 2009 Volkswagen Passat CC. Click image to enlarge |
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2009 Volkswagen Passat CC
Oshawa, Ontario – It’s said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and how true that is. But I would seriously question any eye that doesn’t see beauty in Volkswagen’s Passat CC, a stunning, swoopy design that must go down as one of the loveliest vehicles made in the last couple of decades.
Its “four-door coupe” styling isn’t new; we’ve seen it in the equally gorgeous Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. But while that model will start you off at $93,500, the Passat CC first clicks the cash register at $31,975. That gets you the base Sportline trim, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, producing 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, with six-speed manual transmission. An extra $1,400 buys a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shift mode. My tester was the upper-trim Highline, which starts at $37,975; mine was equipped with the automatic, for a total of $39,375.
The four-cylinder comes strictly in front-wheel drive. If you want to take it a step further, you can opt for a naturally aspirated, 3.6-litre V6 producing 280 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. The six-cylinder comes only with the six-speed automatic, solely in Highline trim, and exclusively with 4Motion all-wheel drive.
 2009 Volkswagen Passat CC. Click image to enlarge |
You might have heard of Buffalo wings, a very popular chicken dish, and if you live in Southern Ontario, as I do, you’ve probably headed over the border to Buffalo, New York to get the real thing. That’s what my neighbour suggested we do, and so we loaded up the Passat CC (which stands for “comfort coupe,” Volkswagen says), and three of us went on an overnight trip to do some shopping and finish up with a dinner of spicy chicken wings at the Anchor Bar Restaurant, which claims to have invented the recipe.
It’s about 185 km one-way, and we left home and made our way down to the highway. At first, the CC’s ride seems a bit off base: given the car’s appearance, you’re expecting a very soft and luxurious ride, not the firmer Passat suspension. But that’s strictly about perception, and once I settled into the car – which was made a bit firmer by the winter tires it still wore – I appreciated its composure and well-planted feel on the highway. Buffalo is justifiably famous for its pavement in some of the older neighbourhoods – in some areas the asphalt looks like the craters of the moon – and this is where the CC’s suspension really shone, taking up the bumps without crashing or banging over them. Steering inputs are answered quickly and accurately, and there’s a nice balance to the wheel: heavy enough that you know you’re in control, but light enough that it isn’t tiring when driving for long periods of time.
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at 8:10 am
Not a bad price for the base model, but as always with VWs, I wonder about the reliability.
Also, I wonder if anyone’s heard about VW phasing out the Passat model in favor of a re-badged sedan…? Seems I heard this a couple weeks ago.
at 2:58 pm
Kaplan
I have the same concerns as you do about the reliability especially considering this a new iteration. Safe to say with all new models in their first year, there will definitely be some issues. If it assembled in Mexico I would worry, if assembled in Germany I would worry less.
By the way, what does the CC stand for?
at 3:02 pm
The Passat CC is assembled in Germany. In fact only the Jetta, City Jetta and New Beetle are assembled in Mexico with the City Golf being assembled in Brazil. All others are made in Germany.
at 3:03 pm
MSN autos shows it as being assembled in Germany, so that is good.
Does anyone know if VW Canada is offering the “Carefree Maintenance Program” here? 3 years free maintenance. I know they offer it in the US. Seems like VW is finally doing something serious about dealing with their questionable reliability or at least try to restore some buyer confidence.
at 5:03 pm
in response to Kaplan, I don’t think they’re getting rid of the Passat, but they are adding a midsize sedan that will slot in between the Jetta and Passat, and is aimed to compete with Accord/Camry. I’d guess that next Passat will move upmarket a bit as a result of the new model.
at 6:55 pm
I would seriously consider leasing this vehicle if I was shopping for a sedan in the particular price range. It looks much better in person than in pictures IMO.
at 7:48 pm
Honestly, it matters little where cars are assembled these days. VW uses cheap labour in its German plants as well, and my dad’s German-made Passat harboured all sorts of electrical gremlins while allowing for sunroof leaks and transmission problems.
at 7:49 pm
Further to my last point, it’s all about the parts bin companies use. If they’re using cheap plastic parts in the transmission and other components, it doesn’t matter if Jorge or Juergen is assembling your VW…it’s going to break down far sooner than you’d expect.
at 8:32 pm
Kaplan,
I agree with you about the parts design and selection of materials, but it does make a difference where it is made (take it from an ex-automotive engineer).
I’ve worked in two different plants that made the same brand (Chevrolet), and the processes used and quality of the finished product was night and day. I just can envision how a VW designed and engineered locally in Germany, complete with all of the local support for the assembly plants to utilize, would not be much better of than a similarily built Mexican VW.
You can vote with your wallet, but I know what I’d prefer (for me, either way it’s not a VW!).
at 9:11 pm
Wow, love these seats, reminds me the Recaros!
I’m also thinking old Maserati and Ferraris!
at 1:42 am
The rich mans buick. Looks too similar(minus the burnt out purely for aesthetics rear tail lights on the new ones), and I abhore VW interiors. I like the design of the Golf, but it’s still Audi for me.
at 6:51 am
Audi…oh, you mean, the rich man’s VW!
at 4:24 am
No, the rich mans proper BMW.
at 9:21 am
I’ve had a passat built in Germany. The worst quality and assembled car in my life. Millions of problems, endless and multiple parts replacement, horrible horrible vehicle. For me VW never again.
at 9:22 am
and by the CC stands for Comfort Coupe.
at 9:16 am
I have had a now over 8 year old Passat which has had as good or better reliability as anything I have owned including many Japanese. Definitely a much better car to drive than anything else I have owned. Oddly I am reluctant to buy another simple because of these reliability issue comments. VW seems to have a very loyal customer base, Too bad the CC is only a 4 seater. Love it otherwise.
at 7:41 pm
This is a good looking car. I have always liked Vdubs but many close friends have experienced various electrical problems and truth be told, I simply do not have the patience for them.
My friends Golf had his wipers malfunction during a heavy rain storm, windows, etc.. Another friends Corrado is always at the shop. It is rather surprising as I expect more from the Germans – they have set the bar high..
at 10:24 pm
Yawn…
at 10:29 pm
Overpriced, boring piece of metal…fuel economy sucks.
Only costs about $13 more to drive an F-150 crew crab 4×4 from London to Toronto and back again.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/05/21/inside-story-part-two-2009-ford-f-150-supercrew-4×4.htm
at 3:23 pm
that 13 dollars can buy alcohol though.
at 3:26 pm
I don’t think being made in germany necessarily make things better. I had a 2001 Beetle (not sure where it was assembled). It had numerous problems such as burnt out lights, transmission making noise, not starting in cold weather, abnormally overheating engine, etc. I would probably never buy a VW again. German engineering?