A guy
in a back parking lot of a Chinese restaurant, speaking with a French
accent, starred at the 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport and said: "I've
never seen that car in the United States before. I've only seen it in
Germany."
It
wasn't the first nor the last time someone asked about the new VW
sedan. It's the German manufacturer's second attempt at a luxury
sedan via a sleeker design of the Passat. But this time, VW has been
influenced by Mercedes and Audi and it's offering a four-passenger
luxury-style car that costs less than $30,000.
It's a
much better approach than VW's brief, unsuccessful experiment with
the Phaeton.
The Ratings
Acceleration
(6)
There's
a slight delay, but the 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower engine holds its
own. Not many cars in this price range can perform in both the sports
cars/sedan arenas. The CC Sport won't please a true sports car
enthusiast, but it's ideal for a sedan driver who still wants to have fun shifting gears or at least utilizing a peppy automatic.
Braking/Steering/Handling
(7)
One of
the new car's strong characteristics. The CC Sport is confident around town and on the open road, brakes smoothly and handles cornering as well as some of
its more well-known competitors like the Audi A4.
Cargo
Room (5)
The
trunk is fine for groceries, but the hinge will impede
out-of-the-ordinary cargo. The cabin has a good supply of small
storage areas and some unusually placed bins, like a rather large
bin left of the steering wheel.
Controls
(7)
Another
major plus. Intuitive design, properly positioned, effect dials,
controls and great functionality. Some more expensive luxury sedans
have too many gadgets and complicated systems. Not Volkswagen. It
offers a lot as standard equipment, but none with a severe learning
curve.
Details
(6)
Two-tone
leatherette seats perfectly match the interior (Cornsilk Beige) and
exterior (White Gold Metallic). If you like the look of two-tone
shoes, you'll like the color flow of the CC Sport. Brushed metal and
finishing touches are reminiscent of higher priced vehicles.
Front
Seats (7)
How'd
VW do it? The bolstered front seats are extraordinarily comfortable
and there's ample head and leg room. The CC Sport isn't the
biggest car in its class, but it's comfortable and spacious beyond
its appearance.
Fuel
Economy (5)
The
EPA averages are 19 and 29 respectively for city and highway mileage.
Couldn't something have been done to get the respective averages to
20 and 30? That's only one mpg, of course. But it would have likely
helped to manufacturer sell more cars, particularly since premium
fuel is recommended.
Quietness
(6)
The
engine growls, but it's smooth, not annoying. Little wind rush and
little freeway noise.
Rear
Seats (6)
A
permanent divider (cup holder and tray compartment) make the CC sport
a four-passenger car, without question. Head and leg room are
satisfactory and at least it's not four-seater described as a
five-seater.
Ride
Quality (7)
Volkswagen
sedans are a staple in Europe, with good reason. They're solid,
stable and commanding on the open road, like the German Autobahn.
Ditto for the 2009 CC Sport on the Interstate.
Total
(62 out of 100 )
Class
— Premium sedan.
Primary
competition — Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, Lexus 250, Chrysler 300,
Mercedes CLS
Standard
equipment
Exterior
— Painted front and rear bumpers, Day time running lights, Driver
and passenger power heated painted door mirrors indicator lights,
Front fog lights, Projector beam lens halogen bulb headlights, Luxury
trim leather on gear knob, alloy look on doors and dashboard,
Metallic paint, Fixed rear window with defogger, Variable
intermittent windshield wipers.
Interior
— Air conditioning semi-auto, RDS audio system with AM/FM, Disc
Auto changer and six-disc remote changer CD player reads MP3, Clock,
Compass, Computer with average speed, average fuel consumption,
instantaneous fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel, Floor
and overhead console, Delayed/fade courtesy lights, Cruise control,
Front seats and rear seats cup holders, External temperature, Floor
mats, Driver front airbag with multi-stage deployment, passenger
front airbag with occupant sensors and multi-stage deployment, Sports
heated electrically adjustable driver with height adjustment, lumbar
adjustment, six adjustments and tilt adjustment electric, electric
and electric, sports heated passenger seat with height adjustment,
lumbar adjustment and tilt adjustment manual, manual and manual,
Height adjustable 3-point reel front seat belts on driver seat and
passenger seat with pre-tensioners, Front seat center armrest, Two
height adjustable head restraints on front seats and rear seats,
Headlight control, Low tire pressure indicator, Remote power locks
speed sensing, Vehicle speed proportional power steering, Front and
rear power windows with two one-touch, Front and rear reading lights,
3-point reel rear seat belts on driver side and passenger side, Rear
seat center armrest with trunk access, Two asymmetrical bench/sports
front facing rear seats with zero adjustments, Automatic operation
rear view mirror, Steering wheel mounted remote audio controls,
Remote control remote trunk/hatch release, Front, front side and rear
side curtain airbags, Leather seat upholstery with additional
leather, Eight speaker(s), Leather covered steering wheel with tilt
adjustment and telescopic adjustment, Tachometer, Illuminated driver
and passenger vanity mirror, Ventilation system with micro filter.
For
more standard equipment/option package information, visit www.vw.com.
Manufacturer's
Suggested Retail Price — $27,100.00.
Price
As Driven — $29,325.
Mileage
Estimates — 19 mpg (city), 29 mpg (hwy).
Warranty
— Bumper-to-bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Drivetrain, 5
years/60,000 miles; Roadside assistance, 3 years/36,000 miles;
Corrosion, 12 years/ unlimited miles.
The Final Words — The 2009 Volkswagen CC Sport may be
the most unheralded offering in it class. Simple, straight-forward,
little badging, handsome exterior and interior designs with important
but never embellished equipment. Combine the sleek, sporty sedan
look, comfortable seats and understated presence and it's a winner of
a first-year car.
James, a journalist since 1976, is co-author of Tour de France For
Dummies. He owns several websites, contributes to many print and online
publications and is also the editor of TheWeeklyDriver.com. A long-distance runner for nearly 30 years, Raia also rides his bike — to nearby coffeehouses. E-mail: james@byjamesraia.com.
