Volkswagen CC is a four-door coupe

The 2009 Volkswagen CC has four doors and front and back seats that can accommodate 6-foot-tall passengers. At nearly 16 feet in length, it’s longer than a Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle.

But VW officials insist on calling the new-for-2009 CC a coupe, which is normally the label for a car with two doors and a cramped back seat.

Maybe VW noticed that Mercedes-Benz was able to blaze new marketing ground — and snag sales — by calling its four-door, luxury CLS a coupe a few years ago. Perhaps VW executives just wanted to give their best-looking Passat makeover a distinct persona.

Whatever the reason, the new VW CC is a decidedly stylish car with sleek, coupe-like shape and German road-handling traits. It’s also a comfortable ride — a nod to what CC denotes: Comfortable Coupe.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $27,480 for a base, manual transmission, front-wheel drive CC with the same 2-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that’s in the Passat. Starting retail price for a CC with automatic is $28,580, and the starting MSRP, including destination charge, for a CC with the same 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine that’s in the Passat is $38,990.

These prices compare with the $72,875 starting retail price for a 2009 Mercedes CLS with V-8, and the $28,990 starting price for a 2009 Passat with automatic transmission and four-cylinder engine.

Truth be told, the CC uses the Passat’s platform in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive forms. But all the exterior sheet metal is different and beautifully done, with crisp lines and flared wheel wells on the sides and a roofline that’s definitely coupe-like.

Overall, the CC is longer — by 0.6 inch — than a Passat. The CC also is a tad lower to the ground and 1.4 inches wider than a Passat.

But interior space isn’t intruded upon, with even 6-footers able to sit in the back seats without heads brushing the ceiling. Just be aware that rear-seat passengers will have smaller window views out the side because of the sizable pillar that’s at each edge of the back window.

The test CC had VW’s VR6 engine and plenty of power — 280 horses and 265 foot-pounds of torque at a low 2,750 rpm. The engine was mated to a six-speed automatic.

Acceleration came on steadily, but there was a bit of an artificial feel as the foot on the accelerator seemed perceptibly linked to electronics, rather than raw engine power. The sensation was a bit of refinement mixed with electronic manipulation of engine response, and it left me feeling isolated from the car’s workings. Engine sounds, while acceptable, were hardly sporty.

Fuel economy for a compact car isn’t the best with the VR6. City mileage is rated at only 18 mpg, which is akin to that of some SUVs. Highway mileage has a more acceptable rating — 27 mpg.

Of course, the thriftiest engine for the CC is the base, four-cylinder turbo that puts out a commendable 200 horsepower. Impressively, the turbo response means that the peak horsepower of 207 foot-pounds can come on as quickly as 1,700 rpm and is available all the way to 5,000 rpm.

But still, the government mileage rating for a front-wheel drive CC with this engine and the six-speed automatic — the most likely transmission that buyers will get — is only slightly higher than the VR6: 19/29 mpg.

Also be aware that VW requires premium unleaded gasoline for maximum performance in both VR6 and four-cylinder engines.

The CC’s brakes were another area where I felt a bit isolated from the car’s mechanicals. I’d press the brake pedal, and there was an electronic feel to the response, like the brake pedal force had to be translated into electronic format for the braking power to materialize. It felt artificial and wasn’t as reassuring as I’d like.

The car didn’t creep easily in congested traffic, either.

But steering was acceptably responsive, and the ride over road bumps was a nice mix of muted and buttoned down — just what you’d expect from a German car.

It’s impossible to ignore the CC’s wonderful interior craftsmanship. The test car, with a Cornsilk Beige two-toned interior, was a looker that impressed people even when they just looked in the windows.

Once inside, everyone commented about the quality look and feel of materials, even the plastics, and the ride was quieter than they expected. Fit and finish on the test car were excellent.

The back seat was especially inviting, because there were two sculpted seats back there, separated by a handsome storage area. Legroom measures 37.3 inches, putting the CC on par with other compact cars. Headroom is 36.6 inches, which is better than that in a 2009 Honda Accord Coupe.

Just be aware that it can be difficult to back up in some parking lots because the metal pillars at the sides of the back window are thick and block views.

The test CC included the optional rearview camera, which also aids drivers in seeing what’s behind them.

Rear seatbacks fold down, allowing for more cargo than what’s allowed in the 13-cubic-foot trunk.

All safety features, save for rear-seat side air bags, are standard. These include antilock brakes, electronic stability control and curtain air bags.

The CC isn’t the last of the four-door cars to attempt to carry the coupe label. Porsche is introducing its Panamera this year, and it’s a coupe-like shape with four doors.