YOUR AVERAGE Passat owner is rather accustomed to anonymity on the road. They blend into the general traffic, defined as much by colour as by car. They are part of the mobile furniture on our road networks. And for many of these folk, that's just fine, writes Michael McAleer.
That's not a criticism of Volkswagen, rather the price they pay for becoming such a stalwart of the mainstream. And in its defence, when the current Passat was first launched VW did attempt to shift its family saloon more towards the premium segment with fancy gadgets like an electronic parking brake, extra chrome and good quality plastics.
Yet can any Passat owner claim to have turned the heads of passers-by; at least without the help of a taxi roof sign?
Enter the Passat CC. Incredible as it might seem, what we have here is a Passat that actually stands out from the crowd.
Unlike the rest of the coupés that carry this two-letter moniker, this iteration does not offer a folding metal roof. Instead of coupé convertible, here CC stands for comfort coupé. That might seem a contradiction in terms, but the more time you spend with this car, the more you start to understand what it means.
Volkswagen has a long and illustrious history, but in recent years the brand has rarely strayed from the safe and secure. Up until the launch of the latest Golf GTi, there was little in their range to enthuse car fans. Cars like the Touran or Golf Plus might feed the ever-practical VW buyers' needs, but they hardly set pulses racing.
Slowly but surely things have started to change. First up was that GTi, then the gorgeous new Scirroco, and now this, a four-door coupé Passat. Even its little Up! city car concept - which is due to go into production - demonstrates that the spark of imagination and innovation has been rekindled in the German behemoth.
For now let's focus on the Passat CC. One Mercedes owner, who seemed rather annoyed by the fact so many of his colleagues were complementing our test car, quipped that it looked like someone in the design studio sat on a clay model of the Passat. Perhaps that is the case, but whether it came about by accident or design, the end result is incredibly alluring.
Everyone knows the age-old test for a new car design: when you walk away, do you ever look back for an admiring glance? For the first time with a car carrying the Passat name, we did.
Look at it directly front and rear and it's clearly a VW, although Irish buyers may not recognise some of the features that have been carried on to this car from the firm's flagship Phaeton, so few of those models having been sold here. Just to put the Passat CC in context, it has all the allure and hypnotic charm of the Mercedes CLS, but for less than half the price.
A closer inspection of the car's dimensions reveal just why it looks so different to the regular Passat model. This car is 35mm longer and wider than the saloon, and a sizeable 55mm lower to the ground.
Surprisingly for those up front, there's actually little noticeable difference or compromise when living with the CC. Rather, it's in the rear that the price is paid for the coupé looks.
This is strictly a four-seater with two individual rear seats and a large central divide and arm-rest, rather than a rear benchseat. Entry to the back may be aided by the addition of those rear doors rather than the old-style system of flipping forward the front seats, but the relatively low roofline requires a lot more stooping than in a regular car and the headroom back there is also compromised.
For more practically-minded Passat owners, this would seem to be illogical. You pay more than €4,000 extra for a car that has one less seat and less rear space than the regular model? What sort of fools do they take us for? In VW's defence, most coupés don't really have backseats. They may look like seats, but you wouldn't dare to sit in them if you are over five years of age.
In comparison, what you get here is a veritable people carrier. The extra back doors and bucket seats mean that this is arguably the only coupé in this price range that can seat adults without requiring amputations.
There's further good news in terms of standard specification, a revolution when it comes to Volkswagen. Never renowned for their generosity when it came to standard features, this time the German brand has stocked the CC version with one single trim: Sports. This means you get leather, cruise control, nice alloys and a good air-con unit as standard. For the long-term VW buyers of Ireland it will feel like Christmas has come early.
Of course, the connotations of the coupé moniker carries with it more than good looks. Buyers look for something sporty for the driver as well.
In that regard VW isn't setting the world alight. It certainly won't challenge a BMW M3 or its ilk, but it has got its engine mix right, with its recently launched 2-litre common-rail diesel by far the star of the show. It's true that many people still find it hard to equate diesel with coupé, but those that carry such inhibitions should remember that Mercedes buyers have no such qualms about opting for the 320 CDI version of the CLS, while BMW's 3-litre diesel is one of the best engines you can buy. Devout petrolheads can opt for either the 1.8-litre or 2-litre petrol options, but they will pay a price for their short-sightedness, both in initial purchase and annual road tax.
The 2-litre diesel comes in two formats: 140bhp and 170bhp. For our money, on paper at least, the best mix would probably be a 170bhp with the well-acclaimed dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission. However, our test car was the six-speed manual 140bhp version. It's far from a slouch, but given the coupé claims, buyers might as well go for the more powerful version.
In terms of handling, the Passat CC doesn't offer the dynamic drive we would have hoped. It's light and nimble, but there's still a lack of direction or feedback from the steering that you get in more serious sports coupé rivals. It's a pity, because VW certainly has the engineering pedigree within its ranks: just take a drive in the Golf GTI.
With its wide stance and a suspension setting more in tune with comfort than outright performance, the Passat CC is more of a stylish mile muncher than a sports coupé. That, perhaps, is where the "comfort coupé" comes in.
Its sheer bulk makes it a rather impractical sports car, and no doubt those looking for such a thing will turn to the upcoming Scirroco. Instead this is for buyers who care about aesthetics and styling, like the brand credibility that comes with Volkswagen, but also need to occasionally use the back seats.
Just who are these buyers? Well, for a start they're the same people who bought the old Peugeot 406 coupé, or who like the current crop of CC coupés such as the Volvo C70 or VW Eos, but don't want the hassle - or potential headaches - of all that metal oragami and accompanying motors. Perhaps this car will even win over aspirant Mercedes CLS buyers who can't stretch their cash that far in these more chastened times.
While Volkswagens are never the bargain many expect, the price pitches this car up against some big name rivals that carry the right premium badges. That's perhaps where they might have an edge over the Passat CC: it could have done with the four rings of Audi.
What these rivals don't do, however, is stand out in the traffic to the same extent. The styling and format of the Passat CC will win over many fans and if you like the look, then you'll be more than happy with the overall offering. All in, this is a great package.
Engine:1968cc four-cylinder 16V diesel offering 138bhp @ 4,200rpm and 320Nm of torque from 1,750rpm-2,500rpm
Specification:Standard features include: dual front, side, and curtain airbags; Electronic stability control (ESP) with ABS; cruise control; eight speaker CD/radio; front and rear foglights; two-zone Climatronic air conditioning; remote central locking; halogen headlights; tyre pressure monitors; electronic parking brake; front leather sports seats with Alcantara trim; leather gear knob; three-spoke multifunction steering wheel; 17" alloy wheels; light alloy spare wheel; chrome fittings.
Options:panoramic tilting sunroof (€1,333); six CD changer (€434); Front and rear parking sensors (€627); mobile phone preparation (€574); 18" alloys (€578); Xenon headlights (€1,527); Media-in socket and iPod preparation (€183); Nappa leather trim (€1,128); metallic paint (€604). (Option prices are for 2-litre diesel versions)
Warranty:two years unlimited mileage, three years paintwork, 12 years body perforation, mobility guarantee
L/100km (mpg):urban: 7.5 (37.7); extra urban: 4.8 (58.9); combined: 5.8 (48.7)
CO2:153 g/km
Tax:Band C - 20 per cent VRT; Annual motor tax - €290
Price:€39,605