Volkswagen Passat CC GT 2.0-litre TDI CR Road Test Report

Performance

Powering the good-looking CC on test was a 2.0-litre diesel engine, which produced 140PS. Our test model had a smooth shifting six-speed gearbox and the 2.0-litre oil burner is expected to be the top seller. At times we had the feeling that the car was slightly under powered but it is a comfort coupe not a sports coupe and as long as you are driving it like so, then you will enjoy your time behind the wheel. When you rev the engine out, there is plenty of shove to get past slower traffic, as it has 236 lbs ft of torque steer. The figures look quite good, especially for a car of this size, zero to 62mph in 9.8 seconds while the car will top out at 132mph.

Ride & Handling

Our test car was the flagship model, it comes in the GT trim level. This means that as standard you get VW’s Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC). This kit helps works on the suspension of the Passat GT, it uses valves to vary pressure in the dampers to make them harder or softer. To get the best out of the driving experience our car had three driving modes. This included Comfort, Normal and Sport. When switching between these functions, you can feel the suspension stiffen and soften. The sport button was in constant use when driving enthusiastically. When pressing the sport knob, body roll will decrease while the steering becomes better weighted giving the driver a better feeling when ‘pushing on’. But even if you selecting the different modes for different driving styles, the Passat CC is still not as well set-up as the Ford Mondeo.

Build Quality & Reliability

VW is one of the best car maker’s in the market when it comes to reliability. To prove this you only have to look at the LongLife Service Regime, it can be tailored to the way you drive. The German manufacturer offers two options, a Time and Distance Servie or a LongLife Service. The annual Time and Distance service is reccommended for drivers who cover less than 10,000 miles per year and use the car for short journeys, frequent loading and towing, using high rpm, lots of acceleration and heavy braking. While the LongLife Service is aimed at those of you who commute for more than 25 miles per day at a constant speed, you must also drive with minimal load and in an economical way. The sensors on the car will measure this and you may find that you will only need a service at intervals of 18,000 miles. Climb inside and you’ll find that VW has made the CC very similar to the standard Passat, yet the interior seems far more luxurious. The finish on the dash and the materials used are of high quality.

Safety & Security

The Passat CC is one of the safest cars on the road. Inside the GT model, it was equipped with dual stage front airbags, active front seat head restraints. This is in addition to front seat side airbags and curtain airbags (which are located on the front and rear). The car has a high-tensile bodywork, making the sheet metals stronger, which the maker claims should help to protect passengers in the event of a head-on collision. ESP also comes as standard on the Passat CC. According to the Assocition of British Insurers, the CC GT 2.0-litre TDI CR with 140PS has an insurance group of 11.

Space & Practicality

The coupe shape is stunning to look at, but sitting in the rear of the car can be cramped. Those of you over six-foot in height, may feel a tad clausterphobic as the lowered roofline of the CC makes headroom at a premium. The roof has been lowered by 50mm giving the CC its coupe look but the car has slightly increased in length (by 31mm) and width (36mm). There is good news, that increase in length means there is more boot space, in fact there is a luggage space of 532 litres, which is 47 litres more than the conventional four-door saloon.

Ownership & Value

The new sexy look will definitely catch the eye and with VW only aiming to shift 5,800 models per annum then residuals should stay high. One of the big plus points is the additional boot space but you pay for this in the lowered roofline, which may put some buyers off. Remember this is no sports coupe, it is more of a comfort cruiser. The Passat CC is sure to attract lots of interest from the user-chooser end of the fleet sector.