Don’t call it a Passat – this VW is from now on to be known only as the CC. Confusion reigned when this rakish four-seater was being mistaken for a rebodied version of the bland-yet-faithful Passat, but with the new label, the imaginary umbilical chord has been cut.

Incertitude over, there’s now a V6 and 4wd under the banana-shaped executive mover, to go one better than the base 2-litre front-driver.  The important figures are the additional 98bhp and 51lb ft of torque, suggeting there’s more readily available get up and go. Yes, it’s gutsy for sure, the trouble is the additional grunt you look forward to doesn’t reach it’s peak until 6600rpm, so you have to work it harder than expected. After just a few kilometres, I started missing the TSI engine, which is zingy and punchy in its nature, but doesn’t feel like you’re forcing it to work hard. Being 178kg portlier than the base Passat – sorry, CC – doesn’t improve matters. There’s the same feeling of compliancy in the ride, the same balance and grip from the adaptive damping system, but it’s now less keen to change direction and makes its size felt. 

The 4Motion system rescues things somewhat by bringing the rear into play. The amount of torque sent to the back wheels doesn’t depend on the fronts slipping, so it’s always in all-wheel mode and can transfer up to 100 per cent of power to the rear axle. That turns it from an executive mover to an executive shaker, with the six-speed DSG giving it an added touch of responsiveness and lag-less momentum. The thing is, this CC V6 has nothing to distinguish itself from its less-powerful brother, with no styling changes inside or out. Odd, when you consider it’s over $ 13K more than the base CC.

If you want the dynamic focus and need the practicality, go for the $ 3K cheaper Passat R36. And if you just have to have that sloping coupe profile, forget the sequel - in the case of the CC, original is best.