2014 Volkswagen CC Reviews

2014 Volkswagen CC Reviews

The 2014 Volkswagen CC eschews a little practicality in the name of fashion; but even some who need to use it as a sedan will find it a worthwhile compromise.

• Interior / Exterior »

The Volkswagen CC is particularly rakish for a sedan–so much that Volkswagen was calling it a four-door coupe when it first introduced the model a number of years back. While the design holds its own even today, and it still looks more rakish than the conservative Passat mid-size sedan, it’s no longer one of the most daring four-door designs.



While up close it might look decidedly like a sedan, if you step back and view this model’s side profile, it’s easy to see why. it has proportions that hint ‘rear-wheel-drive sport sedan’ to some (and nod to the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Audi A7, among others), even though it’s a front-driver. Frameless doors are among a few details that still give this model some design conversation points.
Volkswagen just last year gave the CC a mid-cycle refresh that kept its distinct profile but redrew some of the details in front and in back (adding LED lamps, among other upscale touches). Other noteworthy changes then included a rejiggered three-person back seat (in earlier model years you’ll find a stylish but less practical two-person setup), and upgraded materials for the dash and cabin.

• Performance »

There’s only one way to get the CC, in our opinion: with the 200-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (2.0T). Models with it feel lighter and more nimble than their top-of-the-line VR6 4Motion counterparts. The four churns out plenty of low- and mid-rev torque with only a slight delay if revs are at the low end, while the narrow-angle VR6 is spirited but seems to take a moment more to build steam.

Parsing it out by price, the even the base $31,795 CC essentially drives just much like the Passat in one of its more luxurious guises–with refinement clearly taking the priority over edginess or all-out performance.
With direct injection and turbocharging, the four makes 200 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque. There’s only the slightest delay in response at low revs; it really feels like a larger engine, and the DSG dual-clutch automatic helps make the most of it with clap-quick shifts. A six-speed manual is standard on the Sport, though, if that’s the way you like it.

As for how the CC handles, the best way to put it is that if you expect the obsessively tweaked and tuned chassis of a German sport sedan, you’re likely to be a little bit disappointed; on the other hand, if you’re comparing the CC to mass-market,comfort-oriented mid-size sedans, the CC stands out as quite athletic and graceful. There’s plenty of body lean near the limit, but the CC doesn’t at all feel out of its element on a curvy road, and the steering loads and unloads nicely.
The steering feel itself is a little too light for our tastes in ordinary, around-town driving, although there’s just enough weighting on center to give it a relaxed demeanor on the highway. Brakes remain strong and capable.
The VR6 requires a different value calculation entirely. If you’re willing to pay many thousands more, you can upgrade this model and its narrow-angle V-6 engine that in this application displaces 3.6 liters and makes 280 horsepower. With its included 4Motion all-wheel drive, you might get a little more all-weather traction but it doesn’t feel much if any perkier than the four. It has a different character entirely, too—rather gruff and vocal, and needing to be revved to extract its torque. The engine functions pretty well with its six-speed automatic (not the DSG), but upshifts can be lumpy and downshifts hesitant.
While the CC might look like a serious sport sedan–or one with serious luxury credentials–it doesn’t quite deliver to that impression. On the other hand what it does deliver, performance-wise, is better than what you might expect considering the 2013 CC’s $31k base price: It essentially drives just much like the Passat in its more luxurious guises, with refinement clearly taking the priority over edginess or all-out performance.
We remain convinced that there’s only one way to get the CC: with the 200-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (2.0T). Models with it feel lighter and more nimble than their top-of-the-line VR6 and 4Motion counterparts. The four churns out plenty of low- and mid-rev torque with only a slight delay if revs are at the low end, while the narrow-angle VR6 is spirited but seems to take a moment more to build steam.
It’s not all that surprising that you lose a little practicality in moving from a more upright design like that of the Passat to the CC’s swoopier package. Headroom is a bit tight, and you’ll either love or hate the somewhat ‘scooped up’ driving position. The three-passenger back seat is comfortable, but headroom is tight and the curvy roofline makes entry and exit tougher than you might think. But the interior trims look and feel luxury-grade, the ride is absorbent and controlled, and the trunk is huge.The 2014 Volkswagen CC is now offered in Sport, R-Line, 2.0T Executive, and VR6 Executive models. Now for 2014, the big news is that you no longer have to get the V6 in order to enjoy the top Executive trim–allowing you to pair the more fuel-efficient engine with some of the top features like premium sound, massage seats, and leather upholstery. The VR6 model remains the only one in the lineup to get all-wheel drive. New for 2014, the Executive 2.0T steps up to those features plus navigation with Sirius XM Traffic, an ‘Easy Open’ motion-activated trunk opener, Keyless Access with push-button start, and a new 18-inch alloy wheel design. Sport models now get LED daytime running lamps, Adaptive Front Lighting, navigation, and a rearview camera.
Credit: Volkswagen Cars

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