Agent 001 had the opportunity to spend some time this past week driving the new Volkswagen CC. A coupe similar in concept to the Mercedes-Benz CLS, this low slung car is certainly a looker with pictures really not doing the car justice.
I had a chance to spend some time with Agent 001 and got to check out the CC as well, and while I liked what I saw in print, the CC in person is really a great looking car that I think VW will have no problem moving off dealer lots.
Of course anytime we get a new car it is inevitable that we ask you which car you would choose, and this will be no exception. The players are all new or redesigned within the last few months.
Nissan has stepped up its game in bringing the new Maxima to market. Aggressive styling along with a top notch interior, the Maxima seeks to revive the 4-Door Sports Car claim (4DSC) that Nissan has used for years. Like the CC, the Maxima looks better in person than it does in pictures. The ability to have your eyes follow the lines, and to see the light reflect from the many surfaces really allows one to appreciate the attention to detail Nissan put into the new Maxima.
Acura has taken a lot of heat lately for the design language that is migrating across the lineup. The TL is by far the most outrageous design, with the strongest elements and accents to date. I hope that in person the new TL looks better than the pictures suggest, as the pictures really do not flatter the new TL. While the TL wears dramatic elements on all sides, it is the nose that has attracted the most criticism. The interior however is a place that few can find fault with, details are plentiful and attractive raising it to yet another new high, and the accents and attention to detail should do well with existing Acura customers along with attracting new customers as well.
If the new Volkswagen CC is any indication, it would seem as though VW is serious about its goal of 800,000 sales a year in the US. This low slung 4-Door coupe should generate a lot of traffic at VW dealers, and would be a good alternative to the Maxima or TL.
So the question is, which car would you choose. All three have their own pros and cons, and I don't think you would go wrong by choosing one over the other, but which one would you choose?