Review and images by Russell Purcell
2015 Volkswagen CC, as driven by Russell Purcell
Overview: Five-passenger, mid-size, front-wheel-drive sedan
Pros: Lots of curb appeal and high level fit and finish throughout the cabin.
Cons: CVT transmission can be noisy, DSG shift paddles look and feel cheap due to plastic construction.
Value for money: Fair
What would I change?: Several people remarked on the fact that the CC name is silly.
Styling is everything in the automotive world, and current fashion dictates that cars exhibit sleek lines and plenty of curves in an effort to add a sense of flair and extra curb appeal. This trend has carried over to the sedan market, where the traditional four-door design has given way to the more sensual lines of a coupe.
Volkswagen was an early adopter for this direction of styling. In 2008, the company’s designers penned an all-new model, the Volkswagen CC (Comfort Coupe), which was based on the venerable mid-size Passat. Targeted at the young executive, this stylish automobile features a chopped roofline and aerodynamic bodywork in an effort to give this rather interesting sedan a very coupe-like profile.
The 2015 VW CC Highline rolls on upgraded 18-inch wheels and all CCs feature Bi-Xenon headlamps and LED Daytime Driving Lights.
PNG Merlin Archive, Driving
There are three trim levels of the CC available for 2015: sportline, highline and execline.
There is a significant bump in the price as you move up the pecking order, but the sportline is so well equipped that I suspect that this entry-level model will be the popular choice with most buyers, as it does offer big ticket styling for a competitive price.
The optional R-line package can be added to any model, and includes unique 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as an R-line appearance package which includes side skirts, a revised front bumper, aluminum door sills and distinctive badging.
Our test unit was a CC highline, complete with the additional technology package which adds navigation, a 30-gigabyte hard drive, a side-assist lane change assistant and a Dynaudio 600-watt surround sound system with 10 speakers.
Interestingly, the slinky CC offers more headroom front and rear, despite being slightly shorter and lower than the traditional Passat sedan, but all other interior and exterior dimensions are slightly smaller on the CC.
Volkswagen made a few revisions to the car’s aerodynamic body front and rear for 2013 to bring the car up to date with the company’s current design portfolio. Bi-Xenon headlights, LED tail lights and LED daytime running lights were welcome additions to the long list of standard equipment, and the end result gives the CC a more upmarket look when compared to rival offerings.
Volkswagen is known for keeping the design of the passenger environment as minimalist as possible.
The end result is clean and rather simple, and the quality of fit and finish is impressive for a car in this segment of the market.
The Volkswagen CC brings a huge amount of curb appeal due to its sleek lines and aerodynamic body.
PNG Merlin Archive, Driving
The majority of the surface materials and trim pieces are pleasing to the touch and the eye, but the taut leather wrapping the car’s seats is rather firm for my liking.
Visibility is surprisingly good for a car with a chopped roofline, and all controls seem well placed and intuitive to use.
The CC offers seating for five adults, but the rear compartment is still best suited for two passengers if plans call for extended travel. The power glass panorama sunroof that comes as part of the highline upgrade helps enhance the feel of spacious of the cabin.
At 6-foot-2, I had sufficient room in both front seat positions, but the rear passenger compartment is best reserved for adults of an average height and children as the sloping roofline and narrow door openings make ingress and egress a bit of a challenge.
I will be the first to admit that I am not designed to be a rear-seat passenger in many mid-size offerings, but once seated I did find sufficient room for my big feet and the seating position was comfortable and supportive.
Volkswagen markets the CC with two different power plants. Under the hood of the sportline and highline cars you will find the company’s turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine, which offers 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.
Both models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but most buyers will select the optional six-speed, dual-clutch (DSG) automatic.
The CCs trunk will accommodate up to 374- litres of cargo, and the rear seat backs fold forward to accommodate larger items.
PNG Merlin Archive, Driving
For those customers looking for a little extra power, stepping up to the top-tier execline model puts a 3.6-litre V-6 engine which produces 280 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque on the menu.
This model comes standard with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system and is mated to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic.
The four-cylinder highline test vehicle featured the DSG transmission, and although I found it to be a little noisy at highway speeds, I never found myself wanting more power. The turbo spools up quickly and gives the CC rather athletic performance for such a small engine. The DSG automatic transmission proved to be a smooth operator, and I was able to navigate up and down the gear ratios with ease in an attempt to extract the most driving pleasure possible from its wide power band.
The CC uses a strut-type sport-tuned suspension which seems adept at insulating passengers from the effects of bumps and road irregularities and delivers a very smooth ride.
Handling is composed and predictable, but far from sporty, as the electro-mechanical steering feels somewhat vague.
Stopping power is impressive, as there are big disc brakes at all four corners backed up by ABS.
The Volkswagen CC is a well-built automobile with a long list of comfort and convenience features and unique styling, but it seems to be a bit pricey when compared to similarly equipped automobiles in the Canadian marketplace.
Style always comes at a price.
The HVAC controls are simple to use and are large enough that they can even be manipulated while wearing gloves.
PNG Merlin Archive, Driving
2015 Volkswagen CC, as driven by Russell Purcell
Type of vehicle: Front-wheel-drive, front-engine, mid-size sedan
Engine: 2.0-litre, DOHC, turbo-charged, inline 4-cylinder
Power: 200 hp @ 5,100 – 6,000 rpm; 207 lb.-ft. @ 1,750 – 5,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual / optional 6-speed DSG automatic transmission
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires: (Front/rear) P235/45R17
Price: base / as tested: $36,375 / $44,975
Destination charge: $1,395
Natural Resources Canada fuel economy L / 100 km
City: 11.4L (24.7 mpg); Hwy: 7.4 ( 38.1 mpg)
Standard features: Dual-zone automatic climate control, alarm system, immobilizer, cruise control with active display, KESSY keyless access with pushbutton start, digital compass, Premium 8 AM/FM radio sound system – touch screen with 6-disc CD changer and SD card input; 8-speakers, Media Device Interface with iPod connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, 12-way power adjustable driver seat, 8-way power adjustable passenger seat, heated front seats, 60/40-split rear seats, rear view camera, electronic parking brake, Intelligent Crash Response System, leather wrapped steering wheel, leather shift knob, tilt/telescoping steering column, 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth with voice activation, leatherette sport seats, Titanium silver trim, two 12-volt auxiliary outlets, body coloured bumpers with chrome accents, dual steel exhaust pipes, chrome front grille, tinted glass, automatic Bi-Xenon headlamps, adaptive headlamps, LED Daytime Running Lights, halogen fog lamps, power heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, LED taillights, advanced airbags (front, side and side curtain), Tire Pressure Monitoring System, rear view camera, Intelligent Crash Response System, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated washer nozzles.
Options: Technology Package ($2,600): Includes navigation, a 30-gigabyte hard drive, Side Assist lane change assistant, and the Dynaudio 600-watt surround sound system with 10 speakers.
