SWOOPY lines, a rakish profile and an overall elegance that hints at the exotic.

The Volkswagen CC started life with the well-respected but hardly exciting name of Passat, but these days it leaves behind the more mundane tag in favour of a racier existence.

Like the suave Mercedes CLS, it provides four doors and comfortable seating for four within a lengthy body that is more coupe-shaped than saloon.

The aim is to give the stylish and young-at-heart more elegance without sacrificing much in the way of practicality. And judging by sales figures, the formula works.

Obviously, behind the glamorous exterior there's VW's ubiquitous engine range, platform and running gear. But that only serves to reassure owners over reliability and allows the CC - which incidentally stands for Comfort Coupe - to represent good value for money.

I drove the 2.0TDI version with 175bhp with DSG twin clutch automatic gearbox which is a good match to the CC's fuss-free style of motoring. The engine, used across the range in SEAT, Skoda, VW and Audi, is a trusty unit with plenty of clout although there are now quieter, newer and more efficient diesels on the market.

Despite the low slung looks and the rakish profile, the CC remains almost as roomy as its more staid brother, the Passat. The main drawback of the coupe styling is that tall rear seat passengers must dip their heads getting in and out.

Once seated there's ample headroom for a six-footer. The boot remains generously sized with space for 452-litres of luggage. A Passat estate version is available for those who need serious load capacity.

The cabin has a definite up-market ait with heavy duty plastic mouldings and plenty of soft-touch furnishings. It's practical too for families with plenty of cup holders, cubbies and storage compartments that help make life on the move a bit easier.

The model's sleek shape benefits top speed which is 137mph with strong acceleration throughout the rev band. 62mph is reached in 8.4secs. There's little wind or tyre noise and the rather gruff engine note from the four-cylinder diesel soon fades into the background as speed mounts.

It is as a long distance motorway express that the CC really exhibits its strength.

Cornering on twisty roads, however, is reassuringly secure with little body roll and no sign of steering-tug under full power - so often a failing in front-drive cars. The test car was fitted with optional Dynamic Chassis Control with three settings to adjust the ride. Comfort mode made the suspension somewhat softer and was ideal over poor surfaces.

The DSG gearbox, which comes with steering wheel paddles for sporty drivers who want greater control, takes much of the hassle out of town driving or motorway traffic crawls. The ratios are well spaced and the changes are ultra fast and very smooth.