Volkswagen Arteon Review 2024

Volkswagen Arteon At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Volkswagen Arteon comes in sleek fastback and shooting brake styles, so it's not meant as the most practical option. It aims to tempt buyers away from premium rivals such as the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and it makes a strong case with its value and equipment. However, the Passat underpinnings are not as impressive.

+High quality interior with impressive amounts of space, comfortable on the move.

-Nothing special to drive. It's not got an Audi badge...

New prices start from £35,070
Insurance Groups are between 27–32
On average it achieves 82% of the official MPG figure

Volkswagen has always had a desire to punch through the glass ceiling from family cars and into the compact executive sector. The Passat has never quite managed it, and it's a similar tale for the Arteon. Partly this is down to brand snobbery, but it's also got a fair bit to do with the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and Jaguar XE all being a bit more styling and a lot better to drive. Read on for our full review of the Volkswagen Arteon. 

You could describe the Arteon as a posh Passat, but Volkswagen would rather you didn't. It's a replacement for the Volkswagen CC, which in turn was a replacement for the Volkswagen Passat CC - essentially a four-door coupe version of Volkswagen's Ford Mondeo rival.

In truth, the Arteon's more of a rival to the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and Audi A5 Sportback than a Passat with sleeker looks. That partly explains the price - the cheapest Arteon you'll get will set you back more than £40k. But if you want a decent slug of performance to go with the image, you'll be looking at spending more than £55,000 for the R model. You can also up the price of the VW by opting for the Shooting Brake estate version.

So what do you get for the cash? Well the Arteon is certainly very spacious, with huge reserves of rear legroom, a big boot and uber-comfortable seats. It's also refined and relaxing to drive. Ticks a lot of boxes then - but so does a Skoda Superb. And that's a lot cheaper. The question, then, is this: is the Arteon more than just a Skoda in a posh suit?  

Inside, it feels like it's got that bit extra. Yes, all the switches and controls are familiar Volkswagen, but there's a new Discover Navigation Pro system - basically a big touchscreen that dominates the dash.

With its glass surround, it feels like a high-end bit of kit and it works very well too, helped by a nicely designed interface with neat graphics. The Arteon also comes with a digital instrument cluster called Active Info Display, which is the same as Audi's virtual cockpit.

There's a wide range of engines to choose from, including an entry-level 1.5 TSI with 150PS. A 2.0-litre TSI with 190PS will be a better choice for most buyers. Diesel options are made up of a 2.0-litre TDI with 150 or 190PS, or you could also pick the plug-in hybrid petrol model that claims more than 250mpg combined consumption. The 320PS R is a standalone high performance model.

Even in the more powerful variants, the Arteon isn't exactly a thrilling drive. But that's not what you buy an Arteon for. If you're looking for something that stands out, feels extremely upmarket but you're not too worried about the badge on the bonnet, the Arteon could be the car for you.

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's review of the Volkswagen Arteon.

Ask Honest John

Which car should I buy for motorway commuting?

"I am looking for a car for motorway commuting and I am spiralling down an endless rabbit hole of options! I drive around 500 miles a week - a mix of 80% double carriage/motorway and 20% single carriage/broads/town. Comfort and economy are important to me so ideally I'm thinking of a biggish car (though I'm not keen on SUVs). I do quite like my options too (i.e. adaptive cruise control, digital dashboard). My budget is around £30k and I'm considering the following: Mercedes-Benz C-Class or E-Class, BMW 3 Series or 5 Series, Skoda Octavia or Superb, Jaguar XE or XF, or Volkswagen Arteon. What do you recommend? "
The Skoda Superb estate scores well for user satisfaction and your budget will get you a post-facelift example with all the toys you mention. For ultimate comfort, the Mercedes C-Class is a good shout and it's just been replaced so there may be deals to be done on slightly older cars. The E-Class is even more comfortable and many of them will have been specified with air suspension that takes them to another level compared to the rivals you mention. The Jaguars offer a great balance between comfort and handling, particularly the XF, but they're feeling a little dated now. The BMW prioritises comfort at the slight expense of comfort, but both the 3 and 5 Series are still great cars to do lots of miles in.
Answered by Russell Campbell

Which three car seats will fit in the back of my car?

"I have a Volkswagen Arteon and need to fit three car seats for ages seven, five and nine months. Which are best?"
We'd recommend trying our Car Seat Chooser tool, it allows you to pick which makes and models of child car seat are compatible with this particular car. You can refine these results further by clicking on the seat positions in the car, age group or brand. Click on a child seat for pricing and further fitment details: https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/car-seat-chooser/volkswagen/arteon-2017/ All our child seat review are here: https://kit.honestjohn.co.uk/category/child-seats/
Answered by Georgia Petrie
More Questions

What does a Volkswagen Arteon cost?