VW Passat CC
The Power of Four
The name is confusing. You are not the only person to think so. Despite the “CC” badge, this model is neither convertible nor coupé. VW calls it a “Comfort Coupé” – a car that boasts four doors, four seats and a spacious boot. Sounds to be ticking all the practical considerations of a normal saloon, yet it also has the elegance and sporty appeal of a coupé - a win-win formula, right?
Well perhaps but where does that leave the current Passat? And if the CC merely slots in above it will this ’something for everyone car’ be seen as purely a marketing exercise to stir some excitement for the brand? The problem here seems to lie with its name, as a concept it worked but the production version should have been given a fresh identity. A case in point is what Mercedes-Benz did with their E-Class CLS. Would the CLS500 have been as desirable if it was merely an E500 CC?
A coupe only in name
Despite its modest title and despite the fact that the CC uses most of the parts from the normal Passat, it is longer, wider and lower than the standard model. There is no shortage of stylishness either but it wouldn’t have hurt if the front appeared a little more exciting. As it is the face of the CC appears a little drab in relation to an otherwise impressive design.
Its profile is most notably marked by a sweeping coupe-like roofline and sporty lines that stretch along the flanks. The lower lines give the impression of tucked in linen which ensures a streamlined profile, and the B-pillar has been covered by a high gloss black panel to further contribute to the clean and sporty look. There is little doubt that this is the most attractive VW model. Perhaps ever.
Luxurious sportiness
Swing open the driver’s door, and the sporty theme is extended from exterior to interior through to the frameless windows. Volkswagen successfully moved the interior a few rungs up on the luxury ladder, and the result is easily on par with Lexus, BMW and, dare I say, Audi models. A firm focus has been placed on style with a curvaceous dashboard that hangs slightly over at the front and is quilted in soft materials. There is however, a very definite sporty overtone which is enforced by the rough white stitching, sporty seats and chrome accents.
Passengers in the rear are separated by a hard console instead of the usual padded upholstery. Both seats have been moved inwards to compensate for that sweeping roofline, and as long as you don’t measure beyond the six foot mark, you will be very comfortable and have ample legroom. Another major advantage over a traditional coupe is the exceptionally large 532 liter boot.
Diesel driving force
Five engines from the standard Passat range have been carried over for the CC, including three petrol versions and two diesel options. My test car, and the most popular power source by far, was the 2.0TDI which was linked to a six speed manual gearbox. Volkswagen reckons that as much as 60% of all CC’s sold will be powered by this engine. This is the same refined diesel powersource that powers the latest A4 – popular especially because of its torquey nature (320Nm at 1,750r/min) and impressive consumption (48.7mpg).
This engine pulls strongly from around 1,800r/min until it hits the red line at 5,000r/min, and never feels short of breath. When you step hard on the accelerator it does emit a rougher sound that you would expect, but at high speeds this just about disappears.
Comfortable and convenient
Nowhere is the C for “Comfort” more noticeable than in the handling of the CC. In the first sharp bend you immediately notice that VW did not set out to create a sports car with this Passat. The focus is firmly on a sit-back-and-enjoy experience and the car excels particularly on the open road with suspension that absorbs any surface irregularities, and with proper insulation against road noise.
As is the case with competitors the list of extras is expansive, but particularly noteworthy is Lane Assist which not only warns you when you drift into another lane, but actively corrects you. The CC can also be ordered with Park Assist which scans the roadside for suitable parking spots and then, once reverse gear is selected in the recommended start position, parks the car without any driver input.
The CC answers all the practical considerations of competitors like the C-Class, 3 Series and Lexus IS250, but with a roughly similar price ticket offers a much sportier presence which would normally cost a whole lot more.
FOR: Well equipped, great cruiser, plenty of torque and oodles of boot space.
AGAINST: Head on, it looks a little drab.
VERDICT: If you can look past the Passat nametag, then this model offers very worthy value.
SPEC:
ENGINE: 1968cc
POWER: 140PS @ 4200rpm
TORQUE: 320Nm @ 1750rpm
TOP SPEED: 132mph
0-62mph: 9.8 seconds
AVERAGE FUEL CONSUMPTION: 48.7mpg
PRICE: £21,895
RIVALS: Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS250