VOLKSWAGEN has some history with oddball Passats – namely the $100,000 W8 AWD sedan of 2003 – but the four-door coupe version known as the ‘CC’ introduced in 2009 is another mid-size curio out of left field.

Clearly inspired by the success of the Mercedes CLS, the four-seat Passat flagship struggled to find a footing in the Australian market.

Now, after a facelift and overhaul that sees more features for the same money, we wonder whether Volkswagen will have an easier time Down Under.