Volkswagen’s 2009 CC VR6 4Motion has one of the best all-wheel-drive systems in the business, one that responds instantly to changing road conditions. Above right, a view of the driver’s compartment and the controls.

VW

WASHINGTON — Some test cars remain parked, ignored as long as possible by me and members of my crew — my wife, Mary Anne, and my associate in vehicle evaluations, Ria Manglapus.

The 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion sedan sparked a turf war.

“Wow!” I exclaimed when I saw it.

“Ooh, what a nice-looking car,” said Mary Anne.

“Awesome!” declared Ria. And the battle was on.

Luckily, Ria was preoccupied with another ride, the very decent Kia Optima sedan. I told her to enjoy herself and drove off in the CC VR6 4Motion — a name appropriate to nothing real, because a part of it stands for “comfort coupe.” VW’s CC cars, built on a VW Passat platform, are four-door sedans. The “Comfort Coupe” moniker thus is a matter of marketing and appearance. In auto industry parlance, “coupe” sounds hotter than “sedan,” a word often accompanied by “midsize” and “family,” a combination that often translates to “boring” and “utilitarian” in the minds of many young, affluent consumers — the CC VR6 4Motion’s target group.

It’s not a complete stretch. Volkswagen’s designers flirted with stylistic plagiarism and pulled off a neat trick here. Viewed from a distance, the CC looks like a coupe. The center pillar is invisible, giving the car’s sleek “greenhouse” — the combination of its roof, front, side, and rear windows — a look of uninterrupted uniformity, much like a coupe.

Look again, and find the borderline plagiarism. The CC’s roof, for example, races upward and tapers nicely toward the rear, much in the manner of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans, which also can be mistaken for coupes. The CC’s rear-end treatment, a gently sculpted combination of sass and class, also has a Mercedes-Benz C-Class feel.

But VW’s customers are not likely to object. The CC looks rich inside and out, an illusion cleverly maintained by eliminating one of the five seats normally found in midsize family sedans. Two of VW’s trademarked “V-Tex” leatherette bucket seats are up front and two are in the rear. The feeling is generous, luxuriously accommodating — considerably more upscale in demeanor than the layout of predecessor Passat sedans sold in the United States.

It is a thoroughly surprising car, not at all what we have come to expect from Volkswagen. It goes beyond the high-quality materials, the superb fit and finish normally found in VW and sibling Audi automobiles. The CC has a very discernible jazz to it, a really pleasant buzz.

You feel it when you crank the engine of the 280-horsepower CC VR6 4Motion. The exhaust note — the way the engine sounds burning fuel and expelling waste gases — is authoritative without being the least bit bullying.

I took off at night, because the best battles are those that never have to be fought. Mary Anne does not like driving after dark, especially not along interstate highways. I love night driving, the later the better. Traffic mellows after hours. You can feel a car in that milieu. It’s kind of intimate.

The CC VR6 4Motion felt good. Acceleration was smooth, instant. The car was a control freak’s delight, wonderfully compliant and responsive. Audi and VW have designed one of the best all-wheel-drive systems in the business, one that responds instantly to changing road conditions. For the driver, it’s confidence-inspiring technology.

I stayed out late piling on the miles, enjoying the solitude of a long drive in a fine car. When I returned home, I parked on the street, allowing Mary Anne unfettered access to her personal car — the Mini Cooper parked in the driveway. I showered and sneaked into bed.

I heard Mary Anne leaving the next morning and quietly congratulated myself for having the forethought to park the CC VR6 4Motion on the street, out of her way. I anticipated another day of fun driving that one.

But it wasn’t to be. The Mini remained parked in the driveway. The Volkswagen’s keys were missing. Mary Anne called me at noon: “Nice car,” she said.2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 4Motion Sedan

Complaints: Some people complained about the four-seat layout. They wanted five. Others said the CC line moves VW too far upscale and betrays the company’s “just folks” persona.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Ride and handling are excellent, easily among best in class. Acceleration is good.

Head-turning quotient: Stunningly beautiful, but nonetheless controversial. Some people refuse to release VW from the Socialist School of Design, which emphasizes clean, sensible lines devoid of libido. By comparison the CC VR6 4Motion looks hot.

Body style/layout: The car has an entry-level luxury persona. But it and its CC siblings — including the four-cylinder, front-wheel drive Sport model — are front-engine, midsize, mainstream family sedans. The 4Motion, as the name implies, comes with all-wheel drive.

Engine/transmission: Inline four-cylinder engines and slant V-6 models are available in the CC line. The 3.6-liter, 24-valve V-6 engine in the test car develops 280 horsepower at 6,200 revolutions per minute and 265 foot-pounds of torque at 2,750 revolutions per minute. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission that can be shifted automatically or manually.

Capacities: There are seats for four people. Cargo capacity is 13 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 18.5 gallons of “recommended” premium unleaded gasoline.

Mileage: A tad disappointing. I got 23 miles per gallon — two miles below the federally rated mileage of 25 mpg — in highway cruising.

Safety: Standard equipment includes four-wheel disc brakes (ventilated front/solid rear) with antilock protection; emergency braking assistance; electronic stability and traction control; front side and head air bags.

Price: Base price is $39,300. Dealer’s invoice price on base model is $36,811. Price as tested is $42,980, including $2,990 in options (20-gig onboard navigation system with infotainment media interface, rear side air bags) and a $690 destination charge. Dealer’s price as tested is $40,142. Prices are sourced from Volkswagen, Edmunds.com and Cars.com, an affiliate of The Washington Post.

Purse-strings note: Nice, but pricey in comparison with rivals.