2022 Volkswagen Arteon

Volkswagen once tried to enter the top tier of the premium space with a technological marvel called the Phaeton, but it was a sales flop because of the badge. However, with releases like the Tiguan and this, the Volkswagen Arteon, the German marque has finally figured out how to balance an affordable price with tremendous style and substance. As sleek and sexy as it looks, this is not a sports sedan. Instead, it's part of the conglomerate of midsize sedans parading as hatchbacks in the same vein as the Kia Stinger and Audi A5 Sportback, designed for style and comfort. Under the hood of all models is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot producing 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, delivered to your choice of front- or all-wheel drive by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Competitors may be sportier and some might be more powerful, but VW's commitment to designing and building stylish, luxurious passenger cars deserves to be applauded. Now if only we could get afull-fat R version in the US...

Art is subjective, but it's hard to come across someone who finds the swooping fastback exterior design of this car ugly. All models get LED lighting at each end of the car, although the capabilities of each setup increase as you go up the trim range with an illuminated lightbar in the grille that comes with the R-Line package. The base SE model rides on a new style of 18-inch wheel and gets the R-Line package included in the price from this year. The mid-level SEL R-Line gets 19s, and the top-spec SEL Premium R-Line rolls on 20s. The R-Line treatment means additional chrome accents and a sporty front bumper, as well as a subtle trunk spoiler and four exhaust finishers instead of two. A panoramic sunroof is fitted to the two SEL variants.

All Arteon configurations share identical dimensions. The length of the swoopy body is 191.6 inches, inside which the wheelbase measures 111.8 inches. The width is 73.7 inches while the height is 56.9 inches. The curb weight starts at 3,653 pounds for front-wheel-drive SE, while 4Motion AWD-equipped Arteons tip the scales at 3,935 lbs.

Volkswagen keeps the Arteon's palette of exterior colors simple, letting the styling do the talking instead of the five available hues - down from last year's seven. The choices for all the trims are the same. You get Deep Black Pearl or Moonstone Gray at no cost. Kings Red Metallic (as seen on our test vehicle), Lapiz Blue, or Oryx White Pearl will set you back $395. Last year's Pyrite Silver Metallic, Pure White, and Urano Gray are not longer available.

There were hopes that with the midlife refresh, the Volkswagen Arteon R might arrive in the USA, but sadly, our hopes were dashed and all Stateside versions of the Arteon get the same engine. It's a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot and the 2022 version is upgrade to produce 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque - up from last year's 268 horses and 258 lb-ft of twist. It is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with Tiptronic manual shifting. Volkswagen hasn't provided any performance figures, but that's because going fast isn't the point here. Nevertheless, independent tests put the 0 to 60 time of the old car at around 6.1 seconds, and using our MK1 seat-of-the-pants dyno, it feels like the 300-hp version is coming in well under six seconds. The top speed is capped at around 130 mph, which seems a strange decision for a reasonably athletic German car. Again, VW gives no official figure. Front-wheel drive is standard for the SE, but all-wheel drive is standard this year on both SEL trims in the form of VW's 4Motion part-time setup. The figures are very good for what is not really a performance vehicle. It's no slouch, and the rapid shifts from the new seven-speed dual-clutch auto mean that the Arteon feels lively. Where the Arteon's laid-back nature is most present is when cornering, where it lacks the composure and tenacity of the competition, particularly the Kia Stinger GT.

One engine is standard across the lineup, but it's a good one. Volkswagen's ubiquitous EA888 2.0-liter turbo-four does duty here, sending 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels as standard. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic helps manage the power and is partnered with a 4Motion AWD system on the SEL trims. We'd leave that system to those living in snowy climes; the FWD version is perfect for cruising in comfort, and with less weight, you'll probably notice the difference at the pumps too. Setting off from a standing start is smooth and effortless, with every gear seeming to offer the same subtle whoosh of acceleration. When you want to overtake, you simply mash your right foot to the floor and the 'box changes down with urgency, albeit without feeling frantic, allowing you to get past traffic with ease. Using the manual function is met with similarly excellent responses up or down the cogs. The tone of the engine isn't particularly exciting, but it isn't offensive either. We'd still love a bigger VR6 engine to compete with the Stinger GT, but that would push costs up and see VW competing with luxury German marques. Overall, this current package is ideal for what VW is trying to achieve: create a stylish, capable, and comfortable executive four-door coupe without breaking the bank.

