Good genetics: Volkswagen Passat CC review

Everyone looks like a gentleman in a suit and tie, ready to go to a business meeting or country club - but models like the Passat sedan lack some of the gloss that is acquired only with the passage of time and the change of generations living by the code of honor of the aristocracy. However, there is a real nobleman in this automotive family - this is exactly what the CC looks like. He absorbed all the best that the manufacturer could offer him - an excellent appearance, powerful engines, a well-designed chassis, as well as an exquisite interior design. Of course, such a car costs much more than the base Passat. To check if its price is fair, we will conduct a comprehensive review of the Volkswagen Passat SS.

Volkswagen Passat CC is a car that will suit a person in a high position

In full dress

All the best is inside

It should be remembered that the last two letters in the name of the Volkswagen Passat CC stand for "Comfort coupe" - it is with comfort that we and. At first glance, it may seem that the Passat CC has nothing in common with the seventh generation - the two-tone interior color, as well as the large silver insert on the center console, are so striking. By the way, the latter is complemented by a long strip, which can be painted in different shades depending on the client's desire - it very well dilutes the overly utilitarian interior of the Volkswagen Passat, devoid of any special design frills. Of course, many may say that the interior of the Passat CC is boring due to the use of a large number of straight lines and strict geometric shapes - however, against the backdrop of all the luxury, they seem more concise than understatement. Volkswagen designers did a good job on the multimedia system - they managed to fit it into the console without feeling foreign and incompatible with the surrounding finishing materials.

However, in the interior of the Volkswagen Passat CC, you can also notice conspicuous cons that somewhat worsen the initial impression. In particular, the steering wheel here is the same as on a regular Passat. No doubt, they look pretty good and are comfortable, but against the backdrop of a luxurious interior, such elements look poor and unpresentable. Round watches, which the company is now trying to use in each of its models, do not look very appropriate in the general geometric style of the Passat CC. But for what I want to thank the Volkswagen designers involved in the development of the interior, it is for the impressive selector of robotic operating modes, which invariably attracts attention, allowing you to be distracted from some of the shortcomings described earlier.

The two-coloured seats are not only very beautiful, but also comfortable, thanks to which the Volkswagen Passat CC can claim the title of leader in comfort in its class. The front seats are distinguished by a slightly elongated cushion, which will be comfortable for people of large stature, but will create some discomfort for those whose parameters are somewhat below average. The back profile can be safely called ideal, and the lateral support pleases with its efficiency and unobtrusiveness, which allows you to forget about the existence of such an element of the chair during a quiet ride. Behind it is better to be placed together - and it's not at all a lack of legroom or a small width. We are talking about the profile of the back and cushion of the sofa, which forms a significant bulge in the middle, which does not allow to accommodate at least a minimum. In addition, if you do not take a reclining landing, inaccessible to the average passenger, then there will be no headroom at all due to the low overhanging roof.

Ahead of its time

The international concern Volkswagen seems to be using the Passat CC model - because the recently introduced eighth-generation Passat sedan was so similar to the 2012 four-door coupe that the latter was predicted to be excluded from the company's lineup. But the rumors turned out to be wrong - soon we are promised to show a new prestigious model with an even more perfect appearance. In the meantime, let's look at the current Volkswagen Passat CC - the most favorable angle for this model is a profile view, when a low sloping roof and an elongated glazing line in a silver frame, ending in a smooth bend in the rear door, become noticeable. If you go forward a little, you can see a very deep stamping on the sides, which falls somewhat from the rear to the front wheel arch, giving the Volkswagen Passat CC a very dynamic look. It is worth paying attention to the large rims of the Passat CC, which are very similar to the propeller of an aircraft, due to which the car even looks a little extravagant.

Looking at the Volkswagen Passat CC from the front, you understand that the company's specialists have done a real miracle - it immediately becomes clear that the element of the car is fast movement. In the design of the front end, the main tone is set by a very wide chrome grille with thin, but clearly visible horizontal lines - it with distinct lenses and long strips of LED daytime running lights. The bumper also uses a wide grille, the height of which is limited on the sides by holes for fog lights, and two large ribs on the hood complete this whole composition. At the back, the car looks much more calm, although its dynamism is reminiscent of the original shape narrowed towards the center and a small, but on the trunk lid.

