2013 Volkswagen CC Review By Steve Purdy
2013 VOLKSWAGEN CC SPORT
A surprising German sport sedan/coupe
By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Michigan Bureau
Volkswagen’s tag line for the CC is “The Mid-Size Sports
Sedan with Shocking Good Looks.” I know that, as a journalist,
I’m supposed to look with a critical eye at all these manufacturer
claims.
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The CC is essentially a dressed-up Passat with a low, coupe-like roofline, sportier suspension, base 4-cylinder turbo engine and way more panache than the mainstream Passat. The roofline makes for more difficult ingress and egress, both front and rear, particularly for bigger guys like me. The substantial seat bolsters as well make it a bit less easy to slide in and out. Once in, however, it fits and feels like a stylish glove.
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If you choose the automatic transmission you get to experience one of the first and best, dual-clutch shift management systems. Because it pre-selects the gear on either side of the one you’re in, it takes but a nano-second to shift, once told to do so.
I’m doing a little interpalation of the numbers here but, on our first excursion we entered the freeway where traffic normally moves easily and smoothly and just less than 80. I settled into my usual pattern of flowing with the left lane and when I looked down the speedometer read nearly 90 mph. Knowing that road intimately I paid particular attention the rest of the week and can only conclude that the speedometer is at least 5 mph optimistic.
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Our test car is the entry level CC Sport with 6-speed manual transmission starting at $30,610. Standard is the powertrain described above, 17-inch alloy wheels, 8-inch touchscreen for audio and other controls, 6-CD in-dash changer, all connectivity systems, power heated front seats, two-tone leatherette seating and plenty more. The Sport Plus model, at $32,850, adds 18-inch wheels, the 6-speed DSG transmission and navigation system. The R-Line, at $32,195 involves the Sport Plus extras but has some special cladding. The top-of-the-line Lux, starting at $35,355 comes with nicer trim inside and sunroof.
Two versions, both loaded, of the CC get the 3.6-liter V6, with 280 horsepower,: the V6 Lux at $37,730 and a VR6 4Motion with (all-wheel drive) at $41,420.
Volkswagen’s new car warranty covers the whole car for 3 years or 36,000 miles and the powertrain for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Scheduled maintenance services are covered at no charge for 3 years or 36,000 miles as well.
As a balance of performance, efficiency and style, the Volkswagen CC that we tested at just over 30-grand is a great value, particularly if you value German design and engineering.
©Steve Purdy, Shunpiker Productions, All Rights Reserved