Quick Test: 2009 Volkswagen CC
Is it the world’s cheapest Mercedes CLS-style “four-door coupe” or the world’s most expensive Rabbit? Yes to both. Beneath this long, low, chop-top four-door coupe bodywork lurks the humble transverse-engine DNA of the workhorse Rabbit/Golf/Jetta/Passat. That key architectural difference explains why this fully loaded CC with a 280-horsepower 3.6-liter narrow-angle V-6 and 4Motion Haldex all-wheel-drive sells for $4000 less than a similarly loaded four-banger Audi A4 2.0T Quattro.
Relative to that corporate cousin, the CC is 3.7 inches longer, almost an inch wider, 0.4 inch lower and only 62 pounds heavier. Acceleration performance is within a tenth of a second of the Audi’s to 60 mph and through the quarter mile. “Power is okay but there are definitely times when you need more torque going up hills,” says Kim Reynolds. In fact, the torque-to-weight ratio is almost dead even between the A4 2.0T and the CC 3.6. Of course the V-6 exacts a fuel economy penalty (EPA city/hwy figures are 17/25 mpg versus 21/27 mpg for the Audi, both with 6-speed automatics and all-wheel-drive), and ordering the 2.0-liter turbo in the VW buys the port-injected engine, which trails Audi’s direct-injected version by 11 hp and a more meaningful 51 pound-feet of torque. The 6-speed automatic includes steering-wheel shift paddles which add a certain sporting flair, but the automatic’s “S” mode was not terribly astute in holding lower gears when lifting for a corner or automatically giving matched-rev downshifts to prepare for a corner exit.
More surprisingly, the handling numbers are as good as or better than the Audi’s, with identical braking (123 feet), higher grip (0.87 to 0.83g), and a quicker figure-eight lap (27.1 seconds at 0.64g average, versus 27.6 at 0.62). “I was surprised to find that I prefer it to the A4. Better engine sound, steering is more communicative. Feels faster too (maybe because it’s louder in the right places, at the right time). The A4 is distant, the CC involving,” says Ed Loh; “Rather crisp handling around both winding road and the real-world driving loop, nice shifts via manual mode,” concurs Reynolds, countering that highway Botts dots can agitate the chassis. The GTI-inspired hardware might not be quite as adroit as the pricier A4’s when hustling over imperfect pavement, but the steering has an organic feel and better weighting than the A4’s.
Our CC’s interior trim drew unanimous raves for its rich materials and four Italianate leather buckets with roll-stitched inserts. “One of the best interiors at any price,” gushes Todd Lassa, adding “what great seats. They look sharp and hold you in place well.” The rear seat is positioned slightly higher than the front, and yet that plunging roofline affords reasonable space and visibility for the 5-foot-10 and under crowd. Some were put off by the lack of a center rear seat or Bluetooth connectivity (surely the latter will be added soon). The ignition key setup also drew raspberries for aping the BMW system of pushing the fob into a big rectangular hole in the dash and holding it in to start, but you have to hold the key in until the engine lights, it isn’t automatic like the BMWs, and if you miss, the whole key has to come out and start over.
Bottom line: 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.
[source:MotorTrend]
More Excellent Volkswagen Cars in AutoFans:
+ Volkswagen launches base model Scirocco with two new engines
+ First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
+ Spy Shots: VW “Robust” pickup
+ Volkswagen unveiling two-door Elise fighter in LA, new sports car
+ Beetlemania is coming: VW plans a “new” New Beetle — and a baby Bug
+ Forbes lists top 10 family cars
+ VW CrossPolo successor to get AWD
+ First Test: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
+ 2009 VW Scirocco for UK, new pictures
+ Volkswagen debuts zero-emission Tiguan HyMotion in the U.S.
+ Cross-bred Caddy: Volkswagen Caddy Carrera Cup Edition 2.0TDI R
+ First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
+ Geneva Leakage: Remaining 2009 VW Scirocco pics surface
+ Volkswagen Touareg R50 World Premiere At Australian International Motor Show
+ Volkswagen’s Passat Coupe Spied Again
+ Newcomers: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
+ Frankfurt Motor Show 2007: Small Cars and a Big Mini
+ Frankfurt Motor Show 2007: Volkswagen’s production Tiguan graces the stage
+ 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: VW gets it up!
+ 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show preview: VW to debut rear-engine city car
More Excellent Articles like
Quick Test: 2009 Volkswagen CC
Pay Attention to Auto Fans
Recent Auto Articles
- One-off SR-71 Mustang sells for $375,000 at EAA AirVenture
- First Test Experience: 2011 Nissan Juke SV
- Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 announced - world’s first diesel full hybrid vehicle
- Nissan Xterra not long for this world
- 2011 Ford Mondeo facelift unveiled in Moscow
- 2011 Nissan Murano unveiled with mild refresh, new SV trim
- Mercedes-Benz unveils 2011 S63 AMG with twin-turbo 5.5L V8
- Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe Shaheen and Baynunah bespoke editions
- Officially Official: Updated 2011 Jeep Wrangler now in production
- Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series by MKB packs over 1000hp
