2009 Volkswagen CC
Prices: $27,100-$39,800

Remember the big, luxurious 2004-06 Volkswagen Phaeton sedan, which cost $64,600 to $101,300 and even could be had with 12 cylinders? It failed here because few could square it with VW's sensible-shoe image.

This time, though, Volkswagen is offering a slick new sedan that costs $27,100 to $39,800 and strongly resembles the Mercedes-Benz CLS, which costs $70,700 to $96,300.

The CC has the Volkswagen emblem on its grille but no badging that identifies it as the "CC."
 
"What is that car, a neighbor asked while admiring my test CC and somehow missing the "VW" grille badge. However, the "CC"  designation is being added, among other minor changes, for 2010.

The slippery looking CC and CLS sedans are often referred to as four-door "coupes" because such things as their rakish, sloping rooflines give them the look of a coupe. Also, both 2009 models have only four seats and are based on lower-priced models--the CC on the VW Passat and the Mercedes on its E-Class.

The base engine for the CC is a sophisticated, turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder that develops 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque between a low 1,800 rpm and 5,000 rpm. The other engine is an equally sophisticated 3.6-liter V-6 with 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque at 2,750 rpm.

The four-cylinder CC comes only with front-wheel drive, while the V-6 is offered with either front-drive or Volkswagen's nifty 4Motion all-wheel drive system.

The CC four-cylinder comes as the $27,100 Sport with a six-speed manual transmission and as the $28,200 Sport with a Tiptronic six-speed automatic with a manual-shift feature. It's also sold in Luxury trim for $32,350 with the automatic.

The V-6 is offered in $38,700 VR6 Sport form and in $39,.800 VR6 4Motion form with the all-wheel drive.

Top speed for both models is electronically limited to 130 mph. There's no strongly compelling reason to get the costlier V-6, although this larger engine with extra cylinders is smoother and gives the CC a little faster acceleration.

The CC four-cylinder does 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds with the manual and in 7.4 seconds with the automatic. It allows good merging and passing on highways, although my manual-transmission model called for a downshift from sixth to fourth gear for a brisk 65-75 mph passing time.

The manual's short-throw shifter works crisply, although it's occasionally easy to mistakenly move the shifter into reverse gear, instead of into first. The shifter works with a long-throw clutch that may make some drivers in stop-and-go traffic wish they'd opted for the automatic transmission.

The CC is more fun with the manual than the automatic under some conditions, but this car is more of a fast, secure cruiser than a sports sedan, despite above-average handling. Thus, the automatic is hardly out of place in it.

The electro-mechanical power steering with speed-variable assist is quick enough, with a good blend of lightness and firmness. Some sharp bumps can be felt, but the suspension is supple. And the brake pedal has a linear action. The all-disc anti-lock brakes have a brake assist feature for surer stops.

Handling is helped by wide 45-series tires on 17-inch alloy wheels, but wider 40-series tires on 18-inch wheels are available for $750.    

The CC V-6 hits 60 in 6.2 seconds and handles merging and passing in a more relaxed manner. However, the four-cylinder wins the fuel-economy race. It provides an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 31 on highways with the manual, and in 19 and 29 with the automatic. The V-6 delivers 18 and 27 with front-drive and 17 and 25 with all-wheel drive.

All figures are decent for a fast, roomy mid-size sedan that weighs from 3,300 to 3,374 pounds for the four-cylinder CC and 3,628 to 3,854 pounds for the V-6 version, with the all-wheel drive CC weighing the most.

Premium fuel is recommended for both engines for maximum performance.

Even the base CC manual-transmission model is well-equipped, with such upscale comfort and convenience items as air conditioning, tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped wheel, cruise control, heated 12-way power front seats, AM/FM radio with in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, split-folding rear seats and power windows, door locks with remote keyless entry and heated power mirrors with turn signals.

The Luxury four-cylinder adds leather upholstery, a front/ rear obstacle-detection system, dual-zone automatic climate controls, and a big Panoramic (tilt-only) power sunroof. Move to the VR6 Sport and added are an upgraded sound system, power rear sunshade and steering-linked bi-xenon headlights for better visibility. The VR6 4Motion adds the all-wheel drive system.

As for safety features, standard for all CC models are front-side and curtain-side air bags, an anti-skid system and traction and yaw control. Optional is a rear passenger side-thorax air bag system.

The few extras include a $2,640 Technology Package for the Luxury, VR6 Sport and VR6 4Motion that contains a navigation system and rearview camera. It replaces the 6-disc CD/MP3 changer with a single-disc CD/MP3 player.

The stylish CC has plenty of European flair and is the best-looking Volkswagen sedan to date, although a rather low front end can be damaged when pulling up to high parking lot barriers.

The uptown interior has four deeply sculpted ergonomically designed seats with attractive upholstery. My test CC Sport's boldy stitched white and black leatherette seat coverings looked both sporty and sophisticated and wouldn't be out of place in a Maserati.

The front console has nicely located cupholders and a deep covered center bin. Rear seats are separated by a central roll-top covered fold-down console with beverage holders. There's also a fold-down center armrest with a pass-through opening to the trunk..

Hefty handles and wide-opening frameless front and rear doors make it easy to enter the snazzy interior, and grab handles make it easy to close the doors once inside. Gauges can be quickly read and climate controls are large--although there are a good number of small sound system controls. The electric parking brake is activated by a button oddly placed to the left of the steering wheel.

Big outside mirrors help compensate for rear visibility impeded by a raked rear window and thick back roof pillars.

The large trunk has a wide opening and a lined inner lid with large pull-down areas to prevent hands from getting dirty on outside sheet metal, especially in winter. Rear seatbacks flip forward and sit flat to enlarge the cargo area.

Handy interior storage items include a pull-out bin to the left of the steering wheel to hold such things as coins for toll booths. Sun visor vanity mirrors have sliding covers and are lit by lights in the roof.

The hood opens smoothly on a strut to reveal a neatly designed engine compartment, although one of the fluid filler areas is inconveniently located at the far rear of the compartment. .

I wouldn't call the solidly built, high-quality CC the "mass-audience" Mercedes CLS because it has quite a lot going for it in its own right.