Review of the new Volkswagen Passat CC

A four-door coupe is an interesting idea but not a unique one. When it launched the Passat CC in 2008, Volkswagen were copying a concept already successfully championed by Mercedes' CLS in the pricey executive sector. With the Passat however, this sleek approach was a great deal more affordable, the car retailing at only a few thousand pounds more than the standard Passat four-door.

The CC then, was well received, but not quite as many people bought it as Volkswagen were hoping, prospective buyers put off in some cases by the four seat-only seating plan. Hence the revised model we're looking at here that brings not only a proper 3-person rear bench but also standard Bluetooth connectivity and satellite navigation.

Like the science bit that you're obliged to pay attention to in shampoo adverts, Volkswagen attempts to put some substance onto this car's lifestyle blurb by explaining how the Passat CC differs mechanically from its more conventional saloon sibling. Given that it rides on exactly the same chassis and uses a subset of the Passat saloon engine range, scope for modification is predictably slim. The car sits 50mm lower, giving a centre of gravity closer to the road. The driver sits 15mm lower in the car, again supposedly imbuing him or her with a greater sense of connectedness with the road surface. Otherwise, the differences with how this car drives and how a Passat saloon drives are not huge.

This means that handling is safe and rather stodgy, ride quality is excellent and the engine portfolio is broad and packed with quality. Three petrol engines and two diesel powerplants are offered which span a range from 138bhp diesel right up to 297bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol.

"Offering this revised version with proper five-seat capability is probably a good idea"

The design of the Passat CC is fascinating. I harbour a suspicion that despite almost every external body panel being different to that of the saloon model, most people won't realise that this is a different car. It takes the two cars sitting back to back to really establish what Volkswagen has done with the CC. The unique steel body is 31mm longer than the saloon's, that difference being made up entirely by front and rear overhang increases. You might think that this may well offer a bonus in terms of luggage space but the sloping boot deck actually reduces capacity by 40 litres.

It's undoubtedly a tidy piece of styling work but one has to wonder whether tidy really cuts it in a market where buyers often want something a little more extreme, something with trademark styling signatures. The Passat CC signally lacks this, the smooth shape so cohesive that it it's hard for the eye to rest on any one feature. The sculpted headlamps maybe. Still, one person's bland is another's discreet and the CC could never be accused of wilful gaudiness.

When the CC was originally launched, it came with two sculpted seats in the rear, presumably a device to differentiate this four-door coupe from the four-door Passat saloon. Today, however, Volkswagen has fitted a three seat bench in the rear of the CC, giving it a full five-person capacity. It's a move that adds useful extra practicality to the CC but brings it even closer to the saloon in what it offers.

The petrol engine options are a 158bhp 1.8-litre TSI unit, a 197bhp 2.0-litre TSI engine and the flagship 3.6-litre V6 FSI with 297bhp and 258 lbs/ft of torque channelled via 4MOTION four-wheel drive and DSG gearbox. A common rail 2.0-litre TDI with 138bhp will be a popular choice and there's also a 168bhp version of the same powerplant.

Two trim levels are available: standard CC and GT. Standard models boast sports suspension, 17" 'Phoenix' alloy wheels, 2Zone Climatronic air conditioning, a touchscreen CD stereo system with six-disc autochanger, satellite navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and six-way electrically adjustable sports seats, a multifunction leather steering wheel, six airbags and ESP. The GT adds, 18" 'Interlagos' alloy wheels, 'silversprint' upholstery, tinted windows and front foglights as well as Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC). With three settings - comfort, normal and sport - ACC acts not only on the damper units to firm up or soften the ride but also changes the characteristics of the electro-mechanical steering system to suit a more comfort- or sport-orientated drive.

Diesel is the fuel of choice for the company car buyers that will account for the lion's share of Passat CC sales but the 3.6-litre V6 petrol unit could snare a few company Directors who can't quite stretch to a Mercedes CLS. This engine's emissions and economy figures aren't too shabby given its weighty four-wheel-drive mechanicals and the kind of performance on offer. The entry-level 138bhp TDI diesel is a better all-round bet however. Here, C02 emissions of 153g/km and likely 50mpg fuel economy make this a viable choice from a cost perspective.

As business users who've done their time scouring the car data sheets for the most cost-effective company car will be well aware, Passats cost a little bit more model for model than the usual medium range fleet fare. They will, however, hang on to their value with a little bit more tenacity than the Mondeos and Lagunas of this world so it's swings and roundabouts to an extent. Servicing and repair costs shouldn't hold any nasty surprises.

On paper, it's hard to drum up enthusiasm for the Passat CC. You're paying a significant amount more for a car that, on the spec sheet at least, doesn't seem a great deal different from a standard Passat saloon. In the metal though, it's a different story. The changes that create the CC may be subtle but they're very effective. This looks a much classier and expensive car.

Offering this revised version with proper five-seat capability is probably a good idea, even if it will steal sales from some of Volkswagen's pricier standard Passat saloon models. Business people who also have families can now shunt this stylish but surprisingly practical car onto their shopping lists. And if they get one on their driveway, chances are it'll stay there.