2017 Volkswagen CC Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
byDan Frio
Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.
Pros
- Striking exterior style is unique in its class
- Comes with many upscale features standard
- Turbocharged engine is smooth, slick and sounds great
Cons
- Rear seat headroom is limited by sloping roofline
- Trunk is small compared to most competitors'
- Priced higher than many competitors with comparable features
What’s new
For 2017, the Volkswagen CC adds standard adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning to the R-Line Executive trim. The Sport model gets interior enhancements including ebony trim and chrome accents. The Trend, R-Line and V6 Executive trims are discontinued. The manual transmission is also discontinued.
Vehicle overview
Stand a few yards away from the 2017 Volkswagen CC, and its appeal is obvious. With sleek coupe styling wrapped around four doors, the CC's exterior design stands out as one of the most interesting among midsize sedans. Inside, the CC cabin impresses with near-luxury features and fit and finish. A 200-horsepower turbocharged engine and six-speed automatic transmission pairing feels quick and refined, and sounds terrific.
But just as the CC ("Comfort Coupe") tempts with shapely lines and smooth power delivery, it does have limited, tight interior space, awkward sight lines and a higher price versus more conventional sedan alternatives. The Volkswagen also doesn't handle curves and corners as sharply as its sporty styling suggests. You'll need to decide if the trade-offs are worth it.
Fortunately you won't need to compromise fuel efficiency. The CC returns an EPA-estimated 25 mpg combined (22 city/31 hwy). In our testing, we managed 25.1 mpg in overall driving and 26.2 mpg on our mixed highway-mountain driving test loop. Those are decent numbers but others, such as the Honda Accord, achieve better.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
3.0 / 5Attractive and well-equipped, the 2017 Volkswagen CC strikes the middle ground between workaday family sedans and entry-level luxury sedans. Shapely lines sacrifice interior room, and it costs more than many competitors, but the CC offers smooth power and more visual personality than most.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions, although trim levels share many aspects. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2014 Volkswagen CC R-Line (2.0L 4-cyl. turbo; 6-speed dual-clutch automatic).
Scorecard
| Overall | 3.0 / 5 |
| Driving | 3.0 |
| Comfort | 3.0 |
| Interior | 3.0 |
Driving
3.0The CC's overall performance is acceptable, but several more affordable midsize sedans are quicker and handle the same or better.
Comfort
3.0The ribbed covering on the CC's seats doesn't look inviting, but the buckets are actually quite comfortable. This is a generally quiet cruiser, but we heard more tire and suspension noise during urban driving than we expected.
Interior
3.0You'd think the CC's low-slung roofline would mean a neck-wrenching lack of headroom, but the low-placed seats help. The interior is well put together and looks nice, although storage space could be better.
Utility
The downside to that sharp exterior styling is less trunk space than you might expect from a midsize sedan. The pinched shape could also complicate loading larger, awkward items. The rear seatbacks fold flat, and there's a center pass-through for skis and long items.
Which CC does Edmunds recommend?
The R-Line Executive's leather upholstery and adaptive cruise control are nice, especially for long-distance commuters. But with keyless entry, heated seats, Bluetooth and satellite radio, the Sport has the basics covered — and saves you about $3,000.
2017 Volkswagen CC models
The 2017 Volkswagen CC is available in two trims: Sport and R-Line Executive. The latter is available with an optional carbon-fiber styling package called R-Line Executive With Carbon. The Sport surprises with nice amenities such as power-adjustable, heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control, while R-Line Executive upgrades include leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof and driver safety aids. For the same price, the R-Line Executive With Carbon adds gloss black exterior and carbon-fiber interior trim.