2009 Volkswagen Passat CC Review

Specifications

One of the nicest four-door sedans… wait, scratch that. One of the nicest four door coupes to be unveiled so far this year is Volkswagen’s Passat CC. The four-door coupe is an idea that was created by Mercedes-Benz a couple of years ago with its CLS, a configuration that has since been adopted by others. For the most part, four-door coupes incorporate low slung, sweeping rooflines that increase heart-throbs-per-minute, with the net negative effect being decreased headroom. Arguably, it’s one of the hottest new endeavors in the auto industry in terms of design, with versions from Aston Martin, BMW, Porsche and Fisker on the way, just to name a few. The Passat CC is VW’s entry.

What makes it the Passat CC a coupe? Well, the combination of 2+2 seating versus room for five, blacked out B-pillars, and a roofline silhouette that is 2.0 inches lower than the regular Passat is a start. The CC also looks a lot sleeker, as the reduced height comes in conjunction with gains in length and width by 1.2 and 1.4 inches respectively. VW tells us that the CC doesn’t replace the regular Passat, but rather is the flagship of the line, in much the same way that the CLS doesn’t replace the E-Class but is seen as a sportier, more upscale sibling. Strangely, for all of its sporting aspirations, the CC boasts a bigger trunk!

Penned by Walter de Silva, the CC is attractively styled with sharp creases and interesting details. It is instantly recognizable as a Volkswagen, by its wide grille and teardrop headlamps, although I notice a fair bit of the outgoing Acura RL in the rear three-quarter profile. Integrated into the design are front and rear spoilers that create downforce at higher speeds and assist in achieving a drag coefficient of 0.29. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard, with 18 inchers optional, and these can be wrapped in extended mobility tires. Frameless doors, which are usually known for their wind noise, are present here, but Volkswagen claims a new type of guide system won’t give the wind anything to catch.

As the Passat CC is a German car, all of the usual safety features are present, including ABS, electronic stability control, a multitude of airbags, etc. More Orwellian safety features offered on the car include “Lane Assist”, which will actually steer a wayward car back into its lane; something VW claims is the first of its kind. Fortunately, if the turn signal is employed the driver won’t have to fight with the steering wheel to make a lane change, as the system won’t intervene. Even when active the driver can easily override the lane keeping system. A Lexus LS-like park assist feature that will automatically parallel park the car into an empty space is also featured, although input from the driver via the car’s pedals is still necessary.

ACC, a type of radar cruise control is also available on the Passat CC. When activated, it automatically brakes and accelerates the car within a speed range input by the driver beforehand. Utilizing what VW calls “Front Scan”, the system also avoids frontal collisions by using a radar sensor to monitor the distance to other vehicles in front. In advance of certain situations, “Front Scan” preventively places the brakes in a preconditioned state, thereby performing a stopping distance reduction function. These are items that can be found in the revision of the Phaeton, which although no longer sold here, continues to be sold in Europe.

Both the regular Passat and the Passat CC feature a fully independent front and rear suspension, though the CC moves things forward with Dynamic Drive Control, which offers the driver a choice between “Normal”, “Sport” and “Dynamic” settings. The three different modes offer different levels of damping, different degrees of assistance to the power steering and different throttle mapping.

In terms of engines the Passat CC isn’t as exciting as a CLS, but what can and can’t be had is still interesting. Europe gets the choice of a couple of 2.0-liter diesels and 1.8-, 2.0- and 3.6-liter gasoline engines, and all sport VW’s direct injection technology. North America gets a 200 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder driving the front wheels with an optional 280 horsepower 3.6-liter six-cylinder coupled to 4Motion all wheel drive. During its North American International Auto Show debut, a VW spokesperson stated that a diesel might be in the cards, but nothing’s been written in stone.

Unsurprisingly Volkswagen’s home market gets the good stuff when it comes to transmissions too, a six-speed manual with smaller-engine cars or an optional DSG sequential manual. Most disappointing is that we won’t get the latest seven-speed version of DSG. The only transmission available to we North Americans will be the six-speed Tiptronic automatic. Didn’t VW once say that the dual-clutch transmission would replace conventional automatics across their line?

Moving inside, the sporty interior features the fabulously high-quality materials we’ve come to expect from the VW/Audi group, with new door trim that can offer optional ambient cabin lighting. There’s also a new sports steering wheel, while real wood and aluminum accents and man-made or genuine leather covered seats are optional. Speaking of seats, the Passat CC’s front sport seats are comfortable and available with climate control or 12-way power adjustability for the driver, with 6-way powered seats standard. The rear seats are equally sporty, and offer more lateral support than the regular Passat, with optional heated seat surfaces. Optional is a massive (29.5 x 44.1 inch) panorama sunroof that can be raised up by 1.2 inches to vent.

The Passat CC, which will be manufactured in Volkswagen’s Emden plant in Germany, is scheduled to arrive at showrooms in Europe in the second quarter of 2008. Those of us on this side of the Atlantic will have to wait until the fourth quarter of 2008 for this striking Volkswagen four-door coupe.