VW Passat CC Bluemotion

[AJA]

VW delivered a new business demonstrator yesterday so I jumped at the chance of giving it a thorough test. I took it over today, and will be keeping it until Thursday lunchtime.

The car in question is a VW Passat CC bluemotion. I'm really not sure what spec it is but as it's a business demonstrator it's fully kitted -

Touchscreen Sat Nav
DAB radio
Rear screen electric blind
Full width Sunroof
Active Headlights
Dual Zone digital climate control
Bluetooth Connectivity for phone and MP3

What is cool about it -
Full width sunroof. Even though it only tilts. It doesn't slide due to its width (gutter to gutter).
The looks! I think it looks stunning.
Rear screen electric blind
Pillarless doors (all four)
Auto Hold handbrake
Active headlights
The boot is massive. Admittedly the access isn't great but it looks huge.

What is franky rather poo about it -
The interior is a little bland, but is very functional. Exactly what I expected from VW to be honest.
The steering is very light. I mean, very light.

Performance and handling -
This is the bit I'm not that impressed with. Being the Bluemotion it's only a 1.6 diesel lump probably delivering 105ps. You can tell to be honest. It's quick enough, just not quick enough for me. It also seems to run out of puff much earlier than my Vec C diesel.
The handling is not anyhere near what I'd hoped either. The front skips and jumps over bumps when cornering and you don't need to hit a big bump to cause the suspension to crash. It could prove a little teadious and would take a while to get used to it.

Would I buy one? Yes I would! I love the looks so much, that I could overlook the rest. I really don't want to hand it back on Thursday.

Some pics -

 

[RichardM]

I believe it's a 'VW CC' not a Passat CC. They dropped the Passat name to try and make it cooler

 

[Charles Morgan]

It looks lovely from the outside, but I think the interior (bar the seats) looks so bland.

 

[AJA]

I believe it's a 'VW CC' not a Passat CC. They dropped the Passat name to try and make it cooler

Yes you're right. I've just been looking at the VW website and it would seem the CC doesn't come in 1.6 diesel form. The smallest diesel is a 2.0 TDi 140ps. It certainly doesn't feel like it has 140ps. Maybe it doesn't feel quick to me as I'm used to my CLK320.
I may have to take both this CC and my Vec C out tomorrow evening for a better comparison. That'll teach me to make assumptions.

 

[Dand]

Lovely looking car. I friend of mines farther has the normal Passat 2.0 TDI 170ps. Its not been the most reliable of cars but that felt like it had plenty of go in it. Its not the most exciting interior but i feels very well put together

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I do like these, the recent facelift has only improved it. couple of years from now and they will be peanuts

 

[st4]

Lovely looking car. I friend of mines farther has the normal Passat 2.0 TDI 170ps. Its not been the most reliable of cars but that felt like it had plenty of go in it. Its not the most exciting interior but i feels very well put together

How so? VW trade off their reliability. It's a major selling point.

I like the look of the CC

 

[grober]

They are a vastly underrated car. They do need the following--- the 170 bhp diesel or 2 litre petrol [ the 4wd v6 petrol is no longer available] - the DSG gearbox and the essential ACC [ adaptive chassis control] suspension to show the car at its full GT [ GRAND TOURING] best. If you want a VW "sports car" look elsewhere- to a Scirocco R perhaps if you can stand the looks?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Lovely looking car. I friend of mines farther has the normal Passat 2.0 TDI 170ps. Its not been the most reliable of cars but that felt like it had plenty of go in it. Its not the most exciting interior but i feels very well put together

A friend of my dads had bought each mark of Golf brand new since they came out and after the experience he had with the Mk5 GTTDi 170bhp he vowed to never own one again.

He only kept it for six month the before returning it back to the main dealer where he bought it from.

Among small, usual new car niggles was every injector went, all manner of electrical gremlins would play havoc; he was on the M1 north when the car just suddenly switched itself off!! He was so despondent because he'd always loved his VW's (he's still got his Mark 1&2 Golf in his garage) that he now drives an IS220...