What you want in a big luxury car like this is comfort and composure, and the Arteon delivers both in spades. All models come standard with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), which is Volkswagen-speak for adaptive damping. It shows its worth by effortlessly soaking up bumps and divots with ease, and this is not just the case in Comfort mode. Switch to Sport and things tighten up but remain comfortable enough for you to leave the DCC in this mode every day. Again, this highlights Volkswagen's focus on making this a great alternative to the German big three's offerings, but it's still decent when you decide to drive with a little more vigor. The steering is accurate and light, albeit light on feel as well. Understeer is well-managed thanks to the standard XDS diff unless you drive like a moron, and the whole package feels smooth, balanced, and solid. Forget about road noise and rattles - this car is built to an exceptional standard. Sure, a Mercedes will always be quieter and comfier, but at this price point, the Arteon remains a standout performer, even if its balance lies more on the comfort side of the spectrum.

There were no official consumption figures for the 2022 Arteon at the time of writing, but we expect the efficient new dual-clutch transmission to offset the increase in power, offering economy similar to last year's model. One of the benefits of going FWD and sticking with a four-cylinder turbo is decent gas mileage, but the Arteon still sees close competition from the rear-driven Kia Stinger 2.5-liter turbo. The 2021 FWD Arteon's EPA gas mileage is identical to the RWD 2022 Stinger's with figures of 22/32/25 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles and the 2021 Arteon 4Motion's combined figure of 24 mpg is an exact match for the 2022 AWD Kia's - and just shy of where landed after driving the Arteon for a week. With an 18.2-gallon gas tank, you can expect a mixed driving range of around 455 miles from the FWD SE. 4Motion models have a slightly larger 18.3-gallon tank, resulting in a 439-mile range estimate.

The interior of the Arteon was refreshed nicely last year, and even the base model looks classy, despite its leatherette upholstery. Higher trims get Nappa leather, but all models come with a eight-inch digital driver display and an eight-inch MIB3 Discover infotainment system that provides wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. VW doesn't sell many options for this car besides accessories, so you have to go for a higher trim if you want ventilated front seats or wireless charging. Still, all models get power-adjustable heated front seats and stainless steel pedal caps for a little more comfort and style. With loads of room and plenty of standard features, the cabin of an Arteon is a great place to be on long drives.

The Arteon officially seats five, with front occupants benefitting from power-adjustable seats with heating as standard. Six-footers will find loads of headroom and legroom in these seats with 37.7 and 41.2 inches, respectively. But, unlike many other so-called four-door coupes, rear occupants who have had a few too many growth spurts will be able to sit comfortably, too, thanks to 37 inches of headroom and 40.2 inches of legroom. Getting in and out is easy enough, although taller individuals may need to stoop a little when climbing in the back. We'd reserve the middle seat for pre-teens if you're going to seat two adults back there, but even so, the cabin feels roomy. In the SEL models with their standard sunroof fitted, headroom comes to 37.9 and 37.1 inches respectively. As for the driving position, it's well-chosen and feels good, thanks to an adjustable steering wheel. Overall, we have no faults with this cabin, and the refreshed design of details like the cabin air vents make it feel more special than before.

In the base model, you get V-Tex faux leather upholstery in a choice of two color schemes: Titan and Moonrock or full Titan Black. Stepping up to the SEL R-Line gains you Nappa leather in either Mistral Gray and Raven or Titan Black. The SEL R-Line Premium trim gets the same color choices, but the leather options here are perforated to accommodate seat ventilation for front occupants. A leather steering wheel and shift knob are standard on all models, but the SEL twins get a sportier steering wheel with contrast stitching, Silver Rise trim inserts, and a trim-specific black headliner.

