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2011 Volkswagen CC: A Luxury Car for the People
Will North Americans accept a luxury saloon from VW? The automaker means to find out.
Initial Thoughts
While precious few of them ever left Canadian showrooms, the VW Phaeton remains one of the finest cars not just made by Volkswagen, but by anyone. Much like 1980s era Benzes, built like tanks, with attention paid to making every last detail as good as it could possibly be, the original Phaeton was a masterpiece of engineering. Available with a monstrous six-litre W-12 engine, and riding as well as any S-Class or A8 (with which it shared a platform) the Phaeton should have been a hit. And if not for the two letters on the hood, it might well have been. Instead, the Phaeton faltered, and was eventually pulled from North America entirely. Apparently, we just weren't ready for a luxury car from the maker of the Beetle. Those crafty engineers at Wolfsburg don't give up easily, however, and the Passat CC (or simply "CC" as it's known for 2011) is an admirable attempt to poach customers from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, while expanding upon VW's already massive global popularity. With sleek sheetmetal, a sprightly four-cylinder and a truly luxurious interior, the new CC appears to have everything an A4 or 3-Series does. Except of course a luxury badge. Which could be a problem.
Performance
The new CC is available with a choice of two engines, the first a turbocharged four-cylinder making a respectable 200-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque and the second, a V6, producing 280 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder is available in either a six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG automatic, while the V6 is only available with a six-speed Tiptronic auto. The smaller engine is plenty powerful, and might completely steal the thunder of the V6 were it not for the 4Motion AWD system, which is only available in the V6 powertrain. Snowy weather notwithstanding, the four-cylinder CC rides and drives wonderfully, with a typical German tautness to its handling and a smooth, firm ride.
Ergonomics/Comfort/Quality
The name CC stands for "Comfort Coupe", which puts this vehicle in the odd (and newly coined) class of "four-door coupes." In this case, it means that the CC has a nifty 2+2 seating plan, with a rear console instead of a middle seat. Since many people rarely use that seat anyway, it makes sense to sacrifice it in the name of a little coupe-like style, but for some this may end up being an issue. The seats themselves are beautiful, comfortable and available in striking two-tone leather. The steering wheel is a sporty-looking three-spoke and the automatic shifter is one of the nicest we've encountered. Overall, the interior is understated and stylish, the automotive equivalent to Scandinavian modern furniture.
Functionality/Usability
Apart from the rear seat issue, the CC remains a practical, functional four-door sedan (or four-door coupe, if you believe in such things) and its four-cylinder engine will certainly appeal to those concerned with fuel economy. Pricing wise, it sits above the Passat at $33,375 for the Sportline, and a lofty $46,375 for the Highline V6 with AWD. To put that price in perspective, it's the same as a BMW 328ix Coupe, and three grand and change more than an Audi A4 Quattro. And when you look at it that way, it becomes a much more complicated proposition.
Conclusion
Volkswagen has one of the best brand reputations out there among the young, hip and upwardly mobile. Only problem is, once those creatives move from entry-level to executive, they tend to upgrade their vehicles from the humble, friendly VW to something more in Audi and BMW territory. The CC is a fine car, no question about it, but if for luxury money, most people want a luxury brand.
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