Mercedes-Benz is well known for having pioneered the four-door-coupe segment, and has had at this market all alone for quite some time. However, other luxury automakers like Audi, Porsche and even BMW are catching on to the coupe-ish sedan profile and are looking to get a piece of the pie. But what if you’re looking for such a styled car, but don’t exactly have the budget to accommodate a Mercedes, Audi, Porsche or BMW. With just that consumer in mind, Volkswagen has its new CC, a four-door-coupe with a luxurious look and feel coupled together with solid German driving dynamics.

Originally introduced by Volkswagen in 2008, the new CC is a four-door-coupe version of the company’s famed Passat, and it offers great looks at an affordable price. While this is all well and good, it left us wondering; would the CC be more than merely a Passat wrapped in attractive sheet-metal?

2010 Volkswagen CC Specifications:
Engine: 2.0L TSI turbo 4-cylinder – 200-hp / 207 lb-ft of torque; 3.6L FSI V6 – 280-hp / 266 lb-ft.
Transmission: 6-speed manual; 6-speed Tiptronic.
Curb Weight: 3,300 lbs for 2.0T; 3,628 for VR6.
0 to 60 mph: 6.9 seconds in 2.0T w/ manual; 6.6 seconds in VR6 w/ auto.
Top Speed: 130 mph.
Fuel-Economy (city/highway): 22/31 mpg for 2.0T; 18/26 for VR6.



Exterior:
As would be expected of any vehicle in this segment, the Volkswagen Passat CC exudes sexiness and elegance from every angle. No design element was overlooked on this car, starting from the gorgeous front-end with its double-cross-strutted grille with Volkswagen logo placed in the center of two trapezoidal headlamps. That is taken all the way back to the large dual-oval shaped taillights and rear spoiler embedded into the trunk lid.

The aggressive design of the front is enhanced by the large air intakes which feature integrated turn signals and fog lamps. The whole package is highlighted by a sporty front-spoiler, which serves to optimize the high-speed downforce. The sloping roofline which runs from the B-pillar back to the C-pillar gives the entire package a smooth, flowing design from front to back and is very pleasing on the eye.

As is an inherent design element with most four-door-coupes, the rear-window is shrunken, thus creating a minimal viewing field out of the rear of the car, but the overall design of this car is smooth and sleek enough to compensate for this.

As far as dimensions are concerned, the CC, certainly occupies more space than the Passat with its length of 188.9-inches, width of 73.0 inches, and height of 55.8 inches. The wheelbase however, is identical to that of the Passat, measuring in at 106.7 inches.



Interior:
Immediately one will notice the premium feel of the interior; a trait of most VW models, as the company’s use of soft-touch materials and precise assembly provide for a solid and tight interior without any shaking or give. Continuing the theme of premium interior elements, the CC offers very comfortable seats that can be upholstered in either V-Tex or leather, and are available in either solid or two-tone color schemes All trim levels include 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats with four-way power lumbar-support. The rear seats aren’t neglected either, as the rear is quite roomy and features a center console ideal for holding drinks or accessing the emergency medical kit. The fact that these seats fold down to create more cargo space is an added bonus.

The base model that we tested carried an MSRP of $27,760 and came standard with a variety of tech features including; Bluetooth connectivity with voice-control, cruise control, AUX input, three separate power outlets, push-in key ignition, Auto Hold start-off assistance, and more. Navigation featuring upgraded Dynaudio Premium Sound System is available on all but the CC Sport trim-package. In order to enjoy the 6.5-inch high-resolution touchscreen display and integrated 30GB hard-drive of the navigation system, one will have to upgrade to the $33,080 CC Luxury, $39,310 CC VR6 Sport, or the $40,420 CC VR6 4Motion. Even with the upgrade in trim, the option will run you $2,640 on top. The same is true for the Dynaudio Premium Audio System, which will run an extra $1,000.

As with most cars, your bottom line is heavily contingent upon the features you load into your vehicle. When it comes to quality and features, the standard CC still makes a great daily driver.



Performance:
The 2010 CC comes standard with a 2.0L TSI turbo 4-cylinder engine which puts out 200-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, and if you opt for the Sport or Luxury trim packages, it is your only option, and comes mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The VR6 Sport and 4Motion both come with a 3.6L FSI V6, which puts out 280-hp and has a peak torque of 266 lb-ft. Both models come standardly equipped with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.

If you’re purchasing the CC as your daily driver, we recommend that you save your money and opt for the Sport or Luxury CC, especially considering the EPA estimated mileage of each is 22/31 (City/Highway) (the VR6 on the other hand, gets 18/27 mpg). Over the course of our test-drive, we were able to maintain 22 mpg in our CC Sport and enjoyed the comfortable yet sporty drive.

If you are a performance junkie however, keep in mind that the 2.0 TSI engine goes from 0-60 mph 6.9 seconds when mated to a manual, and 7.4 with the DSG Tiptronic. The V6 with the same DSG Tiptronic goes 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. All CC models top out at 130 mph.

The handling dynamics on the CC are one that will leave you confident when taking sharp turns, as is to be expected of many Volkswagens. Overall the CC flies down the road like you would expect any German car to do, with the added bonus of the long-legged suspension to absorb the bumps along the way.



Overall:
Going back to our original question of whether or not the Volkswagen CC is worth the extra cash over its Passat sibling – we’ll have to say it definitely is. With a gorgeous exterior and an interior that screams quality and design, the CC is one four-door-coupe that won’t leave your bank account feeling lonely.

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