2011 Volkswagen Passat CC Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

Volkswagen takes the four-door coupe route with the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC, giving it style, sportiness, refinement and image over the regular Passat. The appeal on offer has multi-folded, despite the higher asking price and limited room.

2011 Volkswagen Passat CC quick specs

Body Style	Coupe
Class	Compact Luxury
Assembled	-

Engine Range	-
Fuel Options	-
Seating Capacity	4

2011 Volkswagen Passat CC ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

Longer, lower and wider than the Passat sedan, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC takes the four-door coupe route, and ends up looking very stylish indeed. While the sedan can be described as understated at best, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC looks sleek and elegant in equal parts. As every single outer panel found on the sedan has been replaced, Volkswagen was able to draw up a completely different design—one boasting a more wedge-shaped profile, complemented by stylish lines, elegant contours, and a curvaceous roofline. Perhaps the Passat sedan should have looked like this from the start?

Handling

Featuring a lowered, stiffened sports suspension, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC adds a sense of sportiness over the Passat sedan's thoroughly competent drive. The standard adaptive chassis control DCC allows you to switch effortlessly between Sport, Comfort and Normal settings. The Sport setting firms up the suspension along with the steering, but even then, feedback is lacking. As capable as the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC feels on the roads, driving one is neither as satisfying nor as confidence-inspiring as the BMW 3-Series'.

Comfort

Thanks to the firm yet supple suspension, as well as the rigid body structure, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC rides very well, remaining settled over most surfaces and gliding over most surface irregularities. Refinement is commendable, too, as wind, road and engine noise are rarely intrusive. The 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC provides a lower driving position than the Passat sedan, but the wide range of steering and seating adjustments remains. Instruments are easy to read, while controls are clearly labelled and fall nicely within reach. However, as with most coupes, front and rear visibility is not great.

Quality + Reliability

The 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC is positioned as a higher-end model, and if the exterior does not convince on that aspect, the interior surely will. With the steering wheel, leather seats, instruments and certain controls different from the Passat sedan's, the cabin feels classy and sufficiently differentiated. The fit-and-finish are exemplary, the materials feel premium to the eye and touch, and the switchgear operates with the kind of tactility found in an Audi. Having a Volkswagen means reliability is one of the last things on your mind, especially when the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC's underlying mechanicals are mostly proven.

Performance

Powered by a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC shares the same superb drivetrain as the Passat sedan—one that serves up 100 km/h from rest in 7.8 seconds, for both models. Strong, flexible and refined, this 197 bhp, 280 Nm engine unit complements the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC's somewhat sporty character well, although the transmission deserves credit for shifting seamlessly throughout, too.

Roominess

With the rear bench making way for two individual seats, and the coupe-like sloping roofline, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC is a strict four-seater that provides generous legroom but only decent headroom at the back. While average-height occupants will not complain, anyone much over 1.8 metres would find the rear headroom lacking. The 532-litre boot is very well-sized, and the rear seats can fold for more loading space if needed.

Running Costs

Fuel economy is rated at 11.8 km/litre, which is good considering the performance available on tap. Servicing and repair costs should be lower than premium rivals'. The Volkswagen badge, and the Passat CC's unique positioning without direct rivals, should combine well to ward off steep depreciation. Still, do not expect the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC to get you the kind of residual values that Mercedes-Benz models manage.

Value for Money

You pay extra for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC's style. But we suspect the stylish four-seater coupe would win more fans than the regular Passat sedan. Other than the Passat name and the same drivetrain, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC is well differentiated in terms of looks, on-road manners, cabin feel and overall image to justify the price difference. Although direct rival-less, the Volkswagen Passat CC could be seen as a lower-cost Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, or an alternative to compact luxury German sedans. With the appealing package on offer, we should be seeing more of it on the roads.

Equipment

Standard equipment includes 18" alloy wheels, dynamic cornering bi-xenon headlight, electric panorama tilting sunroof, Adaptive chassis control (DCC), dual-zone climate control, cruise control, keyless entry system, ParkPilot, rear view camera, rain sensor, electrically adjustable front seats with memory for the driver's side, leather multi-function steering wheel, leather upholstery, and 6-disc CD/MP3/WMA/radio touch-screen audio system with iPod connectivity. Safety kit includes front/side/curtain airbags, and braking, traction and stability controls.

Environment

Thanks to TSI technology, which involves both the supercharging and turbocharging of an FSI engine, the 2011 Volkswagen Passat CC is more efficient than the Passat sedan, which comes without TSI. Carbon dioxide emissions drops from 207 grams/km to 199 grams/km, while fuel economy improves from 11.5 km/litre to 11.8 km/litre.

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2011 Volkswagen Passat CC Review

2011 Volkswagen Passat CC at a glance