Initial Quality – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures customer satisfaction with vehicle quality after the first 90 days of ownership, the 2009 Volkswagen CC received 4 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Performance and Design – In the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study (APEAL), which measures customer satisfaction with vehicle performance and design attributes, the 2009 Volkswagen CC was the top-ranked model in the Entry Luxury Vehicle class, receiving 5 out of 5 Power Circle Ratings.

Predicted Reliability – The 2009 Volkswagen CC is a new model and has not yet been included in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study. However, based on the performance of all Volkswagen models during the past three years in both our Initial Quality and Vehicle Dependability studies, the Predicted Reliability Power Circle Rating for the 2009 Volkswagen CC is 3.5 out of 5.

Fuel Economy – EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2009 Volkswagen CC range from 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway for the turbocharged four-cylinder model with front-wheel drive and a manual transmission to 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway for the all-wheel-drive VR6 4Motion model with a V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission. Our CC VR6 4Motion review car averaged 20.3 mpg during our test driving.

Safety – The 2009 Volkswagen CC gets 4-star crash test ratings across the board from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including for the rollover rating, with one exception: the car receives a 5-star protection rating in the side-impact test for front seat occupants. The Volkswagen CC had not been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety when this review was originally published.

Environment – According to the EPA, the 2009 Volkswagen CC consumes between 13.7 and 17.1 barrels of petroleum annually, dependent upon engine and drivetrain selection. The resulting carbon footprint ratings range from 7.3 to 9.2 tons of air pollution per year. The Volkswagen CC receives a national air pollution score of 6 out of 10 and a California/New England score of 7 out of 10 regardless of engine choice.