First Test: 2010 Volkswagen CC Sport

Driving a hip, stylish vehicle without taking a 20-pound sledgehammer to the piggy bank is something most car shoppers strive for. Unfortunately, there are few vehicles on today's market that won't have you laughed out of the valet line at your local nightclub while still holding onto enough cash to tip the attendant. The 2010 Volkswagen CC Sport is one of those vehicles.

We're all familiar with the CC's crisp, swoopy lines and stylized interior. When it hit the market in late 2008, it was undeniably inspired by the Mercedes-Benz CLS "four-door coupe" styling trend, trading and a little bit of practicality -- mostly in rear seat headroom -- for the sake of looking good. Most buyers won't care. What they will care about is the driving experience. Two engines are available in the CC: a brawny 3.6-liter V-6 and the familiar 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injected I-4. The latter, good for 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, is the unit found in our test car, a CC Sport model.

Representing the bottom rung of the hierarchy, the Sport is the entry-level CC designed to maximize value by limiting features and using the smaller of the two engines. As the name implies, the Sport might also be the most engaging CC to drive for enthusiasts. That's because it's the only CC trim level to be offered with three pedals and a six-speed manual transmission. Our Candy White tester played up its enthusiast nature with a couple of high-dollar options that are bad for the wallet, but good for the eyes: a set of 19-inch Sagitta alloy wheels ($2499 and disappointingly equipped with all-season tires) and a ground-effects kit ($1999) consisting of a new front valence, side sill extensions, a lip spoiler, and chrome exhaust tips.

The add-on body kit does its part to slightly shift the CC's appearance from elegant to aggressive, and the combination of side skirts and 19-inch wheels visually lowers the car, making it look sucked to the ground. That rear lip spoiler is reminiscent of those on certain AMG Mercedes models. It's a convincing package, but does it hold up on the road?

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Around town, the CC acquits itself admirably. The ride is comfortable, yet controlled, in typical VW fashion, and the car feels relatively nimble without coming across as tinny. We'd probably stick to some smaller wheels as the 19s impart just a hint of harshness and increased road noise compared with the standard 17-inchers. The 2.0-liter turbo is punchy, even in this 3200-pound application -- a feeling backed up by a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds in our instrumented testing. Put the hammer down away from a stoplight, and the CC exhibits very little torque steer, quelling a concern inherent to many high-output, front-drive vehicles.

But how about that gearbox? Buyers opting for the manual will be rewarded with easy clutch take-up and precise lever action, though both the clutch pedal and shift lever are just a little bit too light for our tastes, losing a little positive feel in the process. Give us just a touch more heft to each control, and we'll be happy, though daily rush-hour commuters may beg to differ. Nitpicking aside, there's no escaping that the old stick and pedal interplay makes the CC more engaging to drive than the fancy DSG version.

Of all the CC models, we'd suspect the Sport version will be subjected to more tire-squealing action than its brethren. With that in mind, we turned our Goodyear Eagle GTs to the hills to see what's what in the handling department. Predictably, the CC understeered mildly when pushed hard though the twisties with plenty of body roll. Still, neither was enough to make the drive unpleasant, with the Passat chassis feeling more than up to the task at hand. The CC's front seats are also up to the task, with unobtrusive bolstering during normal driving and a good amount of grip when the going gets curvy. On the skidpad, our CC Sport turned in numbers similar to Suzuki's Kizashi GTS, a car we've lauded for its capable dynamics. Nevertheless, if a serious sport sedan is what you seek, the Subaru WRX will clobber the CC every time at roughly the same price point.

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Like the seats, most of the CC's interior is well finished, with durable German vinyl and soft touch plastic surfaces that feel and look a level above their price point. Our tester featured a two-tone cream-and-black fabric theme that looks like it could have come from a high-end Italian thoroughbred, and a sunroof is standard equipment. Also unique for the price is the new-for-2010 standard touch screen system for audio, Bluetooth, and climate controls. While the display is not quite as crisp as other setups we've used, the system is easy to operate and quite functional. The driver's seating position is excellent, with a standard tilting and telescoping steering wheel that makes it easy to dial in a perfect fit.

Getting back to value, the CC's coupe de grace is its luxury look for a cut-rate price. That's fine, but our tester rang the register at $33,058 as optioned. Keep in mind that price is for the entry-level car, well-equipped from standard, but without features like navigation, leather interior, or the larger V-6 engine that most equate with a premium car. Drop the body kit and the 19-inch wheels, and you'll be closer to $28,500, where the CC remains a value, especially compared with its costlier cousin, the Audi A4. For the dollar, there's nothing else like it on the road.