In-depth reviews

Volkswagen CC saloon (2012-2017) - Practicality & boot space

Despite its curvy looks the Volkswagen CC is quite practical

Carbuyer Rating

3.6 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.8 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Practicality & boot space Rating

3.2 out of 5

VW’s engineers have done a great job of keeping wind, road and tyre noise out of the Volkswagen CC's cabin by fitting plenty of sound-absorbing materials to the front, rear and underside of the car. The standard sports seats give excellent support on long journeys and the CC is very relaxing to drive, with a top-quality interior that’s a great place to spend time in.

Volkswagen CC interior space and storage

Despite the fact that the CC has a lower roofline than the standard VW Passat, there’s plenty of headroom in the front for the driver and passenger. In the back, taller adults might find their heads a little too close to the roof lining for comfort, but the width and length of the CC means there’s enough leg and shoulder room to compensate.

Getting in and out of the rear isn’t as easy as in a regular Passat, due to the sloping roof making the door openings smaller. There are technically three seats in the back, but whoever draws the short straw and has to sit in the middle will feel pretty cramped – it’s only really suitable for short journeys. Visibility isn’t as good as in the more practical Passat, either – those rakish looks and smaller windows make themselves known when you check your rear-view mirror.

Volkswagen CC boot space

The CC is based on a thoroughly practical family saloon, the VW Passat, but in the name of style the four-door coupe loses some of its sister model’s practicality. First up is the boot. To give the car a less boxy look, it has a more rounded exterior shape and therefore less impressive luggage capacity – 532 litres compared to the Passat’s 586.

For added practicality, you can specify an automatic tailgate that opens when you wave your foot under the rear bumper – perfect for when you’re overloaded with bags of shopping. There’s also a split-folding rear seat for items that are just a bit too long to fit in the boot. The CC’s main rival, the Audi A5 Sportback, is obviously a far more practical option thanks to its hatchback tailgate, which allows you to extend the luggage area to 980 litres. However, with the seats up, the Sportback’s boot is in fact smaller than the CC’s, at 480 litres.

Volkswagen CC towing

The CC also makes a great car for towing, with the 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine being a particularly impressive performer.

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

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