It's a toss-up whether the 138bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel or the 158bhp 1.8 turbocharged petrol is the best engine. Both provide smooth, strong punch over a broad rev range starting below 2000rpm. Least favourite is the 3.6 V6 four-wheel-drive 4Motion model, which doesn't live up to its 295bhp billing. There's also a 197bhp 2.0 petrol and a 168bhp 2.0 diesel.

The basis for the CC is the lowered and stiffened suspension from the Passat Sport saloon, but there's also the option of electronic control for each shock absorber, with a choice of three firmness settings. In its sportiest mode, this also firms up the steering, although feedback is never great. The ride can be jiggly on poor surfaces, but in most circumstances, the CC is smooth and fluid to drive.

For a car with frameless side windows, the CC curbs wind noise admirably. The 2.0-litre diesel is smooth and quiet, the 1.8 petrol turbo is refined, but road noise is a bit too apparent on poor surfaces. The weakest link is the V6 with its semi-automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. It's neither as smooth nor as sweet-sounding as you have a right to expect, and the gearchanges with the 'box in fully automatic mode are slightly jerky.

It's hard to compare CC prices with those of the Passat saloon because of differences in spec and mechanical details. That said, the CC is around £1500 more, which is borderline reasonable. Used-car valuers reckon the CC will be worth three to five per cent more than the saloon when you resell it, though. The economy and emissions of the diesel and petrol turbo engines won't frighten company car users looking to keep down tax bills.

It would be churlish to over-criticise the Passat CC's fit and finish, but unfair to overlook one or two areas where the plastics aren't quite up to the high standards of the rest of the car. Generally, though, the interior is of a high quality and sufficiently different from the saloon's to make you feel you are buying a bespoke model. Reliability should be OK, even though VW’s record for dependability has been on the wane in recent years.

With up to eight airbags and stability control as standard on every model, the Passat CC is pretty well equipped to avoid accidents, or make them more survivable. There's lots more on the options list, however, including a lane-departure warning system and cruise control that automatically maintains the distance to the car ahead.

The seats, steering wheel, instruments and many of the controls differ between the Passat saloon and the CC. Even the instrument backlighting is in a different colour, while some features have been handed down from VW's luxury saloon – the Phaeton – to make the CC feel different to the Passat. You have a lower, more sporty driving position, but the sound fundamentals of the Passat have not been thrown away. As expected in a coupe, though, there are the usual issues of visibility front and rear.

The CC is 50mm lower than a Passat saloon and has a coupe-like roof. Those two factors influence who can sit comfortably in the back, because it’s a wee bit short on headroom. Otherwise, it's spacious for four (there are only two individual seats in the back), with a large boot that can be extended by lowering the rear seats.

The CC is available in standard and GT guises, and both are well equipped. Sports suspension, dual-zone climate control, a touchscreen, six-disc CD player and electrically adjustable sports seats are on both versions; and to that the GT adds the electronic shock absorber control, 18- instead of 17-inch alloys, aluminium interior finish and tinted windows for a premium of around £1000.