Volkswagen Arteon 2022 overview

Some VW models, such as the Golf, are known to everyone. There is no doubt about this. But this? Well, it's probably not one of them. Or not yet.

This is the Arteon, the flagship passenger car of the German brand. Let's just say that if the VW slogan is premium for people, then this is the most premium. What about people? Well, those are the ones who usually buy BMWs, Mercedes or Audis.

The name, by the way, comes from the Latin word for "art" and is a tribute to the design used here. It comes in Shooting Brake or van body style, as well as a Liftback version. And a quick spoiler, looks pretty good, right?

But we'll get to all of that. And also the big question is can it be mixed with the big boys of premium brands?

Volkswagen Arteon 2022: 206 TSI R-Line
Safety Rating
engine's type	2.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	7.7l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$68,740

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

The Arteon carries an unsurprisingly premium price tag in the VW family, but it can still be cheaper than an entry-level equivalent from some of the German premium brands.

Or, in the words of VW, the Arteon "challenges luxury car makers without becoming themselves."

And you get a lot. In fact, a panoramic sunroof and some metallic paint are the only cost options.

The range is offered in 140TSI Elegance ($61,740 Liftback, $63,740 Shooting Brake) and 206TSI R-Line ($68,740/$70,740) trims, with the former offered with VW digital instrument cluster Virtual Cockpit as well as head-up display and center display. 9.2 inch touch screen that connects to your mobile phone wirelessly.

Outside, you get 19-inch alloy wheels and full LED headlights and tail-lights. Inside, you’ll find ambient interior lighting, multi-zone climate control, keyless entry and push-start ignition, as well as full leather interior trim with heated and ventilated front seats.

It features a central 9.2-inch touch screen that connects wirelessly to your mobile phone. (pictured 206TSI R-Line)

Also worth mentioning are our digital buttons on the dash or steering wheel that control everything from the stereo to the climate and work a bit like a mobile phone, you can swipe left or right to control the volume or change tracks or change the temperature.

The R-Line model is a sportier variant that adds "carbon" leather interior trim with bucket sport seats, 20-inch alloy wheels and a more aggressive R-Line body kit.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

It's really all about the looks here, and while the Shooting Brake is particularly handsome, the regular Arteon also looks premium and polished.

VW tells us the key goal here was to add a bit of sportiness, both inside and out, and this is especially true of the R-Line model, which rides on larger 20-inch alloy wheels compared to the 19-inch ones on the Elegance, with by their own custom design.

Body styling is also more aggressive, but both models get chrome trim along the body and a sleek, curved-back styling that feels more premium than outright sporty.

In the cabin, though, you can see that this is an important car to VW. The touchpoints are almost all soft to the touch, and it’s both understated and tech-saturated at the same time, including the swipe-to-adjust function for the stereo and climate, with new touch-sensitive sections added to the centre console and steering wheel.

It feels, dare we say it, premium. Which is likely exactly what VW was going for…

The 140TSI Elegance comes with 19-inch alloy wheels.

How practical is the interior space? 8/10

Interestingly, both body styles are almost the same dimensions: the Arteon is 4866mm long, 1871mm wide and 1442mm high (or 1447mm for the Shooting Brake).

These numbers mean a very spacious and practical interior with plenty of room for rear seat passengers. Sitting behind my 175cm driver's seat, I had plenty of room between my knees and the front seat, and even with the sloping roofline, there was plenty of headroom.

You'll find two cup holders in the sliding partition separating the rear seat, and a bottle holder in each of the four doors. Rear seat drivers also get their own vents with temperature controls, as well as USB connections and phone or tablet pockets in the back of each front seat.

Ahead, the theme of space continues, with storage boxes scattered throughout the cabin, as well as USB-C sockets for your phone or other devices.

All that space also means significant boot space, with the Arteon holding 563 liters with the rear seats folded down and 1557 liters with the rear benches folded down. The Shooting Brake bumps those numbers up - though not as much as you might think - to 565 and 1632 hp.

