If you want to go fast in style, the CC R-Line is definitely one worthy candidate; watch out boyracers!
Photos: Joel Tam
There will come a time where you wish you could have everything in one car; one that would not cost you an arm, leg and cornea. And no, we are not talking about mundane MPVs here, thanks for wondering.
Volkswagen’s CC R-Line is one such car. Sure, it is no BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Audi RS6 or Jaguar XF-R - the sort of thunderous executive sedan every family man would swap a child for - as it is smaller-engined and front-wheel driven, but after spending some time with the car both here and doing the highway run up and down the North-South proved clearly that the CC R-Line is almost similar in packaging, albeit halved (in price and portion, that is). Plus, it has genuine room for up to four other passengers. And a big boot.
To put it simply, the CC R-Line is a Golf GTI in a different bodyshell. Some might opine it’s a vain effort on Volkswagen’s front to slot a model for every single class, but in a twist, it impresses. Really.
Power comes courtesy of a turbocharged TSI 4-cylinder, 16-valves 2.0-litre lump (the EA888) mated to the VW Group’s self-shifting 6-speed DSG ‘box. With this combo, it is good for some 210 bhp and 280 Nm of torque which kicks in from as early as 1,700 rpm; figures that are good enough to give the E200 Avantgarde and 520i something to think about (My word, is that a Volkswagen overtaking moi?). Despite the rather hefty 1.5-tonne weight, it needs only 7.3 seconds to do the century sprint timing; adequate to give those pesky Cooper S a scare when they least expect it (Ha! Ha! Take that you…).
Power delivery is spot on, although while moving off the traffic light initially you do notice the slight lag after giving the right pedal a hard mash. It loves being stretched in gears two, three and four, rewarding the driver with appreciable tenacity as you see the rev needle climb towards the redline. Even out on the expressway, the CC R-Line pulls away in sixth gear with rarely the need to shift down a gear. At both instances, you do wonder whether you’re driving a hot-hatch or an executive sedan.
In an effortless car as this, you would definitely want to drive it more often than not semi-manually via the paddle-shifters. Undeniably, it’s no driver’s car; but it still rewards you with responses that does not disappoint. It isn’t the smoothest shifting box around, but hey, if you insist on one, you might want to look at a CVT equipped Japanese offering instead; like the Kizashi.
In terms of handling, the CC R-Line delivers positive steering feedback on top of a well-balanced suspension set-up that will not offend both driver passengers; and this is in ‘Normal’ mode. Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) comes standard, so depending on who you are driving for the day, you have the option to choose between Comfort (when you have the kids and in-laws on board) and Sport (excellent for solo blasts). During a drive up and down Kuala Lumpur, the CC R-Line was driven mostly in ‘Sport’ mode: I’m glad to report that on top of how effortlessly it does highway illegal speeds, road-holding and predictable body movement are it’s other outstanding traits. ‘Comfort’ though, is good enough to put everyone else in the cabin to sleep…
The anchors are excellent for daily usage but on the more demanding, high-speed North-South Highway, it could do with a tad more feel when you need to slow down as quickly as possible.
The CC R-Line’s cabin boasts the typical Volkswagen fare. Ok, so it is not exactly the most exciting interior in the market but what it has is solid build quality, idiot-proof dash layout and control buttons that feels good to touch. Let’s also not forget the sporty steering wheel; it is meaty, brilliantly sized and with such perforated leather and detailed stitching, feels no different than a car twice it’s price. The audio system deserves two thumbs up: a 10-speaker Dynaudio set comes with the car. I have a particular driving music I listen to on loop most times (John Mayer’s “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” if you must know), and what I noticed here is how sharp every guitar chords can be heard without even having to blast the volume up.
Rear seats are practical enough to accommodate up to three average-sized adults, the large glass roof gives off an airy feeling and the boot - true story, this - can swallow the whole of Punggol in there.
So, if you have been dreaming day and night for a car that can do it all, the Volkswagen CC R-Line is more than up to the task. It is logically priced, well packaged and has surprisingly rewarding driving dynamic.
If you still want an M5/E63/RS6/XF-R, then carry on queuing up at any Singapore Pools outlet. Or Marina Bay Sands. Or Resorts World.