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

My Brother chose this from a list of cars he could have had.. He does 50 - 60K miles a year. He loves it, very comfy. He has the 140 DSG 2.0Tdi model.

He could have had :-

Audi A4 2.0Tdi
Merc C220 SE
Passat


The Merc felt the 'quickest; but in SE spec without options you can choose was pretty grim.

The passat has all manor of kit as standard. As its not his it doesn't matter about depreciation and its bigger inside than the C class.

He did have a C class sport estate with loads of toys for a week to try, but its not really fair giving you a model you cannot have...and toys that will not be on yours...

 

[bpsorrel]

I briefly thought about one of these before getting my CLS, but in the end the bland interior and the fact that I preferred the "original" put me off.

However, one of my neighbours has just bought a top of the range one in black that does compare very well with my CLS and one neighbour even thought at first glance that it was the latest version!!

 

[W2--]

The exterior is smart enough, but not floating my boat. But the interior, it can't not get more bland if they try. Yeah, it's well put together, but so are a lot of other cars.

 

[A210AMG]

^ Compare these cars like for like Price for price as they come though...

That's what my brother did.

You sit in a std C220SE or Audi A4 or anything at this 'level' yes they are all pretty standard. This £ for £ has far more kit than the others and when your in it all day that makes a difference. Fact it looks quite sleek outside also helps.

The inside is a bit bland, but so are the above cars?

 

[st4]

^ Compare these cars like for like Price for price as they come though...

That's what my brother did.

You sit in a std C220SE or Audi A4 or anything at this 'level' yes they are all pretty standard. This £ for £ has far more kit than the others and when your in it all day that makes a difference. Fact it looks quite sleek outside also helps.

The inside is a bit bland, but so are the above cars?

Question is though, is the standard kit in a C class, SE 3 series and SE A4 enough. I'd wager it is but kit level is such a personal taste thing.

 

[wemorgan]

Interesting how much emphasis some people put on optional extras. First and foremost I have to like the base car, its design, engineering, performance, economy. If all else is equal I look at the options. After all, who wants a Lada with dual zone climate control and iphone connectivity?

 

[bpsorrel]

After all, who wants a Lada with dual zone climate control and iphone connectivity?

You've seen the latest Ladas then?

Actually, with Renault at the helm and the use of Dacia's latest offerings to work with, fully speced up Ladas may not be too far away.. Still wouldn't want one though. Having spent some time at the Lada factory (when SWMBO worked there) and seen how they work..... nope.. not for me!

 

[A210AMG]

^ For my Brother doing 50K to 60K a year its little things that make a difference and yes standard kit does mean a LOT as he is unlike us who can choose to add stuff.

You have the car in that level and that's it...and the list of cars is like a choice of 4.

An arm rest in the centre console for example could be a deal breaker. Cruise control almost a must.

As it happends the CC comes with a LOT of standard kit, one thing he likes is the SD card slot for his music.

Good job we are all different I agree, and I would not buy a new one myself but I do think for the money they are very smart. The quality of finish is VERY good, bland maybe but it will last and look good far longer than others.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

^ For my Brother doing 50K to 60K a year its little things that make a difference and yes standard kit does mean a LOT as he is unlike us who can choose to add stuff.

You have the car in that level and that's it...and the list of cars is like a choice of 4.

An arm rest in the centre console for example could be a deal breaker. Cruise control almost a must.

As it happends the CC comes with a LOT of standard kit, one thing he likes is the SD card slot for his music.

Good job we are all different I agree, and I would not buy a new one myself but I do think for the money they are very smart. The quality of finish is VERY good, bland maybe but it will last and look good far longer than others.

Agree.
I was looking for my next car recently and was thinking of a freelander, no armrest! Would have been a real issue over very long distances.

 

[John]

I did look at these before I bought my current steed.

Externally I think they are great looking cars. However, there weren't many on the second hand market when I was looking (3 years ago) so didn't bother getting to the test drive stage.

 

[st4]

Agree.
I was looking for my next car recently and was thinking of a freelander, no armrest! Would have been a real issue over very long distances.

What's wrong with putting two hands on the wheel?