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The People’s Car takes another stab at becoming the Executive’s Car, with the VW CCVolkswagen has tried before to make a car that competes in the same mind space as the BMW’s of the world. Technically and mechanically, the boys from Wolfsburg have played on a pretty even footing with the more executive class manufacturers. But try as they may, they simply have been unable to crack that executive space in the mind of the consumer.
The ultimate example would be the VW Phaeton.
By all accounts, the Phaeton was a brilliant super luxury sedan that no one wanted because, well, it was a VW.
That car is better known today as the Bentley Continental. Exact same car, with a new badge and different body styling – and suddenly, it is a sales success.
The VW CC is another attempt at pushing the VW brand into a much classier arena. Visually, the car is quite unique among the VW stable, its downward sloping front and rear being quite the attention grabber.
It matches its looks with an equally eminent driving experience, the 2.0 TDI engine and six-speed direct-shift gearbox that we tried, working together superbly.
It is a very refined drive and a bit unexpected from VW, and very easy to get used to. This car easily redefines what a Volkswagen could be and given a chance, the CC will easily equal or surpass your expectations and you will wonder whether you still want that Benz.
The Benz in question obviously being any one of the CLS family of cars.
The similarities are immediately apparent. The two cars have an almost identical silhouette, and both are marketed as a “four-door coupé”. Which is an outright lie, invented by PR types. It is a sedan with a missing seat at the back, people – deal with it.
However it is marketed, it does not detract from the fact that the CC is an extremely comfortable car to be in. The interior is a personal favourite of mine. It has the quality of an Audi, without all the fussy, cluttered and oddly placed buttons.
With one glaring exception, though. The electronic parking brake button – not a handbrake – is located in the dash, on the right of the steering wheel. It is an unusual spot and nowhere near the gear lever where you would expect it to be. It will definitely confuse first-time drivers as they search for it with their left hand.
That niggle, and the missing middle seat in the rear aside, there is nothing about which to complain. The VW CC is an excellent car and I recommend it highly.
Ultimately, much like the ill-fated Phaeton, you have to wonder: will the suave, eye-catching looks, excellent drive and comfortable cabin be enough to push the VW badge into executive territory?
The short answer: I don’t think so.
Long answer: I love this car, but you cannot get away from the fact that it is a Volkswagen and only the real car fundi’s will be able to look past the badge and recognise that the CC is currently one of the finest executive cars around. ?
VW CC 2.0 TDI DSG – R349 000.00
VW CC 2.0 TSI Manual – R354 000.00
VW CC 2.0 TSI Tiptronic – R365 500.00
VW CC 3.6 V6 FSI DSG 4Motion – R451 000.00
Zaid Kriel
