"Umm, cubic centimetres, carbon copy, Coco Chanel??" yelled my colleagues as they playfully brainstormed what the CC moniker could stand for. A little thing called Google told me that Volkswagen dubs it the Comfort Coupé. They were close enough I guess. In fact, it used to be called the Passat CC, but the paternal Passat filed for emancipation - a classic strategy so Volkswagen could market their elongated mid-size sedan upstream into the $30-40k range. Lo and behold its new identity, the Volkswagen CC.

It's quite hard to position it against any competitors - the CC is rather an oddball. Nothing around its price range has the same sort of roadside appeal. Ford Taurus? Nissan Maxima? No, the CC looks more like a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz CLS than anything else. Volkswagen wanted to create a sedan that was sleek and attractive, and they were completely okay with sacrificing headroom and window views. Hence they adopted the typical traits of a four-door coupe - sloping roofline, acutely angled C-pillar, and a long front hood. You'll see the same tactics applied for the Jaguar XJ and the Audi A7. But we're talking about a vehicle that starts at $36,375. They even threw on standard Bi-Xenon headlights and LED taillights. Incredible. But if the CC's profile is still too understated for you, then Volkswagen offers the R-line Package ($2,350) that adds sportier front bumpers, side skirts, steering wheel with paddle shifters, aluminum doorsills and new 18-inch wheels. It makes a hell of a difference.

The CC's interior is largely borrowed over from the Passat - simplistic and clean - but it's been spruced up with a bit of luxury garnish. The stars of the cabin are those contrasting black and beige leather seats. They look great and feel great too. The seats can also be lowered right to the ground (I like to sit nice and low), which offers more headroom for the vertically gifted passenger. Due to the sloped roof, headroom in the back is slightly compromised but the CC makes up for it with adequate legroom and a cavernous trunk. Our Highline-trim tester came equipped with a panoramic vent sunroof, but don't be fooled. The large piece of glass up top doesn't actually open or retract. It merely tilts open for a tease of fresh air. It feels like a wasted effort but speaking pragmatically, it does let in a lot of light to flush away any feelings of cabin-claustrophobia.

Another minor complaint I had was the awkwardly tilted analog clock placed in the center of the dashboard. Remember in the Jaguar XJ where the clock was angled downwards so the people sitting in the back could see it better? In the CC its up been angled upwards... for some reason. The only deed it's done so far wasn't telling the time, but rather reflecting the sun's rays directly into the corner of my eye. Furthermore, the linear three-spoke steering wheel is started to look a bit dated, especially once you've seen what the new Golf and Jetta have to offer. Piano black is now in style. However the overall fit and finish of the CC's cabin is astonishing. Like the rest of the Volkswagen vehicles, there are no rattling parts or loose plastics. In our experience, the craftsmanship on their 2015 models have been at the top of the ranks. Keep in mind that this specific press vehicle has done over 10,000 kilometres too.

The CC comes with a choice of two powerplants: a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four that delivers 200 hp and 207 lb-ft torque, and a 3.6-litre V6 (only offered on the Execline trim) that produces 280 hp and 265 lb-ft. The latter V6 engine is the only one that comes with all-wheel drive. Further choices include the option between a 6-speed manual transmission (standard) and a 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox ($1400 extra), dubbed DSG. Our tester came with the 2.0-litre turbo-four and I must say, it feels faster than the numbers suggest. It certainly doesn't feel like a paltry 200 horsepower when you floor the throttle. There isn't much turbo lag either and the pull is incredible. Floor it and the front wheels will spin every time - maybe that's too much power? Though I did find the power delivery a little jumpy on the initial throttle push.

We also had the 6-speed DSG equipped on our CC and the shifts were bewilderingly quick. Slap those cheap-feeling paddle shifters mounted on the back of the wheel and watch the needles race to the redline - the downshift from third to second is the most rewarding. The CC's exhaust notes aren't particularly enjoyable but what did you expect? It's a different story with the V6.

One minor gripe I had was the numb steering feel. It wasn't incredibly responsive or as athletic as the Golf or Jetta we drove a few weeks ago. It certainly tries to play the part of a sports sedan, but ultimately falls short. It feels more of a family sedan catered towards styling with a bit of pseudo-sportiness. The suspension didn't help either. It was hard and stiff (get your mind outta' the gutter) and minor road bumps would translate into spinal reconstructions. Okay, maybe I exaggerated that last part a little too much but the point is, we've driven more comfortable mid-size sedans at a similar price point.

The 2015 Volkswagen CC is a solid car. It's not the sportiest of sedans but it succeeds in trying to be mimic one. Understated engine power, refined good looks, a clean interior and a vast pit of standard options make it quite an attractive bargain. For the amount of car you get for the money, it's hard not to like the CC. Oh hey those are my initials too.