eighteen-inch wheels is offered.
Inside, the CC is just as dramatic, with four individual sport seats upholstered in a handsome two-tone motif.  Leather wraps the steering wheel, and the dash is accented with chrome and satin-aluminum brightwork to great effect.  The seats are contoured similar to those of classic sports cars, and if they give up a little bit of comfort in the name of fashion, well, that’s just what this car is all about.  (The CC still doesn’t make you give up too much practicality; the rear seats still fold down so long items can be carried in the trunk.)  Between the rear seats, there’s a covered console containing cupholders and a first-aid kit.
Volkswagen’s new navigation system, named the Media Device Interface (MDI) features a boldly colored touch screen and a 32GB hard drive carrying the navigation info.  It’s a bit less intuitive than other systems, and the cartoonish graphics pale in comparison to the more precise maps available in other luxury cars.  A backup camera is also available.
The important thing to note about the CC is that it drives more or less the same as the Passat.  This is a good thing, as the Passat already feels like a more expensive car than it is, making its low bottom line a pleasant surprise.  On the other hand, the CC’s svelte body and interior-designer looks raise expectations, so that the lovely driving manners are merely expected.  Whether that’s an improvement or not is up to you.  Volkswagen has retuned the CC’s suspension, to ensure that it doesn’t feel exactly like the Passat on the road, but the ride is very similar.  The front suspension features MacPherson struts with triangular wishbones, and the four-link rear provides the sort of subtle, comfortably taut ride that fans of European cars are looking for in anything with a German badge.   The CC’s got stiffer springs and dual-pinion electromechanical power steering to help make the ride sportier.   Volkswagen’s Electronic Stability Program, which includes anti-lock brakes, anti-slip regulation and yaw control, is standard equipment.  At its heart, though, this is still a Passat, for better or for worse.
Whether you find it to be understated or overrated, the CC is at its best with the fabulous 3.6 liter DOHC VR6 V6 engine under the hood.  The latest incarnation of VW’s familiar narrow-angle engine uses direct injection and variable valve timing for improved efficiency and power delivery, and its 280 horsepower moves the CC with the proper authority.  Like other VR6-engined Volkswagens we’ve driven, the CC’s powerband is broad and instantly available, and though this is a large car, it never feels like it.  The VR6 is hooked up to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.  VW’s 2.0 liter four-cylinder is also available, should you want better fuel economy or a manual transmission.  An all-wheel drive CC with VW’s 4Motion on-demand all-wheel drive is also available.
The CC offers a measure of elegance and luxury that are much better suited to the Volkswagen brand and badge than the now-deceased white-elephant Phaeton.  The pricing makes it significantly more attainable, as well.  CC pricing starts at $27,100 for a manual transmission-equipped Sport model.  The range-topping VR6 with all-wheel drive starts at a healthy $39,800, but even at that price point the CC is comfortable and handsome enough to deserve the price tag.

Specifications:  All specs are for the 2009 Volkswagen CC
Length:  188.9 in.
Width:  73.0 in.
Height:      55.8 in.
Wheelbase:  106.7 in.
Curb weight:   3628 lb.
Cargo space:   13.0 cu.ft.
Base price:   $38,300
Price as tested:  $41,630
Engine:   3.6 liter DOHC narrow-angle V6
Drivetrain:  six-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:  280 @ 6200
Torque:  265 @ 2750
Fuel capacity:  18.5 gal.
Est. mileage:   18/27