The Management Fleet // VW CC // Update

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Life with the Passat CC has been pretty good over the past couple of weeks. We’ve already managed to add 1000km onto the clock and are just about getting our heads around all the bells and whistles that the CC comes loaded with.

But first, I want to briefly touch on the name. When Volkswagen first brought the swoopy four-door to market, it was very much the Passat CC – or ‘Passat Comfort Coupe’ in VW corporate speak. However, that name has been reduced to just ‘CC’ by the local dealers to try and distance the car from its slightly dowdy nameplate sibling. Look closely at Passat CCs around the region – and yes, I am that sad – and you’ll see that the badging ranges from ‘Passat’ to ‘Passat CC’ to just ‘CC’ as on our car.

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But naming issues aside, the CC is proving to be a comfortable way to spend time. It’s all about the technology on the inside with full Bluetooth control for my mobile – complete with a natty keypad that slides out of the dash for dialling numbers. There’s also a voice control system, though I’ve yet to get my head round that. I only realised it was a feature when a very polite female voice boomed ‘Pardon?’ through the cabin when I pressed the button by mistake.

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There’s a monster touch screen in the middle of the centre stack which gives access to everything from the classy sat-nav to the rear-view parking aid (which will be the subject of a post of its own very soon), the full media system – which takes everything from CDs, iPods/iPhones and the like, and even MP3s on an SD card and all manner of setup preferences.

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The DSG ‘box is well suited to the car and the 2.0-litre engine and changes through the ratios seamlessly. There’s a little bit of lag from moving off from standstill as everything engages itself in the gearbox, but this is something that’s inherent to all double-clutch systems. Overall, I’m much happier with this setup than some horrid torque converter auto or worse, an Audi-style CVT gearbox and its eight different ‘ratios’. The steering wheel paddles provide a little bit of excitement, but to be honest, I’m finding that leaving everything in D is the best way to go.

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Our R-Line car comes with some rather nice cream and black duo-tone leather seats. Officially, they are ‘sports’ seats, but don’t provide quite enough grip around the sides as I would like, nor do they look as stonking as the ones found in the Scirocco or Golf R-Line models.

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The R-Line is not an out-and-out drivers car, but provides enough enjoyment for the day-to-day. However, I’ve found rumblings on some forums that there’s a proper CC R on its way. The power unit that’s going to feature? The 2.5-litre turbo that does great service in the Audi TT RS. I’ve driven the TT RS at length – indeed, a CRANK&PISTON review is coming any day now – and the engine is monumentally awesome. Make it so, Volkswagen, make it so.