THE VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON is the latest addition to the niche four-door coupe segment – where competitors include the Audi A5 Sportback (€47,010), BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe (€49,250) and the new Mercedes-Benz CLS (prices TBC).
And rather than positioning the Arteon as the more affordable car, Volkswagen is pricing the car more in line with its rivals – you’ll need €43,650 for an entry-level Arteon.
This raises an immediate question: if you have around €45,000 to spend on a new four-door coupe, would you buy a Volkswagen over an Audi, BMW, or Mercedes?
And what about if you wanted to upgrade from a Volkswagen Passat (priced from €28,195)? If we take a 150hp 2.0-litre TDI Passat in top-of-the-range Highline trim are you willing to pay an extra €6,655 for the same powertrain in an entry-level Arteon?
Let’s consider what the Volkswagen Arteon offers.
Lower, wider and with a longer wheelbase than the Passat, it is probably the best-looking vehicle in the Volkswagen line-up, with a much more upmarket and premium look. The muscular wheel arches, sharp creases, swooping roofline and wide stance help the Arteon hold its own against its rivals in the design stakes.
However, that modern exterior design doesn’t exactly carry into the cabin. Being a brand new model, I had hoped that Volkswagen would do something different with the interior, – but it is very similar in here to the Passat. This in itself is no bad thing, but it means that it doesn’t feel more ‘premium’.
Don’t get me wrong, the cabin has rock-solid build quality together with a decent amount of high-quality materials, lovely finishing touches, plenty of storage and very comfortable seats but it is fairly similar to other Volkswagen offerings. It just doesn’t mark itself out and it doesn’t match the interior of the Audi.
But what the cabin does offer over its rivals is space. There is plenty of room all around for all occupants and the boot can hold 563 litres with the rear seats in place which expands to an impressive 1,557 litres with the seats down. That beats the Audi (480-980 litres) and the BMW (480-1,300 litres).
So, for your money, you are getting a lot of car real estate. It is probably more of a 5 Series/ E-Class sized car.
So let’s look at performance and handling. Can the Volkswagen deliver on the road?
My test car was the R-Line model powered by the 150hp 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and fitted with 19-inch alloys.
The engine is smooth with more than enough mid-range torque for quick overtakes and is perfectly matched to the responsive DSG transmission which changes through the gears quickly and smoothly. There’s not much feel through the steering, but it is direct and feels nicely weighted.
Although R-Line models are billed as being the sportier models compared to the other two trims – an entry-level trim and Elegance – there isn’t anything very sporty about how the car handles. It is more a very comfortable and relaxing motorway cruiser. Dynamically, it handles well, and the nose turns in quickly and the body feels composed in and out of corners with little body pitch or roll evident.
Against its competitors, the Arteon does offer a better and more dynamic ride than the Passat but it doesn’t match the dynamic driving experience of the BMW nor the refinement or composure of the Audi.
Where the Arteon does excel is in safety and technology. The Arteon scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests with an excellent 96 per cent for adult occupant safety. It is loaded with safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Lighting System (the lights are guided by sat-nav), and Side Assist lane change system including lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition (which now also warns when speed limits are exceeded).
While most of these technologies are available in more premium cars there are some interesting systems in the Arteon.
One of these is the proactive occupant protection system, which now offers protection from rear-end collisions. When a rear-end collision is detected, the PreCrash assistance system reacts in the blink of an eye.
The hazard warning lights activate immediately; at the same time, all windows are closed to just a small gap (for optimal bolstering of the side airbags) as is the sunroof. While this is happening, the belt tensioners tighten the front seatbelts. Last but not least, the optional electrically adjustable front seats are aligned. The belts, head restraints and airbags are now able to provide maximum protection.
Another notable system is the Emergency Assist which can slow the car down within system limits and steer it into the slow lane if it detects that the driver has become incapacitated.
Overall, the new Arteon is bigger and better than the Passat and offers more space and practicality over its rivals – as well as some excellent safety and tech features.
The Arteon certainly looks premium from the outside, it’s just a shame the interior is so similar to the Passat and can’t match that of the competition.
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