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Road Test

Volkswagen Passat CC 1.8 TSI

Test Date 25 June 2008  Price When New £20,622

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Verdict

This car has no direct rival. It’s a lower-cost Merc CLS, a glamorous makeover of a regular Passat, an alternative to compact, premium-badged German saloons. It’s also a good car, no question: handsome, decently equipped, well finished, quick and frugal. But is it special enough to tempt style-conscious buyers away from the obvious choices? The trade-off is its mix of style and (relative) value. That probably makes it a better bet than a Passat saloon since you’ll enjoy owning it more.

The driving experience still won’t thrill, but the combination of the engine’s ability and the ride comfort makes it an appealing companion. This 1.8-litre engine is all it really needs. Indeed, our experience suggests it makes for a more pleasing car than does the V6 with twice the capacity and twice the driven-wheel count. Less is more, which in the current climate is no bad thing.

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