Volkswagen CC review

Volkswagen added a little pizzazz to the Passat range when it introduced the CC. The front end is dominated by a multi-slatted, chrome-effect grille that sweeps into the sleek headlights with LED daytime running lights. A sloping roof, smart alloy wheels, more chrome highlights on the side doors and a neat rear end complete the four-door coupe look. 

The VW CC began life as the Passat CC, and was facelifted in 2011, which is when the Passat name was dropped, to help set the CC apart. The facelifted car is the one you’ll usually find for sale with cinch. 

The VW CC was available with a range of petrol (1.4, 1.8 and 2.0) and diesel engines when new. It’s the diesels that are more popular – and our favourite. The 2.0-litre diesel is available with different power outputs and all versions are punchy and economical – certainly powerful enough for motorway work. 

The CC comes with a ‘sports’ suspension as standard. Comfort is its main forte, though, with poor road surfaces in town and on the motorway dealt with easily. That sports suspension also makes sure there’s little body lean when you’re on a twisty country road or just negotiating a roundabout – there’s no CC sickness in this ride. GT-spec cars come with adaptive rides that have Normal, Comfort and Sport modes.  

The VW CC’s interior uses plenty of quality materials and is nicely put together, with soft-touch materials on top of the dashboard, and decent plastics and metal elsewhere. A smart analogue clock sits in the middle of the dash, to emphasise the quality on offer. There’s a touchscreen beneath, with shortcut buttons either side.  

You’ll find physical controls for the ventilation below this and a handful of buttons either side of the gear lever. Overall we’d say it’s a nice, minimalist interior – a bit like fancy office space.  

Every CC gets Bluetooth and sat-nav, cruise control, heated front seats, a multi-function steering wheel and extra sound deadening over the Passat (which improves refinement). Most cars also get a digital radio, auto lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, nicer leather on the seats and even a reversing camera. The touchscreen is a little on the small side compared with more modern rivals, but it’s responsive and the audio system is impressive. 

Safety kit includes a driver fatigue detection system and stability control, and some cars get traffic sign recognition – where the current speed limit is shown on the dashboard – blind spot alert and lane change assist. It’s basically doing everything to can to stop you from having an accident on long journeys.  

The seats themselves are very comfortable, especially up front, where they offer plenty of support. There’s more than enough room in the front seats and legroom is good in the rears, although that sloping roof may cause an issue for anyone over 6 feet. Technically, there’s room for three in the rear seats, but the middle one is narrow, so is best saved for a child. 

Space for oddments comes in the form of door bins, a decent glovebox, cup holders behind the gear lever and a few trays, including in the roof console, and room under the front armrest.  

Open the boot lid (some cars let you waggle your foot under the bumper before it rises automatically) and you’re greeted by a surprisingly practical boot. It’s a good shape and will take a few suitcases – just bear in mind the saloon-style opening. The rear seatbacks are split 60/40 and can be folded almost flat from within the boot to allow you to carry longer loads. 

Real-world economy for the petrol engines is likely to be 30mpg-plus, although you may be able to squeak 40mpg on longer journeys. The diesels are better, with average economy starting in the 40s.

We love that VW created a sleeker, more luxurious version of the Passat for those who wanted something different from the usual raft of executive saloons. The CC is a well-equipped, premium coupe for four and their luggage to travel in complete comfort. It’s perfect for family life but also ideal for business drivers who may have opted out of their company car scheme but need something smart for work.