Volkswagen putting bench seat option in its CC sedan

(January 24, 2010) The four-door sedan was a hot topic a year ago, and Volkswagen's Passat CC remains one of the only offerings in the affordable end of the spectrum. BMW and Mercedes also offer four-seat sedans.

But apparently buyers, while intrigued by the CC look, have been put off by the four-seat configuration. VW has listened and is offering a new bench rear seat that expands seating to five.

The move may speak to the slow sales of the car. The four-door coupe is envisioned as an empty-nester's car, providing a capable tourer for two couples, or a handy golf-day foursome conveyance. But evidently precluding five passengers has not been a strong selling point.