Volkswagen Arteon 2023

18 December, 2023 Jan Cetl 0 Comments 2 categories

Although Volkswagen isn’t happy with the sales stats and has announced that it’s ending production of the VW Arteon with the 2024 model year, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad car. On the contrary – Volkswagen Arteon 2023 combines a pleasing sporty-elegant look, a powerful yet fuel-efficient engine, a practical and luxurious interior and, above all, great driving characteristics.

The Volkswagen Arteon is one of the traditional representatives of executive cars. However, unlike its sibling the Passat or the Skoda Superb, it relies on a more attractive design derived from completely unconventional body styles – fastback and shooting brake. Beyond that, however, it sticks to tried-and-tested formulas. The range includes combustion engines, automatic transmissions and four-wheel drive.

The successor to the Volkswagen Arteon is the Volkswagen ID. Aero, which will partly replace the legendary Volkswagen Passat.

What Volkswagen Arteon 2023 reviews agree on

Amazing looks and style
Luxurious interior
Great performance, confident ride
Travel assist
Well equipped

Touch-sensitive controls
Audi offers more luxurious cars in a similar price range

Sleek design

The design is a big argument to buy the new Volkswagen Arteon. It is simply a beauty that can impress many drivers. The Shooting Brake version arguably shows off the most refined design: the huge wheelbase, frameless windows, sleek roofline, and overall “squatting” silhouette are all beautifully matched. The sportier and more aggressive R version then brings the addition of, for example, four exhaust tips, LED headlights that illuminate the entire second crossbar on the radiator grille, or clearly visible brake calipers.

The interior is one of the more luxurious ones, although kind of sterile. It has a typical Volkswagen layout. In the more modern post-facelift models, most things are controlled via the central screen, the air conditioning thankfully has a separate touchscreen. We’d be pleased if the temperature or volume controls got separate controls too. You’ll find these in the older pre-facelift models, which retain the analogue approach.

The VW Arteon certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of cabin space, both legroom and headroom (the exception is the R-Line, where there’s not much headroom). Trunk volume is 563 litres and 1557 litres with the seats folded down. Also pleasing are the Ergocomfort seats, which offer both heating and ventilation and both can be switched on at the same time.

Motorisation

At launch, the R-Line added a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the line-up, but conventional internal combustion engines remain in the line-up, with both the 1.5 TSI and 2.0 TSI petrol engines, as well as a two-litre diesel in two power outputs.

The top of the range is the sporty Arteon R-line 4Motion 2.0 TSI 280 version, which can be considered one of Volkswagen’s finest models. Under the liftback’s bonnet slumbers a 280bhp four-cylinder four-litre petrol engine, which has been mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox and 4Motion four-wheel drive.

Performance

The Arteon’s natural territory is the ring roads and motorways. While it’s a relatively heavy and long car, it works wonders in the corners. Thanks to the 4Motion all-wheel drive, adaptive chassis and 2.0 TSI engine, the R version literally loves every corner.

The most powerful powertrain on offer, with 280 horsepower, pulls beautifully and is certainly not lacking in dynamics. Consumption isn’t bad for such a powerful engine either, averaging around 7.5 l/100 km. The only complaint is the long delay between pressing the accelerator and the engine’s response.