What’s new: The name and the looks – it’s now just known as the CC rather than the Passat CC – while the body has been restyled, rendering it arguably more sober than its predecessor. Spec levels have also been updated.
Excellent: Refinement and comfort are strong suits. The CC rides very well indeed and the cabin is about as quiet as a (four-door) coupe gets.
Good: The 170hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine offers strong performance, but the 140hp unit is more appealing due to lower CO2. However, 144g/km from the 170 isn’t bad given its 8.6-second 0-62mph time.
Average: A new coasting function for certain cars with DSG transmission drops the revs to zero when the driver lifts off the throttle. It’s a good efficiency measure but a little jerky when you get back on the power.
Poor: As with similar systems from other brands, the adaptive cruise control, which can be overridden, means the engine is on and off the power all the time and is just interfering.
Verdict: The CC is the cheapest of the four-door saloons, classy and a decent offering for fleets.
