Battle of two classy contenders

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The four-passenger 2009 Volkswagen Passat CC has a curvy roofline, frameless windows and creased body panels that together help set it apart from run-of-the-mill mid-size sedans.

And the five-seat 2009 Mazda6, another front-wheel-drive mid-size available with a fuel-sipping four-cylinder engine, has its own cat-eye headlamps and bulging fenders - a powerful design that is so good, we've almost forgotten the blandness of the previous 6.

These two are among the best-looking sedans of their $30,000-something type. And you don't need to dole out for the V-6 engines to enjoy them. Of course, if you choose to …

The Mazda6 is sold with a 272-horsepower, 3.7-litre V-6 starting at $28,295. That's a lot of juice under the hood, but it's not required.

An absolutely loaded Mazda6 GT-I4 - the four-cylinder version - stickers at $28,395 and has a plenty-powerful 170-hp four-banger. It's about 20 per cent more fuel efficient in the city, too.

VW sells a CC with a 280-hp, 3.6-litre V-6. Powerful, obviously. But you can only get that motor in the all-wheel-drive version, and that one lists for $44,975. That's a pretty ritzy snack bracket.

But the 200-hp base Sportline version of the Passat CC stickers at $31,975. More expensive than the four-cylinder Mazda6 GT, but not out of the ballpark.

Both are sold with a six-speed manual gearbox, so if you want an autobox, you're looking at another $1,400 with the VW (a six-speed with Tiptronic paddle shifters) and $1,200 for the Mazda (a less elaborate five-speed).

Honestly, the performance here is a wash between the two. Both ride well, on the firm-ish side. Braking, steering, cornering and straight-ahead ride comfort all are very close, as well.

But there is a difference in interiors. The VW has a two-tone cabin and it looks and feels luxurious. The leatherette upholstery will probably stand up better over time than real leather, too. And there are enough features that come standard to encourage you to not even bother with the options list.

The Mazda's cabin is not quite as rich and as elegant as the VW's, but it's not second rate, either. VW just wins this one on presentation and the higher-grade materials.

On the other hand, the Mazda has a longer wheelbase, therefore its back seat is roomier and more useful than the CC's.

VW has done something bold and daring with the CC: offer a premium-looking, up-market-feeling sedan at a price half that of, say, a Mercedes-Benz CLS.

Mazda has not gone quite so far in trying to push the premium button, yet the design is a grabber and the car is quiet and comfortable and a little bit sporty. Not as sporty as the CC, but the Japanese car is a little less expensive than the German one.

Neither is boring, however. And that, too, makes picking one over the other difficult. But if it were my choice, I'd get the Mazda and pocket the cash.