Don’t be confused by the name – this is a posh Passat and not a drop-top version of Volkswagen‘s Mondeo rival.
Unusually, the ‘CC’ here stands for ‘Comfort Coupe’, whereas with Peugeot, Renault and others it means ‘coupe convertible’ and describes their folding hard-top cabriolets.
The four-door Passat CC is sportier looking and has a more elegant rear than the saloon as well as being slightly longer, wider and lower, too.
Other design differences include frameless windows – designed to enhance the CC’s coupe-like pretentions – for all four doors.
Inside it’s a strict four-seater – there’s storage space and an armrest between the two rear seats but no third seatbelt. The steering wheel, door trims and seats differ from the regular Passat, too, and give the desired impression of class.
The boot’s impressively deep, although the opening is a little compromised by the swooping styling and may hinder the loading of boxy kit.
The CC also features several firsts…