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Volkswagen CC - What the Auto Press Says

Brand new this year, the Volkswagen CC is a midsize sedan that sacrifices some practicality on the altar of style.  On the outside, the CC is a sleek "four-door coupe," offering four doors but the sexy profile of a sport coupe.  Inside, the CC offers decidedly upscale ambience, with a stylish two-tone interior and some standard amenities common to luxury cars.  Under the hood, it's a Volkswagen Passat -- it shares the same drivetrain, and wheelbase as VW's other midsize car.  In fact, in some countries, VW sells this car as the "Passat CC."

 With Passat architecture, the CC is a competent handler, but not the most athletic car in the midsize class.  It is available with a pair of engines - a well-liked turbocharged four-cylinder model and a more powerful V6 that fewer reviewers are sold on.  An all-wheel-drive option sets it apart from some midsize competitors.

But reviewers can't decide what to make of this car, primarily because of its price.  In its lowest trims, the CC competes with affordable midsize cars.  Stacked against the Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu, its place is clear - the CC is a solid choice for those willing to sacrifice a little practicality to own a car they like to look at.  The CC can function effectively as a family car, but looks better than the average family sedan.

In its highest trims, however, the CC costs more than some editions of the BMW 3-Series or Infiniti G37.  Against upscale competition with rear-wheel-drive dynamics and luxury car cachet, the CC's Passat architecture falls short. 

The CC is available in four trim levels.  The basic Sport edition carries a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a front-wheel-drive layout, and an entry price around $27,000.  A Luxury model is available with the same drivetrain, but more upscale features.  A VR6 Sport edition adds a more powerful V6 engine.  Finally, a VR6 4Motion adds all-wheel-drive to the V6, and carries a price tag of nearly $40,000. 

• "We must conclude that despite its similarity to the far pricier CLS, the $42,630 CC is too expensive to be considered a value-even against a Benz." -- Car and Driver
• "If you're willing to sacrifice five-passenger capacity and pay a small price premium over traditional Passat models for the sake of style, check out CC. Otherwise, its Passat sibling may better suit your need." -- Consumer Guide
• "The 2009 Volkswagen CC is a stylish alternative to mainstream midsize sedans. Steer clear of the VR6 model, though, as it is pricey and not much quicker than the base CC." -- Edmunds
• "Volkswagen blurs the semantic distinction between coupe and sedan, but at $42,650 (almost) fully equipped, we call it overpriced...For the kind of money you could spend on a V6-powered CC, you could haggle your way into a pretty decent BMW, for instance, or drive off in a platinum-plated, mink-upholstered Cadillac CTS with enough left over to buy a Vespa." -- Los Angeles Times
• "A VW that looks this good and matches the driving dynamics of a directly competing Audi earns our respect, especially when it delivers Mercedes CLS looks on a middle-management budget. Well done, Volkswagen." -- Motor Trend
• "Not only one expensive Volkswagen, but an expensive sedan among its peers. The 6-cylinder model is priced well above a comparably equipped Mazda 6 or Nissan Maxima, and within sight of rear- or all-wheel-drive competitors from the market's most highfalutin brands." -- New York Times

CC Performance - 8.8 (Very Good)

The 2009 Volkswagen CC is a competent performer when compared to other affordable midsize cars.  Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine is particularly well-reviewed, offering a lot of value for its price.  An available all-wheel-drive system sets it apart from many midsize alternatives.  It is not, however, the sport coupe it tries to look like.  The CC's handling is comfortable, but not as athletic as sportier upscale cars with similar price tags. Automobile Magazine says, "The CC's competent performance and jaw-dropping looks should attract plenty of buyers. But I would prefer to see VW bake in a bit more of that German engineering they've been advertising as of late." Read More

CC Exterior - 8.4 (Very Good)

The Volkswagen CC's sensual sheetmetal is its reason for being.  Volkswagen turned its more pedestrian Passat into the sensual CC in the hopes that the sharp bodywork would win over midsize sedan shoppers who want something more soulful than a simple family car.  Edmunds says the CC "could actually be described as sexy. You can't say that about most midsize sedans."  Most reviewers are taken with the look, but a few say the appeal of the "four-door coupe" fades over time. Read More

CC Interior - 8.1 (Very Good)

The passenger cabin of the 2009 VW CC is surprisingly luxurious for an affordable midsize car.  Sharp two-tone styling makes for an eye-catching interior, and reviewers like the ergonomic layout of the controls and the high-quality materials. Motor Trend  writes, "Our CC's interior trim drew unanimous raves for its rich materials and four Italianate leather buckets with roll-stitched inserts." Read More

CC Safety - 8.3 (Very Good)

The 2009 Volkswagen CC does well in federal government crash tests, but not as well as the midsize segment safety leaders.  Standard traction and stability control and strong brakes improve the safety equation. Read More

CC Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)

The 2009 Volkswagen CC reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Volkswagen provides a three-year/36,000 mile warranty on every new CC. Scheduled maintenance is complimentary for the warranty period. Read More