Thanks to that liftback design, the Arteon is remarkably capacious in the back. The cargo area is rated at 27.2 cubic feet of volume, considerably more than you get in a Kia Stinger (23.3 cubes) or an Audi A5 Sportback (21.8 cubes). What's more, the rear seats can be folded in a 60/40 split to create a massive space of 56.2 cubic feet. Whichever configuration you choose, there's plenty of space for four adults to go on a week-long vacation. Unfortunately, the convenient hands-free liftgate is only fitted to the top trim.

In the cabin, you get large door pockets, a sizable glove box, and center armrest storage, as well as a spot in the center console for your phone and another ahead of the armrest with a pair of cupholders.

Forget about optional extras here, unless you want accessories. The Volkswagen Arteon gets the same basic suite of features throughout the lineup, with higher trims progressively adding more standard equipment. The base SE comes with automatic LED headlights, power-folding heated wing mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, tri-zone climate control, cruise control, power-adjustable and heated front seats, and adaptive suspension. You also get start/stop technology, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, keyless entry with push-button start, and an eight-inch digital driver display. A rearview camera, forward collision detection with automatic emergency braking, and a post-collision response system are fitted too. Higher up in the lineup, you get access to features like curve-sensing LED headlights with auto high beams, adaptive LED headlights, multicolor configurable ambient lighting, remote start, a panoramic sunroof, traffic sign recognition, lane keep assist, parking sensors, park assist, pedestrian detection, wireless charging, a hands-free tailgate, and a surround-view camera. A massaging seat is available for the driver too, while ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats can make this a properly luxurious cruiser.

Volkswagen upgraded the infotainment system in this car last year with a new eight-inch MIB3 Discover Media touchscreen and revised software, so you get access to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with pre-existing features like Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and SiriusXM satellite radio. This year, wireless device charging is added as standard. HD Radio and two USB-C ports are included too, as well as eight speakers. The top SEL Premium trim gains an upgrade to a Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system. As you'd expect, the screen is responsive and easy to use, and thankfully, it appears that we get to have a physical volume knob a little longer, although it is still safest to turn your favorite song up via the steering-mounted buttons.

At the time of writing, the 2022 Arteon has not been subject to any recalls yet. The 2021 Arteon was recalled three times - for a tire-pressure monitoring system that could misidentify the affected tire in April of 2021, affecting only 149 units. Another issue affected a broad range of VW products in which the rearview camera would display a black or frozen image. The third problem was a loose pressure input rod on the brake booster that may cause the brake pedal to fail. The Arteon doesn't have a predicted reliability rating yet, but a general lack of complaints bodes well.

As for warranty coverage, Volkswagen includes a limited/powertrain warranty for the first four years or 50,000 miles, as well as complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 20,000 miles. Roadside assistance is complimentary for three years of 36,000 miles.

At the IIHS, the Volkswagen Arteon stands out as a 2021 Top Safety Pick award winner, but only on the SEL trims with the adaptive headlight system. On the other side of the safety scale, the NHTSA doesn't have a review of the Volkswagen Arteon.

As standard, every model comes with a rearview camera, tire-pressure monitoring, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking. A post-collision system is fitted too, along with rain-sensing wipers. Optionally available are things like adaptive LED headlights with auto high beams or regular LED headlights with curve-sensing. Also on offer are adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, park assist, lane keep assist, and a surround-view camera. Dual frontal, side-impact, overhead, and knee airbags are included too.

Two years ago, we all but raved about the Arteon and since its 2021 update, a new Volkswagen Arteon is now a better proposition than ever. It's prettier, more elegant inside, still offers a compliant ride, now has more than enough power to feel swift, and loads of space. This area is one in which the Arteon especially outshines its competitors, in terms of both cargo volume and passenger room. There's plenty of standard tech, including a new digital driver cluster and a better infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the trim structure is simple and straightforward, making it easy for you to choose the ideal model. It's not terribly expensive, even though it looks like it is, and with Volkswagen's attention to detail and ergonomic design shining through alongside excellent build quality, the question isn't if you should buy this particular budget-friendly four-door coupe, but rather, why wouldn't you? Good job VW, this is an outstanding product and we're not sure why we don't see more on the road.

