German Car Zone

Many are the mid-size sedan offerings, and most are sold in large numbers. Naturally, whenever a product is produced in great quantities, its very popularity will cause a subset of its audience to seek an alternative. Something a bit sportier, or more luxurious, or more stylish. The Volkswagen CC, the Nissan Maxima, and the Mazda 6 all hail from mainstream automakers, yet all three address this desire for something more in a mid-size car.

Volkswagen's CC - the letters stand for Comfort Coupe - is the newest of the three. This low-slung four-door is essentially a rebodied Passat. VW has wrapped its mid-size sedan mechanicals in a sheetmetal form that is obviously inspired by the Mercedes-Benz CLS (itself a rebodied E-class).

The Nissan Maxima has been a premium mid-size offering forever - or so it seems - but the 2009 version has been restyled inside and out to put more psychic distance between it and Nissan's volume-selling Altima, which uses the same platform.

The 6 is Mazda's volume-selling mid-sizer, except that it's never sold in quantities anywhere near those of its big-name competitors, the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. That alone makes it a bit of an alternative choice, and we've long felt that the Mazda provides a greater degree of driver involvement than the typical mid-size sedan. For 2009, the 6 is brand-new, with a particularly shapely new design. West Coast editor Jason Cammisa came back from his initial drive raving about the new version, so we thought a top-spec 6 could hold its own in this company.

Styling is the first element you encounter, and although appearance is ultimately subjective, a few comments can be made. The Mazda's look is a major departure from that of its mundane predecessor, but the design is still perhaps not as dramatic as the other two cars here. The new Maxima is a vast improvement over the previous model and looks nothing like the Altima. The VW is a faithful copy of the CLS, from its banana-shaped profile to its slitlike side windows, but if you're going to copy, the highly successful CLS is a good template.

In all three of these cars, the emphasis on style means a rakish roofline that threatens to seriously clip rear-seat headroom. True enough, medium-height and taller adults risk a painful thwack if they forget to duck their heads getting into the back of any of these cars.


Full Story: Automobile Magazine - 2009 Volkswagen CC vs 2009 Nissan Maxima vs 2009 Mazda 6



M

Kind of an odd test I believe. This category isnt really defined. But I absolutely love the new NA Mazda 6. The interior also very good for its class, however it doesnt compare to the Passat CC and Maxima.

Exterior styling = Mazda 6
Interior styling = Passat CC

The Maxima looks like a freaking buffalo.

I actually really like the Maxima, I think the front has a really agressive look and the back rear lights looks pretty nice at night.

1) Passat CC
2) Maxima
3) 6

Based on exterior looks alone:

1) VW Passat CC (by far)

2) Mazda 6

3) Nissan Maxima

Basically the CC is the only car of the three that doesn't look like ET. That said, it would be 100% my choise!

The seats in the CC look like thay came out of a 1964 VW Bettle. That is extremely outdated!!

The Mazda is the best looking out of the three.. It reminds me of the CL a little.

The seats of the CC are one of my favorite parts, if not my favorite. I think they look high quality and look really nice to sit in. They also won't wear as badly because of the numerous stitchings.

Mazda6
Maxima
Passat CC

I like the CC but would never buy one,it's nice and all but it just screams i can't afford a MB

Nice comparo! I always loved sporty sedans & hence, love all 3 here, they all sure looks good!

As per personal experience:

1: Nissan Maxima (I've owned one in past)
2: Vw Passat-Cc (yet to drive, but I'm sure she won't disappoint me)
3: Mazda6 (test driven one & not bad)


As per looks:

1: Vw Passat-Cc
2: Mazda6
3: Nissan Maxima