Mercedes CLA vs Volkswagen CC - Saloons With Style (Part 2)

Volkswagen CC

Handsome and well equipped saloon presents strong challenge to newcomer

While a facelift at the start of 2012 saw the VW CC drop Passat its name and sharpen the looks, it’s still obvious where the four-door coupé heritage lies. The CC has the same wheelbase as the Passat, but it’s longer and lower than the standard saloon, and the overall design is more cohesive and grown-up than the Mercedes CLA’s.

The CC has the same wheelbase as the Passat, but it’s longer and lower than the standard saloon

A wide grille wraps around the nose and flows into the headlights, while creases in the bodywork flow all the way to the back of the car. The CC is handsome rather than dramatic, but it’s easily one of the best-looking models Volkswagen produces at the moment.

Thanks to larger doors, the CC is easier to get into than the CLA, and once inside you’ll find the cabin very roomy. However, there’s no hiding the Passat origins. The dashboard is lifted straight from the saloon, and while it’s well built and easy to use, it can’t quite match the Merc’s more modern appearance.

Unlike the CLA, the CC comes with heated leather seats as standard, and although it’s easy to get comfortable, it’s strange that VW persists with part-electric adjustment for the seats: the backrest moves electrically, but you have to slide and raise the base manually.

Unlike the CLA, the CC comes with heated leather seats as standard, and although it’s easy to get comfortable

In the back, passengers get a far better deal than in the Merc. There’s plenty of legroom for three, the middle seat is reasonably big and even though the CC has a low roofline, you’re less likely to hit your head getting out.

At the rear, the boot is slightly smaller than the CLA’s, but it’s a better shape, and a wider opening means it’s easier to access. Plus, there are levers at the boot lid that make folding the back seats a breeze. Add a through-load hatch, and the CC has a large practicality advantage.

Fire up the 2.0-liter TDI diesel, and you’ll immediately notice its smoother than the Merc’s 2.2-liter – but it can’t quite match it for performance. Our figures are for the older 168bhp 2.0-liter, yet VW quotes the same stats for the latest 175bhp TDI, and the CC was slower than the CLA in all of our tests.

With the price tag of $45,893, the CC is more expensive than the CLA, but it has more kit and offers fixed-price servicing

This is partly down to fact it has a six-speed box, rather than the CLA’s seven-speed transmission. However, the VW never seems slow in isolation, and it’s also quicker to respond to throttle inputs than the Merc, so it’s more appealing and engaging to drive.

On the road, the CC feels more composed than the CLA. Our car had $1,275 optional Adaptive Chassis Control, which adjusts the dampers for comfort or handling, yet even in the stiffest setting, the VW has a softer ride than the Merc. Naturally weighted and direct steering completes the impressive dynamics.

With the price tag of $45,893, the CC is more expensive than the CLA, but it has more kit and offers fixed-price servicing. Yet even the revised engine pollutes more than the Merc’s, while the residuals are also weaker. Finally, VW’s dealers aren’t as well rated as Mercedes’. Will that cost the CC victory in this shoot-out?