The base price of this Volkswagen Arteon is $39,995 for an entry-level SE variant before the $1,195 destination charge. The mid-level version, the SEL R-Line, costs $44,615, while the range-topping SEL Premium R-Line has a starting MSRP of $48,615. By contrast, the more powerful Kia Stinger can cost as much as $52,590 before options, albeit with a more powerful twin-turbo V6 engine.

The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon range comprises three trims: SE R-Line, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line. They all share a newly updated 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, as well as a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, driving the front wheels in the SE and all four via VW's 4Motion AWD system in the two SEL trims.

The SE gets 18-inch alloy wheels, the R-Line exterior appearance package, adaptive suspension, and LED headlights. Inside, it has V-Tex leatherette upholstery, three-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, an eight-inch digital gauge cluster, 12-way electrically adjustable and heated front seats, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. The infotainment system has an eight-inch touchscreen and incorporates Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, wireless charging, and an eight-speaker audio system. Standard safety features include eight airbags, parking sensors front and rear, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The SEL R-Line furthermore adds 19-inch alloy wheels, standard 4Motion all-wheel drive, a panoramic sunroof, remote start, and power-folding exterior mirrors. Inside, it gains Nappa leather upholstery, multi-color adjustable ambient lighting, a black headliner, adaptive cruise control, dynamic road-sign display, and lane assist.

The SEL Premium R-Line adds to this list 20-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, a hands-free liftgate, massaging and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, paddle shifters, a surround-view camera, an additional rear USB port, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

No additional packages are available for this car. Instead, you can add on lifestyle accessories like cargo-box attachments ($699), or a tablet holder ($110). Carrier bars ($417) and a bike-holder attachment ($180) are also on offer. The only available options that really enhance the car itself are a trunk lip spoiler for 345 bucks.

We really like the entire range here. There's loads of value in every model, including the base version which has far more tech than you may expect and now comes standard with wireless charging, front and rear parking sensors, and the R-Line package. Still, the bigger wheels looks great, and with genuine Nappa leather, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control, 4Motion AWD, remote start, road-sign display, and lane assist, we think the best all-round package is the mid-level SEL R-Line. However, bigger wheels and all-wheel drive do not mean better, and if you value the best ride quality and don't live in an area that snows out every year, don't rule out saving a little cash as the SE offers everything you could need from an executive-style car - from daily commuting to date night and everything in between.

For 2022, Kia has updated the Stinger with more features, improved trim, and a new 300-hp base engine that matches the 2022 Arteon on power output. Like the Arteon, the Kia remains fantastic to look at, but unlike the VW, this car is much more sporty thanks to its standard rear-wheel drivetrain. It lacks the finesse of the Arteon over bumps but is available with a powerful twin-turbo 3.3-liter engine that would leave the Arteon for dead. It's a little less practical than the VeeDub from both a rear passenger and cargo perspective and hasn't quite got the build quality of the German car. That said, the Stinger is not harsh, not overly aggressive, and not unattainable. It also starts at around $4,000 less than the VW, and a top-spec model with the more potent V6 isn't much more than the Arteon. We love both cars here, so the choice is yours: comfort and practicality with the Arteon, or sportiness and power with the Stinger. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

This isn't really a fair comparison, you may think, but with the Audi A5 Sportback carrying a base price of $43,500, it's not far off. Sure, the A5 gets to over $60k with all the options ticked, but we want to see if a similarly priced base model can compete with the Arteon. Well, it comes with AWD as standard and is also powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-banger. Here, it only produces 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, with a more powerful version making 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. The Arteon is more powerful, but the A5 wins a point back for its premium badge. It also has a panoramic sunroof as standard, as well as ambient lighting, but where VW offers blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry, and adaptive dampers as standard, Audi charges you extra. It doesn't stop there, and the Arteon has more passenger space and more cargo space. It might miss out on the available advanced tech and thumping sound systems you'd find on the Audi, but in base form and for the same money, it's actually a better deal. Ultimately, we think most people will choose the Audi for its badge, but if you prefer the features and look of the VW, we urge you to take one for a test drive. You'll likely be blown away by its class and comfort.