Coupé de grace

The Passat CC has coupé looks that win. With this new design, Volkswagen has developed an appeal for the CC that is virtually instant. Everywhere that I drove, people didn"t even wait to guess what it was; they jumped in to ask about it - it simply has developed that level of appeal. The Passat CC brings great style to the Volkswagen range in one fell swoop. The whole structure of the car looks right and it feels great to drive. The designers have made the car longer and lower than the standard Passat. That aerodynamic look is part of the appeal, hinting at the Mercedes-Benz S-Class but in a more compact package and one that"s obviously more affordable. That coupé look is complemented by frameless windows all round. They add to the airy look of the car, and they close with a smooth and confident whoosh when the car"s ignition is engaged, to make you feel safe. There"s a smoothness to this car that"s not interfered with by the 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine under the bonnet. Petrol options are available, but the 140bhp diesel choice is marginally most effective, cleaner and more than adequate in terms of acceleration. Most of all, its almost 25 per cent more fuel efficient and cleaner when it comes to the dreaded CO2 emission figure. Combine these features and you get stylish yet cost-effective motoring from a brand that"s well-regarded for all of the right reasons. The test car came with a push button start system that needed some encouragement at times. Perhaps my fault, as it did not engage as quickly as some of the electronic ignition systems do and needed a firm hold; very Germanic. Once the engine kicked into action, the pace was impressive from the six-speed gearbox. The 0 to 100km/h rating is 9.8 seconds, which is good for a diesel car of this size. That performance is helped by the Passat CC shape, shaving a notch or two from the acceleration of the standard model. Even though the Passat CC has a slightly greater thirst than the standard model, it"s still very economical for a car that weighs in at almost 1.5 tonnes before you load it. There are few cars with the Passat CC styling that can match its economy figure of 6.2 litres/100km (45.6mpg). The petrol-powered TFSI engine option takes two seconds off the acceleration performance but the penalty is 25 per cent less fuel efficiency and that"s before the painful eight cent petrol price rise in the budget. And the petrol-powered car is marginally dearer. Even though the Passat CC is a relatively big car, its CO2 emissions level is low at 153g/km. That has helped to keep the VRT tax low and also ensures that annual road tax is just €290, again very competitive. So, you"re getting style and great driving comfort all for a reasonable price of €39,605, before delivery charges. That"s about €6,000 more expensive than the entry Passat 2.0 litre diesel in standard body style but, in essence, this is a different car. The Passat CC drives like it looks. The car has a wider wheel track on a similar wheelbase to the standard model. That wider track keeps it very firm on the road and with the Passat"s multi-link suspension and wide 235/40 R17 tyres on the entry model, it grips the road on corners with solid surety. All Passat CC models have a sports suspension, which means the car is lower by around 15mm compared to standard Passat. This is a coupé that at least has two rear seats that someone can sit in. The fact that the car is a four-door model means that the rear seats, with reasonable headroom, are totally useable. There is a large storage box between the seats, plus reasonable side pockets. And the boot space is impressive, too. This is mostly a downer for coupés but not so the Passat CC which has a 532 litre capacity boot, ample for the golf clubs. In safety terms, this is an impressive car. Volkswagen has given it up to eight airbags and a new advanced electronic stabilisation programme (ESP). So it"s right up there with the best. The entry price for the Passat CC is €39,605, which puts it into the price league of high-end diesel saloon cars like the Honda Accord and Saab 9-5. The CC, however, offers more style and luxury looks with a solid Volkswagen pedigree to back it up. In typical German style, it combines practical features with a new level of Volkswagen elegance. This is a car that will sell and sell.