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our test drives or view them all

Volkswagen Passat CC 1.8 TSI manual

CYNICS might say: why bother? But for those who appreciate the finer things of life, Volkswagen’s Passat CC is a real heart warmer.

Mind you, in a cynical moment of my own, I did wonder just why those normally sober chaps at Wolfsburg had allowed themselves to create such a piece of automotive frippery like a coupe-saloon based on the dowdy Passat.

It looks out of character, until you think about the mouth-watering new Scirocco four-seat coupe – a real flight of fancy that delivers a top drawer drive for not all that much money.

But would I want to spend between £21,065 and £31,145 on a four-door, four-seat Passat?

It may not make sense in practical terms, but the Passat CC is a rare beauty that delivers elegance on our congested roads.

The concept is not new. Mercedes has already done it with the outstanding CLS and Volkswagen has simply piggy-backed the idea, but for a shedload less cash.

The CC is simply beautiful. The back has all the sinuous curves of the exotic as the roof and side panels merge into the pleasing lines of the rear window and boot.

The side elevation is so un-Volkswagen-like that it breaks with convention – long, flowing lines and shallow, frameless glass that seem to follow the airstream as it slides around the low-set cabin.

This is a thing of beauty – a classic shape that is great to look at parked or under way.

There’s a lot of difference compared to the standard Passat saloon. Taking my 1.8 turbocharged TSI entry-level CC and comparing it with a similarly-powered Passat saloon in S trim, the variations are surprising. There’s a lot more standard equipment on the CC for a start, which explains its high cost of £21,065 compared to the Passat S at £17,360.

The rest is down to the CC’s shape and design. As you’d expect the coupe is 55mm squatter than the saloon at 1.417 metres tall. But you might not have expected the CC to be heavier by 13kg at 1.430 tonnes or longer by 34mm at 4.79 metres. I was more surprised at the CC’s extra 30mm of width at 1.855 metres.

But here’s the biggest shock. With an athletic shape and low hunched looks I would have expected there to be less space for luggage in the CC. Wrong!

While the standard four-door Passat saloon is no shrinking cargo violet with 485 litres of usable boot space, the CC has even more – 532 litres to be precise. The boot is a bit shallow but has a flat floor 1.15 metres long that extends to two metres when you drop the rear seatbacks.

It all helps explain the CC’s growing appeal and why it looks so much better than the Passat saloon – in fact, a different car.

Wherever I went with the CC it got admiring glances. Parked in the middle of Kingussie while I had a mid-drive cuppa, I was amused to see just how many people stopped to look at the car. That doesn’t happen often in these days of lookalike computer-generated designs.

What separates the CC from the rest of the pack is that hard-to-define element that Jaguar design boss Ian Callum once told me was the "heart factor" – a combination of curves and sweeps that just looks right.

Whatever it is, wherever it comes from – Volkswagen has the recipe.

If you really want to feel the CC experience, park it alongside other cars – the difference is astonishing. The deep sculpted chine that runs at waist level along the car’s flanks just below the window sill line makes the car look like it’s waiting to pounce – ground-hugging and solid. The exaggerated nose also sets it apart from the Passat ordinaire.

Aesthetics aside there is more than just a higher price to pay for owning a CC.

The car is more awkward to climb into with a low roof line forcing front, but especially rear, occupants to duck to avoid a clout on the head. Once in, there’s a noticeable lack of visibility compared to the Passat saloon, with one of my rear passengers on one of my outings complaining of feeling claustrophobic – possibly triggered by the large front-seat headrests.

On the road, there’s little difference in the feel of the car compared to its saloon sister. Both handle well with the CC taking the edge on a fluid road like the demanding A86 south of Kingussie to Spean Bridge despite an odd dead feel in the steering.

The CC, even in its smallest-engined guise, felt lithe and accurate. The 1.8 TSI likes to be revved, but thanks to its slick six-speed manual gearbox is a relaxed cruiser in fifth and sixth.

Mid-range acceleration through the gears delivers safe overtaking while Volkswagen’s fine front-drive system ensures traction and balance, even through quick, tight corners. The brake discs are big and control speed without fuss – so much so that it’s easy to forget the CC’s bulk.

Although I’ve still to drive the diesel versions of the car you’re going to have to try very hard to convince a petrol-head that the overall 38mpg I managed with this finely-tuned 1.8 litre turbocharged petrol unit makes it less desirable than an oiler. The TDI two-litre should give you another 10mpg but costs more than £800 extra – it’s a close-called thing. The petrol unit really is that good – quiet, responsive and powerful with fuel at 12p a litre less.

The CC is a saloon to stir the heart. It is a work of mass-production art. A car that reminds all manufacturers that affordable metal need not be dowdy and dull.

OK, so the CC does ride a little firmly over some surfaces and the rear headroom is not as generous as the Passat saloon. But neither are worth turning you away from this stylish and quiet-riding four-seater. I was pleased to see it comes with a full-size spare on an alloy wheel and Volkswagen’s superb new touch-screen radio system and feel this car is so good I’d be prepared to live with the irritating electronic parking brake and pointless keyless start.

You get a lot of equipment, five-star safety, excellent build quality, great driving appeal, a huge boot and all in a rakish body that carries all of the donor Passat’s attributes – with an added touch of class.

Volkswagen has shown it’s got style. Who knows maybe now VW will let the CC design team loose on the dumpling Beetle and turn it into a long overdue thing of beauty!

Well, we can dream can’t we?

Rating: 8/10

FINAL THOUGHT:  

There has never been a saloon in Volkswagen’s ranks that’s cut the mustard as stylishly as the clever new Passat CC. It’s an elegant large four-door with the feline-sleek line of the much more expensive Mercedes CLS. The entry level model I had on test is undoubtedly the best-looking car in its class – but why did Volkswagen go and spoil the creation by limiting it to four seats? Passat CC buyers may appreciate style – but they’re likely to be a practical lot who won’t appreciate losing a third seat in the back. As the cheapest CC in a line up of six models that includes a 3.6 litre V6 petrol with 296bhp, diesel models with frugal 138bhp two-litre TDI units and a 197bhp turbocharged petrol two-litre, my blown petrol 1.8 test car was impressive, economical, quiet and quick. Best of all though is its shape – Volkswagen’s best.

CAR FACTS – Volkswagen Passat CC 1.8 TSI manual

• Price: £21,065
• Capacity: 1798cc
• Power: 158bhp
• 0-62mph: 8.6 seconds
  
• Maximum speed: 138mph
  
• Economy: Combined 37.2mpg
  
• CO2 emissions: 180g/km
  
• ESP: Standard
• Insurance: Group 13