The Arteon trunk holds 563 liters with the rear seats folded down and 1557 liters with the rear benches folded down. (pictured 140TSI Elegance)

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

Two transmissions are offered here - 140TSI with front-wheel drive for Elegance or 206TSI with all-wheel drive for R-Line.

The first-generation 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine develops 140 kW and 320 Nm, which is enough to accelerate from 100 to 7.9 km/h in about XNUMX seconds.

Elegance comes with a 140TSI engine and front wheel drive.

But the lust-worthy version of the engine is definitely the R-Line, in which the 2.0-litre petrol turbo boosts power to 206kW and 400Nm and reduces acceleration to 5.5 seconds.

Both are mated to VW's seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.

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How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

Volkswagen says the Arteon Elegance will need 6.2 liters per hundred kilometers on the combined cycle and CO142 emissions of 02 g/km. The R-Line consumes 7.7 l/100 km in the same cycle and emits 177 g/km.

The Arteon is equipped with a 66-litre tank and a PPF that removes some of the nasty odors from the car's exhaust. But according to VW, it's "very important" that you only fill your Arteon with premium feel (95 RON for Elegance, 98 RON for R-Line) or you risk shortening the life of the PPF.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10

Basically, if VW does it, Arteon will get it. Think front, side, full-length curtain and driver's knee airbags, and the full VW IQ.Drive safety package that includes fatigue detection, AEB with pedestrian detection, park assist, parking sensors, drive assist. rear, lane change assistance. , adaptive cruise control with lane guidance - essentially a second level autonomous system for the highway - and a surround view monitor.

The new model is yet to be crash tested, but the latest model received a five-star rating in 2017.

The new model is yet to be crash tested, but the latest model received five stars in 2017 (pictured is the 206TSI R-Line).

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

The Arteon is covered by VW's five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, and maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000 km. It will also receive a limited-price service offer from VW.

The Arteon is covered by VW’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. (140TSI Elegance pictured)

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Full disclosure: We only spent time driving the R-Line variant for this test, but even so, I feel pretty comfortable assuming you want a powerful transmission.

Surely the very first hurdle that any company looking to play with the big boys of premium brands has to overcome is light and easy momentum? It's hard to feel like you've made a premium choice when your engine is straining and tearing under acceleration, isn't it?

we only spent time driving the R-Line variant for this test, but even so, I feel pretty comfortable assuming you want a powerful transmission.

The Arteon R-Line shines in that regard, too, with plenty of power underfoot when you need it and a delivery style that means you rarely, if ever, sink into a hole waiting for the power to arrive.

In my opinion, the suspension may seem a little too stiff for those looking for a truly smooth ride. For the record, this doesn't bother me - I always prefer to know what's going on under the tires than to be completely inexperienced - but the result of this sporty riding is the occasional registration of larger bumps and bumps in the road. cabin.

Arteon R-Line shines with power when you need it.

The downside of hard riding is the Arteon's ability - in R-Line guise - to change character when you turn on its sportier settings. Suddenly, there's a growl in the exhaust that isn't present in its comfortable driving modes, and you're left with a car that tempts you to head down a winding back road to see what it's like.

But in the interest of science, we instead headed to the freeway to test out Arteon autonomous systems, and the brand promises Level 2 autonomy on the highway.

In my opinion, the suspension may seem a little too stiff for those looking for a truly smooth ride.

While the technology is still not perfect - some braking can happen when the vehicle isn't quite sure what's going on ahead of it - it's also pretty impressive, taking care of the steering, acceleration and braking for you, at least as long as you won't be reminded of it. time to put your hands on the wheel again.

It’s also bloody big, the Arteon, with more space in the cabin — and especially the backseat — than you might be thinking. If you have kids, they’ll be positively lost back there. But if you cart adults on the regular, then you’ll hear no complaints.

Verdict

The value, driving dynamics and appearance are on point for a premium play here. If you can forgo the badge snobbery attached to the German big three, then you’ll find lots to like about Volkswagen’s Arteon.