Luxury look and feel, New aggressive styling, additional seat, economical diesel engine
Price of Petrol Engine over the diesel.
Volkswagen Australia has launched the newly named Volkswagen CC in Tasmania, the CC is an update to the outgoing Passat CC. Besides the dropping of the Passat name the latest offering from Volkswagen see a complete restyling of the front and rear exterior sections and inside the cabin there are now three rear seats instead of two.
The Volkswagen CC is offered in two varieties the 'entry level” front wheel drive, powered by a 2.0 litre 125kw diesel and top the spec'd all wheel drive (4motion) powered by a 3.6 litre 220kw V6 petrol engine. Both come with a 6 speed DSG transmission, no manual option is available.
The Volkswagen CC range is:
Volkswagen CC 125 TDI - $54,990
Volkswagen CC V6 FSI - $64,990
2012 Volkswagen CC Overview
The Volkswagen Passat CC was a car that oozed style and created the affordable four door coupe segment, and the latest CC is no different.
Along with its stylish good looks the Volkswagen CC has a long list of standard features including the excellent Driver Fatigue Detection system; Satellite Navigation; rear view camera, multifunction dash display, 18” alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon (with cornering lights), leather seats, adaptive cruise and dual zone climate control, plus many more.
The safety aspect is also well looked after, with Volkswagen offering ABS, EBD and brake assist, eight air bags plus a host of other technologies as standard . The optional Driver Assistance Package which combines Side Assist (lane-changing assistant) and Lane Assist (lane departure warning system) is a great safety feature.
Like the previous model, the new Volkswagen CC is produced at Volkswagen’s Emden plant in Northern Germany.
2012 Volkswagen CC Engine
CarShowroom spent a time behind the wheel of both the petrol and diesel powered CC. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine delivers 125kW of power at 4200 rpm produces torque of 350Nm. Drive is to the front wheels via Volkswagen’s six-speed twin-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automatic with steering wheel paddle shifters for manual changes.
The petrol alternative is the 220kW/350Nm FSI V6 which also uses the six-speed DSG transmission but drives all four wheels Volkswagen’s 4Motion system.
Fuel consumption for both engines see an improvement of the outgoing models. The diesel now claims an impressive 5.7 l/100kms which means you can travel 1190 kilometres on a single tank, the petrol engines fuel consumption is or 9.7l/100kms.
2012 Volkswagen CC The Interior
The big changes on the inside see the addition of an extra seat in the rear, increasing capacity from a four seater to a five seater - an excellent move by Volkswagen.
The interior on the CC is instantly recognisable as part of the Volkswagen family. There has been with upgrades to the materials used, but you’ll still find familiarity. Buyers can choose between a Black Nappa leather or a Desert Beige/Black Nappa leather for the interior colour. Quietness in the cabin has also been improved over the outgoing model, with improvement to glazing and sound insulation upgrades.
The Volkswagen CC is also fitted with standard entertainment system with touchscreen control and satellite navigation plus a rear-view camera.
Luggage space is also a handy 532 with the 60/40 spilt rear seats in the upright position.
2012 Volkswagen CC Exterior & Styling
The Volkswagen CC has had three major changes its exterior styling. The changes to the front see a new chrome radiator grille with three cross-fins and a redesigned bonnet. The Volkswagen CC also gains Bi-Xenon headlights with cornering lights and LED daytime running lights.
There has been no changes made to the frameless doors of the Volkswagen CC, but the changes to front and rear do make the car look sleeker than the out going model.
The rear of the vehicle has been completely redesigned with a new rear bumper and boot lid. The new styling of the LED rear lights which Volkswagen claim are faster to respond as well as improved economy and longevity. Depending on which engine you choose will depend on the configuration of the tailpipes. The 125TDI model can be identified by two tailpipes positioned on the left, while the petrol chrome-plated pipes are split, one on the left and one on the right.
A neat feature is the handsfree opening of the boot. With the keys in your pocket all you need to do is make a kicking motion towards the boot and the boot lid will pop open.
2012 Volkswagen CC On The Road
The Volkswagen CC might have sporty looks but don’t be fooled the Volkswagen CC is more a GT cruiser. The ride and handling is superb for its price point. The Adaptive Chassis Control, which can be set to Comfort, Sports and Normal offers a notable change in suspension, selecting Sports mode offers a more rewarding experience in the corners.
At low speeds the electric power steering is light adding weight as speed increase, feedback is a little lacking but you can look past this issue.
2012 Volkswagen CC Challenges
The Volkswagen CC comes equipped with a great list of standard features and the diesel variant is well priced. However the $10,000 premium for the petrol model might be a little too rich for some. The choice of only two interiors means you may not find a colour that suits.
2012 Volkswagen CC The Competition
It is a tough to find some competition for the a four door coupe at the price range that is normally reserved for upper end of the scale.
The Jaguar XF 2.2 litre diesel is also a great looking and a vehicle that gets heads turning but at a starting price of $78,900 is a good $24,000 more than the CC.
The latest Peugeot 508 could be considered as it has style but is a sedan instead of a coupe. However the price starts at $36,990 for the entry level and the top of the range comes in at $52,990.
2012 Volkswagen CC Verdict
The update to the Volkswagen has in our opinion improved the looks on the already great looking car. With the addition of that fifth seat it should give families less reasons to look elsewhere.
