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Volkswagen CC R-Line 2.0 TSI (A) Review

23 Sep 2013|32,148 views

The Volkswagen CC R-Line gives you four-door coupe styling and functionality, with an added dose of sportiness.

The CC R-Line will replace the existing CC base trim as the sole CC model available locally

The four-door coupe locks into the German automaker's range somewhere between the Passat and the flagship Phaeton with a more intrigue and fashionable sense - as well as a few more luxury items.

More recently, the CC has been given the sporty R-Line treatment, which is designed by the company's R GmbH division, responsible for the brand's performance cars like the Golf R and Scirocco R as well as its sport accessories and trims.

Exterior

The first thing you're going to notice on the CC R-Line is a completely revised and more aggressive bumper that houses the new air intake. Instead of horizontal slots, the R-Line's air intake sports a cross-style pattern painted in gloss black.

18-inch Mallory wheels come as standard on the CC R-Line

Additionally, the rolled side skirts attached to the vehicle's rocker panels help the car to stand out from the normal CC.

Rounding off the sporty look are the rear bumpers which, just like the front, have been given a boost, as well as the familiar 'hockey-stick' designed taillights, which have been shaded, giving them a darker and sleeker appearance.

The R-Line steering wheel evokes a sporty feeling and gives a solid, yet not too meaty feel

A brushed aluminum and black soft touch interior decked out in well-textured materials awaits its occupants and displays excellent fit and finish throughout.

Mounted in the middle of the centre console is an integrated multimedia system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen that is hooked up to the Dynaudio Confidence sound system, which is capable of supplying you with good aural entertainment during your drive.

The Nappa leather seats are snug with nice bolsters and lumbar support for longer journeys up North. Over in the rear quarter, headroom and legroom is adequate for three adults to sit comfortably.

Ventilated seats are particularly useful in a climate like ours

The sloping roofline may cause some taller passengers to get a little claustrophobic, but thanks to the sunroof which brightens up the ambience inside, that occurrence is minimised.

Useful storage spaces can be easily found with cubbyholes in the centre console and deep door pockets at the sides. The split rear bench folds down to reveal a decently sized cargo area that can take at least three golf bags without problems.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged lump here is also seen on the Mk6 Golf GTI as well as the Golf GTI Cabriolet

On the roads, the CC R-Line demonstrates excellent manners. For a car of its size, zipping in and out of traffic is carried out with ease, thanks to its responsive and well-weighted steering.

Just as the CC R-Line can efficiently put the power to the road, it is also not afraid of corners. The car feels well-composed, with good grip and minimal body lean in turns.

Previously available as an option on the CC base trim, the DCC now comes standard on the CC R-Line

Conclusion

The Volkswagen CC has been one-of-a-kind since it was introduced. It's a unique choice for an upscale mid-sized that's still low on radar.

And now with the R-Line treatment done, the car packs a potent stylistic punch for its size and in a lot of ways, is the smart man's four-door coupe.

The Volkswagen CC or Comfort Coupe, is a four-door coupe version of the Volkswagen Passat, originally known as the Volkswagen Passat CC in its first generation.

While Volkswagen has been able to get a more laser-like focus on the family sedan market with its mid-sized Passat, the CC has served a completely different role in the VW lineup.

The four-door coupe locks into the German automaker's range somewhere between the Passat and the flagship Phaeton with a more intrigue and fashionable sense - as well as a few more luxury items.

More recently, the CC has been given the sporty R-Line treatment, which is designed by the company's R GmbH division, responsible for the brand's performance cars like the Golf R and Scirocco R as well as its sport accessories and trims.

Exterior

The first thing you're going to notice on the CC R-Line is a completely revised and more aggressive bumper that houses the new air intake. Instead of horizontal slots, the R-Line's air intake sports a cross-style pattern painted in gloss black.

As a result, the air intake has the gaping mouth look, as opposed to the previous CC's closed-mouth style, which gives the car a more menacing stance.

On each side of this open-mouth slot, there are circular projector fog lights surrounded by chrome highlights for a little touch of sophistication. And just like how everything needs a name to it, you get the obligatory R-Line logo on the grille.

Additionally, the rolled side skirts attached to the vehicle's rocker panels help the car to stand out from the normal CC.

Rounding off the sporty look are the rear bumpers which, just like the front, have been given a boost, as well as the familiar 'hockey-stick' designed taillights, which have been shaded, giving them a darker and sleeker appearance.

Interior

Volkswagen has never been known for over-the-top interiors, but their attention to detail remains second to none. The cabin here doesn't wow owners with luxe touches. Instead, VW opted for a driver-centric layout that has a distinctly European sportiness and extremely handsome style.

A brushed aluminum and black soft touch interior decked out in well-textured materials awaits its occupants and displays excellent fit and finish throughout.

Mounted in the middle of the centre console is an integrated multimedia system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen that is hooked up to the Dynaudio Confidence sound system, which is capable of supplying you with good aural entertainment during your drive.

The Nappa leather seats are snug with nice bolsters and lumbar support for longer journeys up North. Over in the rear quarter, headroom and legroom is adequate for three adults to sit comfortably.

The sloping roofline may cause some taller passengers to get a little claustrophobic, but thanks to the sunroof which brightens up the ambience inside, that occurrence is minimised.

Useful storage spaces can be easily found with cubbyholes in the centre console and deep door pockets at the sides. The split rear bench folds down to reveal a decently sized cargo area that can take at least three golf bags without problems.

The Drive

Underneath the bonnet of the CC R-Line is a 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant that drills 210bhp and 280Nm of torque into the front wheels.

Mated to a six-speed DSG transmission, gear changes are silky smooth, allowing the CC R-Line to do the century dash in 7.3 seconds - 1.2 seconds faster than the previous standard CC.

On the roads, the CC R-Line demonstrates excellent manners. For a car of its size, zipping in and out of traffic is carried out with ease, thanks to its responsive and well-weighted steering.

Just as the CC R-Line can efficiently put the power to the road, it is also not afraid of corners. The car feels well-composed, with good grip and minimal body lean in turns.

Although the sport-tuned suspension is on the firm side, it can be tweaked via the Adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) system.

The DCC offers three basic settings - Normal, Comfort and Sport - allowing drivers to fine tune damping to suit their personal preference.

Conclusion

The Volkswagen CC has been one-of-a-kind since it was introduced. It's a unique choice for an upscale mid-sized that's still low on radar.

And now with the R-Line treatment done, the car packs a potent stylistic punch for its size and in a lot of ways, is the smart man's four-door coupe.