The more frugal version of Volkswagen’s Passat CC might just take the title of “sleek sedan with coupe styling” from the Hyundai Sonata with its innocuous, slab-sided exterior that’s undeniably stylish. However, aside from a new grille style and additional electronic touches, the 2013 Volkswagen CC might not be much different from its predecessors. The car still maintains its economic position with even lower prices for US models without compromising the comfort, reliability and desire for adventure that sometimes arises in enthusiast drivers.
Excess baggage
No longer known as the “Passat”, the Volkswagen Group decided to drop the name and go with just “CC”. This is not a surprise if you live in the Eurozone where everything is being cut to deal with the economic crisis, but a name drop wouldn’t offer much relief, perhaps they would have replaced the leather with remnants from the California wildfire. which managed to occupy much of the interior of Fisker Karma. However, if you have a lot of “royal luggage”, fear not, since the size of the trunk of the car is large enough, as well as the interior, which is explained below.
Inside
If you’ve ever been inside a Volkswagen Group vehicle before, you’ll understand the instantly welcoming attitude of the dashboard even before you start the car – the VW Passat CC is no different. The leather seats are comfortable and seemingly luxurious, with beautiful details here and there for a more “delicate” feel in its competition against the high-priced Mercedes CLS. The plastics are smooth to the touch, the typefaces admirably concise, and the whole cabin simple but distinctly appealing to the simple but attractive man. Headroom may not compete with that of the Mercedes CLS, but there’s enough legroom for a party of midgets. The driver’s legs are offset to the center and the power seats are configured in 12 different dimensions, but the party doesn’t end there. There are drinks for those who go for the mid-range trimmings, and desserts for those who get the fancy trimmings. If you’re feeling lost, this is what I’m talking about:
There are five different versions available for the VW Passat CC: Sport, Sport plus, Lux, V6 Lux and VR6 Executive. The car’s 12-way power seats and climate control start with “Sport,” while “Sport plus” adds DSG transmission and a satellite navigation system. “Lux” boasts aluminum trim, ambient lighting and a moonroof, “V6 Lux” bakes a rear view camera, larger screen and memory seats all into one package, while the spectacular “VR6 Executive It combines a rear sunshade, parking sensors, all-wheel drive, and heated, cooled, and massaging front seats.
infotainment
I have always been in the front seats to support VW Passat, but when it comes to entertainment, I can only lower my head. Poor resolution on the 5 inch touchscreen (400 x 200 pixels), no voice command anywhere in this car, no USB plug for non-apple devices, and the audio player is the CD player very basic with AM/FM Sirius radio only spiced with iDevice integration. The only praiseworthy component is the Bluetooth audio streaming and the 600-watt, 10-speaker Dynaudio system in the VR6. The navigation system is low-end with a minimal screen size upgrade on the Lux and V6 models from 5.0 to 6.5 inches and a color LCD on the VR6.
road performance
The Volkswagen Passat CC’s 2.0L TDI engine with 139 horsepower and a combined economy of 60 mpg will leave you almost completely satisfied if you’re not going for a road race. The good mileage is a result of VW’s BlueMotion fuel-saving technology using a smart alternator that makes the Prius’ ETCS-i yesterday’s news. The gearbox is a 6 speed manual transmitting with well spaced ratios for efficient driving but again not for road racing! The flywheel has a nice weight to it, though, and the ride is very quiet, but the higher-powered 158bhp and 207bhp versions are a bit noisier. The ride height is a bit lower than the standard Passat, but most parts are interchangeable. However, the Sport trim lacks the DSG transmission that starts with the Sport plus trim and is more ideal in traffic, but a bit high on fuel bills. No driver input is offered, as the ride remains housed in traditional austerity and a lot of work will be needed to achieve chassis balance as agreed by BMW. The toothed surfaces are a bit responsive, so it’s not ideal for off-roading, and this is compounded by the 18-inch wheels that “The Telegraph” describes as “disruptive.” The car’s lane-change system also doesn’t always detect road markings, and the foot-activated trunk switch under the bumper is very ineffective. It’s still not clear what VW was thinking by suggesting opening the trunk by sliding your feet under the rear bumper, known as ‘air kicking’, but if this is the direction innovations are taking us in, I bet to that we still have to see more. .
fact file
- Price: £24,200 – £30,100
- Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder turbodiesel
- Power: 138 horsepower at 4200 rpm / 236 lb-ft at 1750 rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, FWD
- Top speed: 133 mph
- Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds
- Fuel Economy: 60 miles per gallon