Walk check

Vehicle dynamics and its components

It’s worth saying right away that the Volkswagen Passat SS fully corresponds to the parameters of the seventh generation sedan - despite the fact that the base car has already received the eighth generation, the four-door coupe has not been updated either externally or technically - Volkswagen representatives claim that instead we will soon see completely new car. The review featured the Passat CC, which has the most powerful 2.0 four-cylinder engine that produces 210 horsepower. Despite the fact that for many such characteristics of the Volkswagen Passat CC may seem insufficient for a large luxury car, the power unit perfectly copes with the tasks assigned to it - acceleration to the first "hundred" on the speedometer lasts only 7.3 seconds, and the speed increase stops at almost 250 km/h. In the city, such power seems redundant - the Passat CC reacts very “nervously” to touching the gas pedal, trying to immediately break ahead in the stream, so you have to periodically monitor the distance to the car in front. But on a country road, Volkswagen is in its element - if you don’t have to do a lot, you can achieve maximum comfort and economy - due to optimally selected settings, the car consumes no more than 6 liters of fuel per 100 km.

On the Volkswagen Passat CC, it is represented by a six-speed DSG robotic unit. Compared to a seven-speed transmission operating on a similar principle, it has significant advantages:

• The ability to transfer more;
• Reliability in peak modes of vehicle operation;
• Quick reactions to changes in the amount of fuel supplied to the cylinders of the power unit.

Of course, you have to pay for this more and with jerks that occur during sharp accelerations, but this gearbox is ideal for the Volkswagen Passat CC. I am very pleased with the presence of a sport mode, in which the transmission allows you to reach high engine speeds and change steps much faster, completely eliminating gaps in the power flow transmitted to the wheels.

Fans of economy can be advised to choose the Volkswagen Passat CC, equipped with 1.8 for 152 horsepower or diesel 2.0 with a capacity of 140 hp. from. In addition, it is possible to order a car with a top-end 3.6-liter engine and all-wheel drive transmission - this version already has a cost comparable to the Audi A4, which has a more prestigious status. However, if we take into account the changes that have taken place in the production program of the Volkswagen Passat sedan, then it is likely that in the next generation we will not see a six-cylinder engine. But instead it will be possible to order a car with a diesel four-cylinder engine with a capacity of 240 horsepower.

Chassis comfort

Thanks to the differences in suspension settings, a test drive of the Volkswagen Passat SS can be carried out not only in the city center, but also in the suburbs with broken roads, as well as many obstacles. Volkswagen engineers claim that the Passat CC has 15% less power consumption, and this is already felt after the first pit! The chassis of the car calmly passes even fairly large irregularities, without letting passengers know about it. Only if you decide to slip through a deep hole or a sagging one at high speed, the Volkswagen Passat CC will jump, but this movement will not follow.

But where the real problem lies is in the clearance of the Passat CC, which does not even reach the level of 125 mm. The conclusion suggests itself that the car is completely unsuitable for driving on dirt and gravel roads, as well as for climbing high curbs. Well, you will have to observe gentlemanly manners and use the car exclusively for driving around large cities in which there are no problems with road infrastructure.

Volkswagen Passat CC, then it is exceptionally stable - you will not feel deviations from the chosen course even after the shocks in the suspension become noticeable. Reactions to the steering wheel are somewhat slow, and the car itself can roll a little in a turn, which is caused by a decrease in the rigidity of the chassis. In the city of Passat CC due to the use of automation that determines the optimal angle of rotation of the wheels to enter the selected place.

Aristocrat or not?

Of course, the Volkswagen Passat CC is a level higher than the sedan on the basis of which it was developed, but it is too early to talk about unconditional belonging to the premium class. It is worth waiting for the release of the next generation Passat CC - in the meantime, you can evaluate the main parameters of the car that participated in the review:

Pros of Volkswagen Passat CC:

• Excellent dynamics and moderate fuel consumption;
• Comfortable salon;
• Excellent appearance;
• Good level of equipment.

Test drive of the Volkswagen Passat CC:

Cons of the Volkswagen Passat CC:

• Low roof level in the rear;
• High compared to the base Volkswagen Passat;
• Steering wheel and dashboard not combined with other elements of the interior.

Output: Of course, the Volkswagen Passat CC has excellent performance and well-designed design, but it needs further improvements in order to hit. However, the car already has good consumer qualities and is able to make a very comfortable fast ride.