CC Sport - VW as you haven't seen it before
By: Nancy Dunham
Special to The Examiner
July 23, 2009
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| The 2010 Volkswagen CC comes with plenty of power, even with its standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine. (AP) |
If you think you know what Volkswagen is all about, get ready for a surprise.
The 2010 Volkswagen CC Sport has the sex appeal and power of a sports car and the ride and space of a luxury sedan. Tough to imagine this upscale midsize car that VW calls a "four-door coupe" needs to offer much more to keep the heads turning.
STATS BOX
2010 Volkswagen CC Sport
Engine » 2-liter TSI, 16-valve, DOHC, in-line four-cylinder turbocharged engine with intercooler and direct fuel injection (FSI), 200hp, 207 foot-pounds of torque (V-6 available on other models)
Transmission » Automatic six-speed or manual six-speed
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price » $27,100 and up
Alas, the downside is the price tag, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price at just over $27,000 but quickly bumps up to the $40,000 range for the VR6 4Motion, the top-of-the-line of the four CC models. The test model I had -- the basic CC Sport -- was comfy, pretty and powerful but lacked a few features I would expect in a car with a $29,325 price tag -- a rearview camera, somewhat awkward and clearly less-than-intuitive climate controls, and a sole 12-volt power outlet.
None of these are deal breakers for many people, but many 2010 models offer many of these features as standard. If you want these and other higher-tech features, you can likely get them in the other CC models but get ready to pay.
With those caveats aside, the CC has a lot to offer. Buyers can opt for either a turbocharged four-cylinder model or an extrapowerful V-6. The car I drove was a four-cylinder model and it had incredible power with almost no hesitation. It was so impressive that I had to double-check to make sure I didn't have the V-6; it was that powerful. The CC is also available in all-wheel drive, which most of its competitors don't offer. This is, of course, where the higher price tags for these models come in -- bringing them up to Mercedes-Benz MSRPs -- but it's nice to have the option.
In fairness, the high-end CC models may well be worth the money to some buyers. Even the CC Sport I had looks like a high-end car thanks to a lovely exterior with plenty of curves and wide-eyed headlamps that belie its four-door sedan body. Some reviewers called the car's look "jaw dropping." I don't know if I'd go that far, but it is impressive. Don't be surprised if others question you about it, finding it amazing that it is a VW. The CC has a completely different look from its siblings including the Passat that is the automaker's standard midsize sedan offering.
The only way to describe the CC Sport interior is plush. It feels expensive and luxurious with Italianate leather bucket seats, a handy and well-placed center console for rear passengers and plenty of leg- and headroom in front and back.
The only downside I found was the low body, which keeps less-than-limber front and back seat passengers awkwardly crawling out of the car and risking a good head bump on the way.
But with high ratings in government crash tests (four out of five stars for most) and gas mileage ratings of 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, this car is definitely a contender for those that want a family vehicle with a luxury feel.
