2014 Volkswagen CC

2014 Volkswagen CC Review

It’s not just the German luxury brands that offer four-door coupes. Volkswagen does a solid job with the CC. With a low and sporty design, the CC certainly looks the part. VW also takes a mainstream approach to equipment and performance. It’s almost like a more affordable choice from Audi, which is another brand that the Volkswagen Group happens to own.

The 2014 Volkswagen CC is a midsize sedan that seats five. Three trim levels are available: Sport, R-Line and Executive. With the standard powertrain, you get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. Optional equipment includes a V6, two different six-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive.

The CC adds a rearview camera, VW’s Car-Net telematics and a navigation system as standard equipment for 2014. A new option is a hands-free trunk. Additionally, the Executive trim now is available with the turbo engine.

Exterior

A long, dramatic roof helps establish the 2014 Volkswagen CC’s coupe-like silhouette. VW fills in the details with full-length body lines that flow out of the top of the front bumper. The front of the car seems to be surging forward, like a runner lunging for the finish line. At the back, the trunk-lid edge curves up to become a subtle rear spoiler.

Standard equipment includes bi-xenon high-intensity-discharge headlamps, adaptive front lighting, halogen fog lights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, mirror-mounted turn signals and 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The CC R-Line adds standard side skirts and sport-style front and rear bumpers. Available features include a power sunroof, a hands-free trunk, heated mirrors, heated windshield-washer nozzles and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

Interior

At first glance, the CC’s dashboard has a clean and precise look that’s emphasized by a simple horizontal line of trim. But that’s set off by the snake-like curving that goes up over the instrument panel and down around the infotainment system. The CC has fixed rear seats with a center pass-through into the trunk. There, you’ll find 13.2 cubic feet of storage space.

VW provides standard features such as V-Tex leatherette upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with a tilt-and-telescoping column. Available equipment includes leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a driver-seat massage function.

Performance

A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque is standard. A naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 is optional, although only for the Executive model. That engine is good for 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. The CC relies on a standard six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive for the turbo engine, which also is available with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The V6 is mated to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Fuel economy tops out at 21/32 mpg city/highway. That’s for base models with the manual transmission. Models with the V6 get up to 17/25 mpg city/highway.

Technology

A rearview camera, a navigation system, a 5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, satellite radio, iPod connectivity and an auxiliary input jack are standard.

The CC offers front and rear parking sensors, an upgraded navigation system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, HD Radio and a 600-watt audio system with 10 speakers and a 30 GB hard drive.