2022 Volkswagen Arteon review: Still an arty one
A slinky silhouette disguises its practicality, but VW’s facelifted Arteon is still about the simple pleasure of driving
EVERYONE wants a nice car, but who says it has to be a nice car that everyone wants?
That’s one premise behind the Volkswagen (VW) Arteon, which is now on sale with glitzier lamps, reshaped bumpers and new cabin features after a mid-life refresh.
VW describes it as an “avant-garde” grand tourer, but it’s essentially the brand’s attempt to nip at the heels of Audi or BMW with a posh offering of its own. It’s sleek, powerful, and mixes taut handling with comfort – plus it has massage chairs. Who doesn’t love a light pummelling in the kidneys at the end of a long day?
Above all, though, the VW is different. Cars from the premium German brands are ubiquitous, so while rolling around in an Arteon might not be your idea of adequately signalling prestige, it’s at least a way to rise above anonymity.
Come to think of it, Volkswagens are everywhere too, but then it’s blessedly hard to ignore this good-looking fastback when you see one.
Between the extravagant curves and the sculpted face whose grille and headlights intermingle so smoothly, the Arteon is still an arty one.
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Its slinky silhouette disguises a dirty secret, too, which is that for something so stylish it is an unfeasibly practical car. It’ll seat five adults easily, and there’s room under the tailgate for 563 litres of stuff, way more than you get with a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe or an Audi A5 Sportback (which is weird, since it’s a sister car to the Arteon).
But if it’s a pack mule you want, the car industry will fall over itself to sell you a Sport Utility Vehicle. The Arteon’s appeal lies in how well it moves you, not how much stuff it moves.
If you live for the simple pleasure of driving, then, this is a car to consider. It unlocks its doors when you approach as if to greet you, and falling into the driver’s seat puts you in the middle of a business-like but driver-focused cockpit.
Spring for the S$16,000 R-Line cosmetic package and you get a bit of sporty flair, with racy bucket front seats and brushed steel pedals, plus perforated leather for the steering wheel.
You might as well do it, partly because it sets the tone for a spirited drive rather nicely, and partly because it also adds worthwhile upgrades, such as a larger touchscreen system and the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Before the facelift you could buy a 280-horsepower (hp), all-wheel drive version of the Arteon, but you’ll have to make do with 190 hp today and front-wheel drive.
That’s a shame but it isn’t a disaster, because the Arteon is still fun to drive.
It has a lively personality, courtesy of an engine that pulls energetically and a gearbox that shifts snappily.
Meanwhile, the roadholding is pretty tenacious, but you’ll have to put up with a firm ride that leaves you in no doubt when the road underneath you has been surfaced badly.
You don’t get giant-slaying performance, but you do get value for money – the equivalent cars from Audi and BMW have a bit less power but cost a lot more.
But the Arteon ultimately isn’t a car for the bargain hunter (that would be the excellent Skoda Octavia RS), or even a dare-to-be-different play. Instead, apart from being versatile, it’s just nice to spend time in.
Over a few days with the car, I looked forward to climbing aboard each time I laid eyes on it, and once there I felt like hitting some quiet roads I know north of the border.
You’d be perfectly justified in wanting one purely for the styling, too; it’s worth a look because it’s nice to look at, in other words.
Then again, it might just be that its design leaves you cold. The Arteon, like art, is what you make of it.
Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 2.0 TSI
Engine 1,984 cc, in-line 4, turbocharged
Power 190 hp from 4,200 to 6,000 rpm
Torque 320 Nm from 1,500 to 4,100 rpm
Gearbox 7-speed dual-clutch
0-100 km/h 7.9 seconds
Top speed 237 km/h
Fuel efficiency 5.9 L/100 km
Agent Volkswagen Centre Singapore
Price S$245,900 with COE
Available Now
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