Review: 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport

Good attractive isn't alike the appropriate chat for VW's rebodied Passat. Handsome, exquisite, sharp, advocate and alarming all bounce to mind. But, let's aloof achieve on two: articulation busting. Not alone that, but the CC renders the accepted Passat about as adorable as a late-model Ford Five Hundred. Which is to say, not at all. In fact, with the barring of third rear-seat, we can't anticipate of a distinct acumen to accept a Passat over the CC. Not one.
Price? You appetite to altercate price? Okay – the Passat starts at $28,300. The CC? $27,100. And the CC gets added good gas mileage, too. So your complete costs care to be less. How's that possible? Probably because of bigger aerodynamics, as the Passat is alone 44 pounds added than the CC we tested. Of course, both cars accept identical wheelbases and widths, admitting the CC is bisected an inch longer. Our tester had but one $375 advantage (Sirius) and a $750 destination charge, bringing the complete to $28,225 – $75 beneath than a Passat. To summarize, shop for the CC.
The interior's better, too. In fact, this is one of our admired cabins currently on the market. It has the 'no compromise' appearance begin in Piech-mandated VWs like the Phaeton and O.G. Touareg, admitting the complete affection of the abstracts has been taken bottomward a shelf or two. Still, brainstorm the haptic affection of an Audi after all the fussy, chaotic and abnormally placed buttons. That's how VeeDub laid out the CC's controls. Props are accustomed for the two-tone birr blueprint (in this case atramentous and tan), which is a admirable change of clip from the accepted Germanic black-as-my-soul theme. Special acclaim is aloof for the two-tone, pleated covering seats – all four of them. The cloister thrones cabal with the all-embracing roominess to accomplish the berth an accomplished abode to absorb some time. Yes, if you're alpine you'll appetite to sit up advanced as the angled roof cuts into your headroom, admitting we placed a six-foot, four-inch guy aback there and he alone complained once.
And we haven't alike gotten to the best allotment – the chiral transmission! We apperceive sticks are on the way out. We apperceive anon every (new) car on apple will action a dual-clutch, flappy-paddle autobox and that Volkswagen's own DSG is arch the automatic charge. But for abounding of us, it's like arena drums after a aerial hat – what's your larboard bottom declared to do? We altercate that in agreement of arduous active pleasure, four limbs complex is added good than three. And we begin the CC Action to be a contentment to drive. Surprisingly so. We alike admired the ride, which is a abundant antithesis amid well-damped performance-oriented acerbity and pile-on-the-miles plush.
Combine the six-speed to Volkswagen's approved and accurate 2.0-liter VVT absolute injected turbo with its 200 application and 207 lb-ft of torque and you not alone get a bit of sportiness but affluence of absolute apple usability. Accepting on the freeway is a snap, accepting up to freeway canoeing speeds is alike easier and according to the CC's computer, 80 mph nets you 31 afar per gallon. That's admirable for such a ample machine.
True, added able CCs exist. You can opt for the 280 hp 3.6-liter FSI VR6, or alike the 4Motion (VW-speak for all-wheel drive) VR6, but during our anniversary with the four-banger model, we never already anticipation that we bare added power. Not alone that, but a added agent would agitated the accomplished antithesis inherent to the CC Sport, applique you a little added beeline band advance at the big-ticket of the abject car's accomplished administration and a bit of ammunition efficiency. Unless you alive in a abode area AWD is a charge (Colorado, Vermont, Kabul), the front-driver CC aloof makes added sense.
Things we don't like? Yes, a couple. Volkswagen has called to chase Audi's advance and banish the chiral handbrake in abode of an cyberbanking parking brake. Like the anytime advancing DSG, this actual able-bodied may be the appearance of things to come, but we don't like it. First of all, what's amiss with a handbrake? Second, the button to about-face off the parking anchor is on the acute larboard ancillary of the dashboard, area you'd acquisition the agitation in a Porsche – boilerplate abreast the stick. Unlike Audi's method, which is in actuality a little toggle about-face you can cull up, the button on the CC is absolutely that – aloof a button. It feels actual artificial.
Additionally, the CC has a acropolis holder affection that engages whenever the adenoids is acicular up or bottomward a amount or two. This agency at the aboriginal incline, the parking anchor is affianced and unless you annual for it, you will arrest the car during a accustomed booty off. Yes, you can conciliate the acropolis holder, but you accept to do it every time you blaze up the engine. Which agency you'll balloon and arrest the car. That's annoying. And standard.
All-in-all, however, we'd hardly change a thing. Especially back you accede the CC's non-Passat competition, like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda6, Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu. In fact, out of all those sedans, the alone one this columnist feels competes with the CC in the looks administration is the fresh super-sized Accord (and we apperceive that's a love-it-or-leave-it design). A few of them are as, or about as, adventurous (again, the Accord, the Fusion and the Mazda6) but in agreement of all about agreeableness back looks, autogenous comfort, performance, administration and amount are taken into account, castigation absolutely will booty the CC Sport, acknowledgment much. Nothing abroad in its articulation absolutely competes.