Volkswagen Arteon Summary - Should You Buy One in 2022?

Volkswagen's sleek Arteon was launched as a Gran Turismo-style five-door hatch model in 2017 to head up the brand's range but it's remained a rare sight on our roads. Now it's been revised, there's the option of a 'Shooting Brake'-style estate and plug-in hybrid tech is available too, plus there's a top performance Arteon R variant.

Market and Model

Prices start at around £32,000 and, for the 2.0 TDI diesel variants most will want, range from around £34,000 up to around £43,000. There's a premium of around £1,100 for the Shooting Brake estate body style that Volkswagen expects will account for the majority of sales. Across the range, there are three trim levels - 'SE Nav' (for the hatch model only), then 'Elegance' and 'R-Line' for both body styles.

'Elegance'-trim models are marked out by their 18-inch 'Almere' alloy wheels and gain keyless entry across both body styles, a rear-view camera and Travel Assist - Volkswagen's adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system. On the inside, the Arteon 'Elegance' benefits from luxuries such as a leather-wrapped capacitive steering wheel with touch controls, heated seats, and voice control, while drivers can also choose between driving profiles for a customisable driving experience.

The Arteon 'R-Line' offers distinctive, 19-inch 'Montevideo' alloys, while dual trapezoidal exhaust tips on each side of the bumper are moulded into a standard R-Line body kit, for an assertive, sporting appearance. A sunroof is standard on all 'R-Line' cars, while the Shooting Brake gains a standard-fit panoramic sunroof. Both cars also receive rear tinted glass and interior ambient lighting with 30 colour options.

Across the entire range, all Arteon models feature Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), 3Zone climate control, Digital Cockpit, LED headlights, Wireless App Connect and Volkswagen's 'We Connect Plus' package, which adds live data services to the standard 8-inch Discover Navigation system.

Cost of Ownership

As you'd expect, the Arteon is extremely class-competitive in terms of WLTP running costs. The 2.0 TDI 150PS variant that most will choose manages up to 57.6mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and 128g/km of WLTP-rated CO2 in DSG auto form - not bad for a 148mph luxury conveyance. For the 190PS 2.0 TSI petrol variant, the figures are 38.2mpg and 168g/km.

As for servicing, well as usual with Volkswagen models, there's a choice of either 'Fixed' or 'Flexible' maintenance packages. You'll choose the 'Fixed' approach if you cover less than 10,000 miles a year and with this, the car will typically be looked at every twelve months. If your daily commute is more than 25 miles and your Arteon will regularly be driven on longer distance journeys, you'll be able to work with a 'Flexible' regime that can see you travelling up to 18,000 miles between garage visits - or every two years, whichever is sooner.

And warranties? Well the standard package is three years and 60,000 miles. Plus your car will come with three years of pan-European Roadside Assistance that has no mileage restriction. The paintwork warranty lasts for three years and, as you'd expect, this model is protected by a 12-year anti-corrosion package.

Summary

So, can this improved Arteon really justify its premium pricing? If you can afford it, then I'm guessing you'll think so. The idea of a practically-sized four-door coupe or stylised estate might still sound like a contradiction in terms but it's been interpreted here in a form that's created one of the classiest models that Volkswagen makes.

Style, it seems, is not about the badge on your bootlid. But if you're a potential Arteon buyer, then you probably already knew that anyway......

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[weihnachtsman]

Nice car don't see too many of them on the road I might consider this especially in the electric blue

[oscarmano]

It looks terrific but im not so sure why there aren't as many on the roads. Could it be reliability or other performance issues? I am actually getting more excited by that rarity, gives it a unique feel to own one. Barring any major drawbacks, I should be getting this soon as I can afford it.

[TG-pdft]

Autonomous driving at 130mph! What could possibly go wrong?

[paulwilkinson]

It seem to sit Awkwardly in the VAG group, i think most people will take the Audi route with an A5 that's why there are not many about

[matthewsmith]

They look nice for a VW, but I don’t see many on the roads