Volkswagen Arteon | Video Review | CarsIreland.ie

Published on 17 August, 2017

Overview

Meet the Arteon, Volkswagen’s newest, and most luxurious model to date. We all remember the handsome CC, and while the Arteon is not a direct replacement, its fans will definitely be pleased to see a sportier and more premium alternative to the Passat available once again.

The Arteon is what’s known as a fastback, which is marketing speak for a car that wants to be part sportscar, part luxury saloon - much like the Audi A5 or BMW 4 series. But with a pricetag that's not too far behind them, how well does it measure up against those premium rivals?

At 563 litres, the boot technically can’t hold quite as much as much as a Passat. However, it does have the massive advantage of being a hatchback. Therefore it's much easier to load, much better for dog owners, and makes a lot more sense in general. An electric tailgate adds a touch of luxury.

It’s also longer than a Passat which means plenty of legroom for all on board. That gorgeous sloping roofline does impact the headroom in the back ever so slightly however, and may be a bit tight for taller passengers. The middle seat, while usable, is probably best left to kids because of a large transmission tunnel. When there’s no one in the middle, outer passengers can take advantage of a pull-down centre armrest, and tri-zone climate control will allow them to get even more comfortable.

The driver also gets a pretty slick set up in the Arteon. The interior has been criticised for being a little too similar to the Passat. That's not a bad thing in our opinion, and there are a few nice touches like some chrome piping along the dashboard that help to give it a more premium feel.

Of course what it’s really all about these days is the infotainment. The system in the Arteon is one of the upgraded ones that Volkswagen have begun to roll out across their range. That means it gets a larger, glossier screen with crisper graphics, and all the latest smartphone integration. This all adds up to one of the most user-friendly experiences on the market at the moment.

That’s a standard feature on the basic model and it comes generously equipped from the ground up with 18 inch Alloy wheels, ergonomic comfort seats, Predictive Cruise Control, Parking sensors and rain-sensing window wipers.

Then there are two upgrades available – Elegance and R-Line,  both of which focus on different types of driver. The Elegance model is geared more toward comfort, adding Alcantara and leather seats, ambient lighting and the very impressive Active Info Display.

The R-Line model has a sportier theme, and receives the full R Line styling treatment including 19 inch Montevideo Alloy wheels and badging, those funky running indicators, and on the higher powered model, adaptive chassis control.

There's a host of impressive safety features available, and the Arteon got the full five star rating on the NCAP safety test.

The Arteon comes with a choice of three power outputs of the well tested 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine. Only the 150hp model will have the option of a 6-speed manual transmission. The rest will come with a 7 speed DSG automatic gearbox, with the top of the range 240hp model also offering Volkswagen’s ‘4MOTION’ four-wheel-drive system as standard.

It’s a very premium-feeling car on the road. It has that comfortable, big car feel that will have you gliding effortlessly over rough surfaces, and the well-judged suspension and remarkably quiet cabin completely isolate you from all but the very worst of potholes.

As for its sportscar credentials, the stiffer body does give you a bit more confidence going into corners, but it’s just not the type of car that makes you want to drive that way. You'll find it feels much more at home as a sophisticated and refined motorway cruiser, and there’s nothing wrong with that either.

Running costs are reasonable with an impressive claimed fuel economy figures of 4.5 litres per 100km, and an annual motortax bill of just €200.

It is quite expensive to buy, with a premium pricetag to go with that premium image. It starts at around €45,000 and can rise to over €56,000 depending on spec and engine. That’s where it may start to struggle without the bragging rights of a premium badge.

That said we do like it very much, and it’s nice to see the VW badge on something that looks so refreshingly different. We reckon that like the CC before it, this could be one that goes down as one of the most desirable Volkswagens ever made.

Facts & Figures

Sinead McCann

Sinéad is our resident car tester who has the unenviable (-ok, slightly enviable) task of reviewing all the latest new cars to hit the market. You can follow her on Twitter @smcani and on Instagram @whatshedrives