Volkswagen tweaks the Passat CC

Volkswagen has carried out a round of updates to its handsome Passat CC. The two biggest changes are the adoption of sat-nav – usually a pricey option - as standard across the range, and the introduction of a five-seat layout in place of the previous unusual four-seat set-up in which the rear seat was designed to take only two passengers. The original seating configuration was a nod towards the Passat CC's positioning as a "four-door coupé" in the mould of the much more expensive Mercedes CLS.

The CC's excellent engine line-up – which consists of 2.0 litre turbodiesels, 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSI petrols, and a 3.6 litre petrol V6 petrol – is carried over unchanged. Prices, which now start at £22,520, are increased slightly, but VW says the rises are more than offset by improved equipment levels.