2017 Volkswagen CC

2017 will be the CC's final year in production, but before this slinky sedan drives off into the sunset, it's being celebrated with one last hurrah. The Wolfsburg Edition is the sole trim offered for this year, and it packs a surprise.

Volkswagen has opted to bring back the former flagship CC powerplant for this final production run. Under the hood resides a 3.6-litre narrow-angle V6, which produces 280 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. It’s also now certified to run on regular gasoline instead of premium. The engine is paired to VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and features a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddles for manual shifting. Over the last few years, Volkswagen has offered the CC exclusively with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

There's only one option available for the CC, the R-Line trim. It adds a sporty exterior body kit, and R-Line steering wheel, panoramic vent sunroof, aluminum door sills and piano black and carbon fibre interior trim. Opting for the R-Line package cuts back on the exterior chrome with gloss black grille slats, body colour side mouldings, and glossy black mirror caps. 18-inch wheels come standard on standard and R-Line trims.

Based on the previous generation Passat sedan, the CC offers sleek coupe-inspired styling, similar to BMW’s 6 Series Gran Coupe, or Mercedes-Benz’s CLS-Class. With premium interior trimmings and high-end amenities, the CC is a convincing step up compared to the standard Passat, and a formidable rival against entry-level products from BMW and Lexus. Compared to conventional mid-size sedans, the CC offers good interior space, but rear-seat headroom is somewhat compromised due to the sloping roofline. The same can be said about the trunk, which isn’t as voluminous as some rivals.

Though the CC dates back to 2009 with a mid-cycle refresh in 2012, the cabin feels fresh. Open the frameless doors, and the interior has a real sense of occasion. Supportive well-bolstered sport seats trimmed in Nappa leather are comfortable and supportive, and the CC comes standard with plenty of premium amenities. Standard equipment on the Wolfsburg Edition includes a 600-watt 10-speaker Dynaudio sound system, proximity key with push-button start, rain-sensing wipers, and a hands-free trunk lid.

Volkswagen has also fitted its latest App Connect smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rendered through a 6.33-inch touchscreen display. A reverse camera is standard, as is blind-spot monitoring and navigation. While Volkswagen fits a driver fatigue sensor as standard for the CC, higher-end active safety features such as radar cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and emergency autonomous braking are not available.