Tested: Volkswagen CC Sport

Virtuous as it may be, a Volkswagen Passat may still strike a few as too practical, perhaps a bit too sensibly-styled. No worries; the CC is at hand.

This new model won't be mistaken for the Passat—or any previous VW product for that matter. The high beltline and lower roofline emphasize the shallow greenhouse. Coupled with a rising shoulder line and some artful character lines, the overall effect is a more dynamic, aggressive presence.

Although the two are share a platform and are mechanical twins, the CC looks lower than the Passat, partly because its overall height is a full 2.2 inches less. (Wheelbase and track are identical although the CC has an additional 0.7 inch of overall length, to 188.6 inches.) That lower roofline does exact a compromise: the XXL-size sunroof standard on all but base cars tips up at the rear but doesn't retract. This allows rear-seat passengers headroom only 0.8 inch less generous than those in front enjoy. They also get a very creditable 37.3 inches of leg room—plus a fold-down armrest and a center console with the cupholders so treasured by Americans.

The CC is mainly about styling but it benefits from access to the Passat's full range of powertrain and drivetrain options. Base cars come with the 2.0T turbo four-cylinder, available with a manual (Sport only) or Tiptronic automatic ($1,100), with six speeds in either instance. All others are automatic-only. V-6-powered Sport and all-wheel-drive 4Motion models receive the narrow-angle 3.6-liter DOHC VR6, now with direct injection and variable valve timing. Power rises from the 2.0T's 200 hp and 207 lb-ft to 280 hp and 265 lb-ft.

Inside, there's some tasteful new faux-aluminum trim and nicely contrasting materials although the scenery looks familiar if you look hard enough. Twelve-way-adjustable front sport seats are very comfortable and supportive, with enough side bolstering to keep thinner occupants from falling off during hard cornering. Leather surfaces are standard on all but the base car

The CC's added tariff over the Passat is partly offset by more standard kit including, for example, a Sirius satellite radio subscripton that comes on all but the base model. The CC is also lavished with VW's considerable array of safety gear. Front-seat occupants get seat belt pretensioners and side airbags; all outboard positions are protected by head-curtain airbags. VW this year made standard its ESP stability-control system on all models. In addition, the CC boasts traction control, EBD (VW calls it Brake Assist) and electronic differential locking, VW-speak for axle-specific slip regulation achieved by manipulation of the anti-lock brake system.

On the road, the six-speed automatic is a paragon of smooth, unobtrusive operation, slurring upshifts through the gears. Just don't ask it to hurry. Downshifts tend to be deliberate and at very low road speeds, reactions to full-throttle requests for lower gears can be leisurely with the engine off-boost. The excellent six-speed manual is an effective antidote to this occasional lethargy but is available only on lower-end models.

The cockpit is very hushed at highway speeds; mechanical noise is effectively muted with only a faint burble of wind noise from the driver's outside mirror. The CC Sport's 235/45-17 ContiProContact all-season tires feature self-sealing treads and on smooth roads are generally comfortable and well-behaved. Over textured pavement there's more tread noise than we'd expect.

This is a well-proven platform with solid hardware credentials: modified MacPherson strut front suspension, four-link twist-beam rear suspension and anti-roll bars at both ends. The generous-sized brakes are vented in front, solid in back, with good stopping power and excellent pedal feel. Handling qualities are benign and predictable although the Continental footwear generated only modest cornering grip and served to dampen steering response.

Volkswagen press material suggested that our 3,344-pound CC Sport might achieve 60 mph from rest in 7.4 seconds and reach 130 mph before the limiter stepped in. They were correct about the latter but a bit conservative otherwise. We saw 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and it cleared the quarter-mile in 15.35 seconds at 89.3 mph. Observed fuel economy in mixed driving was 23.9 mpg, higher than VW's estimate, and in steady-state 75 mph cruise it delivered a very creditable 29.6 mpg.

Base-priced at $27,100, our test car sported two options—Tiptronic automatic and a Sirius radio subscription—for an additional $1,475 in total. It didn't feel particularly under-equipped either, due largely to the generous amount of standard gear. For the fashion conscious, the CC offers a Passat's virtues wrapped in upscale haberdashery, not a bad combination.