I have always loved German vehicles, whether it is a car or an SUV, so when I had the opportunity to spend a week behind the wheel of the 2014 Volkswagen CC 2.0T, I valued every moment with the stunning four-door coupe. Volkswagen’s CC has four doors but the name itself is abbreviated from Comfort Coupe – which raises some curiosity. Where did the German automaker come up with such a name for a car that is quite the opposite? The term ‘four-door coupe’ is applied for cars that have four doors like a sedan, but a lower roofline and the overall silhouette of a coupe.
The CC debuted in 2008 under the name “Passat CC”, and has seen some changes along the way to the various trims in the line. Volkswagen initially designed the car to seat four in comfort, with a console in between the two rear seats. They have since added the fifth seat, in the middle rear, with a pull-down armrest in the backrest suited with cup holders and a little storage compartment. In 2012, VW changed the name and it dropped the Passat moniker to become simply the CC.
Inside the car, the first thing to catch my eye was the two-tone leather throughout the cabin. The beige and black combination is a nice touch to the rest of the interior. Aside from the leather, soft-touch plastics are generously used and give a nice compliment to the frameless windows. Because of the ‘four-door coupe’ style, I thought the rear accommodations would be rather tight, until I got into the back and realized it was just as spacious as the fronts were. The heated seats, which come standard, match nicely with the car and other features. On the exterior, the CC offers HID low-beam headlamps and LED daytime running lights. The base model CC does not come with a navigation system or a sunroof, both of which are features that definitely add to the value of the car. I think the premium price tag would be slightly more justifiable if a sunroof was at least standard equipment.
There are no doubts about the CC’s potential when it comes to actually driving the vehicle. The power behind the car I picked up, wearing Urano Grey paint and holding a 2.0T engine can take you where you want to go with ease. The CC is a smooth ride – provided there is no shaved pavement or any pot holes. This engine that is widely used across the VW and Audi family produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound feet of torque and it is accompanied with the 6-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. An interesting fact is that the base-model CC is still available with a 6-speed manual transmission. Getting onto the highway, you could feel the power take the car up to speed and the CC felt like it was cruising without any issues.
Having had the CC in spring weather, I wanted to be outside or driving after a never-ending winter. Volkswagen rates the CC 2.0T at 10.7L/100km for city driving and 6.4L/100km while on the highway. I was able to get around 8.5L/100km combined with city and highway driving. When I was on the highway, I did see a drop less than 7.8L/100km. With the CC having a 70L fuel tank, I was able to drive around 300km and didn’t use half the tank of premium fuel. Comfort is key, and VW nailed the name because if I had to road trip across Canada, the 2014 Volkswagen CC would be near the top of my list of ideal vehicles to do it in.
The CC competes with many large, premium-esque sedans fitting the same intended audience and pricing. The Buick Regal and Kia Cadenza would be key competitors for the CC. Often times automakers refresh cars within a few years, but VW kept the CC very similar until the major facelift in 2012. Other sedans on the market in the same classification offer a sunroof or navigation, but the CC base model has neither – which could be a potential deal breaker. Volkswagen’s customers seem to be very loyal and like to stay true to the brand, so the as-tested price tag of $37,450 might not matter to everyone.
A lot of CC owners seem to be more interested in the look and body style of the car than what the vehicle actually has to offer. I don’t think the four-door coupe body style is leaving the automotive world anytime in the near future, so VW may be on to something. The German automaker could get a little more risky and change up the CC now that the Passat is a separate model altogether and possibly gain even more fans.
Second Look: 2014 Volkswagen CC 2.0T Gallery
