Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Volkswagen CC

[Autos_Editor]

Sleek styling is the 2013 VW CC's main appeal, but VW has made an important concession to practicality as well.

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[redman]

Wow  $42,870, that's a lot of money for a VolksWagon apparently the average folk in Germany make a lot more money than we do here to buy the "peoples car".
At what price point does VW infringe on their own upper brand Audi ?

[whaddaiknow]

Sleek styling is the 2013 VW CC's main appeal, but VW has made an important concession to practicality as well.

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May be a recommended buy by Consumer Reports, but at $42k I'll have my Lexus ES in pearl white please.

[sailor723]

Wow  $42,870, that's a lot of money for a VolksWagon apparently the average folk in Germany make a lot more money than we do here to buy the "peoples car".
At what price point does VW infringe on their own upper brand Audi ?

Volkswagen has always had a bit of an identity crisis. They sometimes seem to want to be a premium brand and other times seem to want to be mainstream high volume.

[ChaosphereIX]

This looks faceless to me. The previous generation was leagues more stylish than this is. Stale white bread. And at that price, there are much better looking options - and this car is supposed to be all about looks right?

[sailor723]

"Four disc brakes with ABS are standard"

Wouldn't it only be noteworthy if it didn't have disc brakes?....and isn't ABS standard on all cars today? 

[tazcubed]

This looks faceless to me. The previous generation was leagues more stylish than this is. Stale white bread. And at that price, there are much better looking options - and this car is supposed to be all about looks right?

I have to agree - this corporate "blandness" killed any character that was in the front. It's the same thing going on with many manufacturers purely for "identity's" sake. They've failed to recognise that unique looks is what made it immediately identifiable and distinguishing from other cars - now it just blends in as a VW as opposed to a CC in this case.

Perhaps VW could do what GM and Honda have done with a couple of cars - do a quickie makeover?

[aaronk]

It's too bad Volkswagen reigned in the styling as opposed to taking a risk. With the Passat being the volume-selling family sedan, they could afford to have a little more fun with the CC. Still, the interior looks to be finished quite a bit nicer than most of the other family sedans out there. As a 4-door alternative to a coupe, it's a nice looking car...but it could have been exceptional (see Audi A7).

[whaddaiknow]

"Four disc brakes with ABS are standard"

Wouldn't it only be noteworthy if it didn't have disc brakes?....and isn't ABS standard on all cars today? 

I too find it odd that even the journalists today care to spend time mentioning features in a higher end car that are pretty much standard across the industry. Guess they are paid by the line 

[SaskSpecV]

It's too bad Volkswagen reigned in the styling as opposed to taking a risk. With the Passat being the volume-selling family sedan, they could afford to have a little more fun with the CC. Still, the interior looks to be finished quite a bit nicer than most of the other family sedans out there. As a 4-door alternative to a coupe, it's a nice looking car...but it could have been exceptional (see Audi A7).

The CC still is a really sharp vehicle, and it seems to be aging very well.  And the interior is REALLY nice.  I agree that it's kinda pricey (compared to "mainstream" family sedans like the regular Passat), but the price premium isn't that out of line.  Maybe a bigger issue is the spread in price - from 35K to nearly 50K, plus the relatively expensive option packages.  And for those that say "you could get an A4 for less" - not comparably equipped.  I think the Maxima is another competitor - stylish, near-luxury-but-not-really-sport sedan that doesn't have a clear niche.

Last year C&D rated a 2.0T CC well ahead of a V6 TSX and Regal Turbo:
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2010-acura-tsx-v6-vs-2011-buick-regal-cxl-turbo-2010-volkswagen-cc-20t-r-line-comparison-test

[dirtyjeffer]

As a 4-door alternative to a coupe, it's a nice looking car...but it could have been exceptional (see Audi A7).

that is likely the reason right there...allow the CC to be a light "step up" from the Passat, and save the exceptional for the A7 (which is downright drool worthy  ).

[Northernridge]

I agree with comments that VW should have pushed the design envelope further with the snout. Having said that, this is my favourite VW.

But I wouldn't buy one because I could buy a proper FGC for almost the same price. 

[whaddaiknow]

I agree with comments that VW should have pushed the design envelope further with the snout. Having said that, this is my favourite VW.

But I wouldn't buy one because I could buy a proper FGC for almost the same price. 

I would have to agree. For a fashion statement car, the design isn't bold enough. It's nice no doubt but the price premium isn't worth it when 328i xDrive Classic now starts at $39,900 that will take you from 0 to 60 in 5.5sec. Or ES that starts at $39,500 that provides luxury in spades while being wrapped in the proper luxury badge.

[Northernridge]

I agree with comments that VW should have pushed the design envelope further with the snout. Having said that, this is my favourite VW.

But I wouldn't buy one because I could buy a proper FGC for almost the same price. 

I would have to agree. For a fashion statement car, the design isn't bold enough. It's nice no doubt but the price premium isn't worth it when 328i xDrive Classic now starts at $39,900 that will take you from 0 to 60 in 5.5sec. Or ES that starts at $39,500 that provides luxury in spades while being wrapped in the proper luxury badge.

In Winnipeg the Audi and VW stores are combined and I often stop in to look around. When I start with VW I'm always impressed with most things and think that these are fine cars (they are). Then I walk over to the Audi side and am reminded that these are an order of magnitude better (or at least a lot).

[BernardP]

We currently have a 2010 Passat (regular, non CC) with the 2.0T and 6-speed manual, for which we paid about 30k$. Well, we leased it for 36 months, will low interest and 50% residual, to protect against its dismal resale value. The car has been trouble-free and is fun to drive.

The CC is now the only way to get the 2.0T engine in a larger VW sedan, as the new, bigger Passat has gone mainstream and doesn't offer this engine anymore.

But at 35k$, it's hard to find the value in a base CC with a 2.0T with manual, despite the car pleasing looks. And as soon as one starts adding to that, the price bumps against a base Audi A4 Quattro, with a stronger 2.0T (and still offering a 6-speed manual).

Our 2010 model is our third Passat in a row, after a 2002 and 2006, and will be our last, because VW no longer wants to sell us the car we would like to buy.

[dirtyjeffer]

Our 2010 model is our third Passat in a row, after a 2002 and 2006, and will be our last, because VW no longer wants to sell us the car we would like to buy.

sadly (for you), the market for 4 door family sedans with turbo engine and manual transmission are simply not in demand...there's a few out there, but i'll bet the list will continue to dwindle.

[Fobroader]

Sadly you are in the very small percentage that your wife allows you to buy a standard car. The vast majority out there would get their pipi slapped if they came home with a car with a third pedal and a wiggly stick between the seats.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Jaeger]

Damn near bought the (pre-facelifted) CC.  Still really like the car.  But man, the price rises spectacularly if you add anything above the base model.

[dirtyjeffer]

Damn near bought the (pre-facelifted) CC.  Still really like the car.  But man, the price rises spectacularly if you add anything above the base model.

go price out a Lexus.

you see "Starting at $44,950" and think, "Hey, that's a good deal"...Premium Package 1 - $3,050...Premium Package 2 - $4,550...Touring Package - $9,000...Ultra Premium Package 1 - $14,500...Ultra Premium Package 1 with blind spot - $15,050...Ultra Premium Package 2 - $17,300...Ultra Premium Package 2 with blind spot - $17,850.

it would be funny if it weren't true.

the top option package is as much as a well equipped Kia Rio5...wtf?!

[Jaeger]

go price out a Lexus.

Had I equipped it like my Sonata, I might as well have been shopping for a Lexus.    The base model was still quite appealing in most respects.  Could not get past the plastic seats, though.