Volkswagen CC saloon

Drive

The CC engine range borrows the best of the Passat line-up including a 1.8-litre turbo petrol with 158bhp and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol with 207bhp. Diesels come in 138bhp and 168bhp outputs. The lower powered models actually feel quick enough for most people's needs. Adaptive dampers come as standard on top-spec GT models allowing the suspension to be changed between Comfort, Normal and Sport. In the latter mode handling is surprisingly sharp but the steering doesn't offer much feedback, meaning it's never that exciting to drive. 

Comfort

With or without the adaptive dampers the CC is a very comfortable car, with a top-quality interior. The suspension soaks up rough roads easily but models on 19-inch wheels struggle more than those on smaller alloys. Diesels are usually rough and noisy but in the CC, engineers have done a great job of keeping noise out of the cabin. It all makes for a very relaxing drive. 

Reliability

Despite the name change in late 2011 the CC is the same underneath the skin as the old Passat CC. That bodes well for reliability as the old car had a great record. Safety kit is plentiful, with a range of airbags and electronic systems included as standard. There's a lane-change assistant which will intervene if you're moving into traffic and a system which will brake the car to a standstill to try and prevent a rear collision. 

Practicality

The car has a lower roofline than a standard Passat but both front seat passengers have plenty of headroom. Taller rear occupants might find their heads too close to the roof lining, but the width and length of the CC means it provides plenty of leg and shoulder room. The boot is vast, with 532 litres of space and the new CC gets one-touch switches in the boot which fold the seats down easily. 

Value for money

The CC is a little bit more costly than a Passat with the same engine but the standard equipment list is extremely generous. Even basic CC trim models get sat-nav, a DAB radio, Bluetooth, climate control, alloy wheels and xenon headlights. Upgrade to GT spec and you get full leather upholstery, adaptive dampers, cruise control, parking sensors and larger alloys. 

Running costs

The cheapest engine to run will be the 2.0 TDI fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. In that case it manages 125g/km and 60.1mpg. If you want the ease of an automatic gearbox these figures worsen to 139g/km and 53.3mpg. The more powerful diesel is barely more expensive to run but the petrols – although cheaper to buy – will cost more to tax.