VW Arteon 2025: Price, consumption, picture, technical data.

With a hatchback body clad in avant-garde styling, the VW Arteon sedan is as pretty as it is practical. Unfortunately, the four-door’s captivating looks are lost in translation when it comes to driving. Sure, it has a peppy four-cylinder turbo engine and stimulating steering feedback, but those qualities still don’t make it particularly appealing.

Volkswagen  Passat

Although the VW cabin has a limo-like passenger space and can accommodate plenty of luggage under the tailgate, the interior isn’t nearly as luxurious as the top-of-the-line model is expensive. Still, the VW Arteon is by far the most elegant model to bear the brand’s iconic logo, and it shows that passenger cars are still relevant at VW – at least for now.

What’s new ?

Volkswagen is giving the VW Arteon fresh exterior details and several interior updates. The former includes new front bumpers, new wheel designs, the adoption of the new company logo, and more differentiation for the sporty R-Line. All models are now offered in Kings Red metallic paint; the R-Line adds Oryx White and Lapiz Blue. Inside, the Arteon features better materials and redesigned elements that address some of our complaints. Highlights include a thicker and more prominent steering wheel, more intricate air vents, touch-sensitive climate control, and adjustable ambient interior lighting. New to the standard is a digital instrument cluster. The latest version of VW’s infotainment software also comes with a new touchscreen and the addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

We think the SEL R-Line offers the best balance of style and standard features. Compared to the base model, the mid-range R-Line has a more distinctive front end with illuminated light bar in the grille and sportier bumper. It also comes standard with a fancier cabin that includes cool ambient lights and wireless charging. The SEL R-Line also gets lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition as standard. The addition of more eye-catching paint colors makes the Arteon more attractive than before, and we’d take ours in Lapiz Blue.

Engine, transmission and performance

The Arteon is powered by a 268-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Most versions offer standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, except for the SEL Premium, which is all-wheel drive only. Depending on the trim level, the Arteon comes standard with 18-, 19-, or 20-inch wheels. Our all-wheel-drive test vehicle managed a 6.1-second sprint to 60 mph, which is slower than V-6-powered rivals like the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima. The VW’s powertrain is tuned for efficiency, so acceleration off the line is a bit soft. Adaptive suspension dampers are standard and can automatically adjust to your driving style or be manually set to Comfort, Normal, or Sport. Regardless of the setting, the ride is smooth and controlled. The precise steering is reminiscent of the 10Best-winning Golf GTI, and the handling is competent, but you won’t mistake this big VW for a sports sedan.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates that the VW Arteon with front-wheel drive will earn 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive versions see those numbers drop to 20 mpg city and 31 highway. We tested the latter on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, part of our extensive testing program, where it achieved an impressive 37 mpg. We haven’t yet conducted a real-world test on a front-wheel drive Arteon.

Interior, comfort and cargo

Inside, the VW Arteon is fitted with high-quality materials, but it’s noticeably lacking in design flair. Still, VW has carved a lot of interior space out of the big five-door’s sleek profile. Two tall six-footers can ride up front without ever rubbing elbows. The rear seats are similarly accommodating, and legroom is noticeably greater compared to the VW Passat . The Arteon’s hatchback opens to reveal a generous 27 cubic feet of cargo capacity. We managed to fit nine carry-on suitcases behind the rear seat and another 12 (21 total) with the rear seat stowed. All Arteons come with heated front seats, but the top-of-the-line SEL Premium model adds ventilation for those seats, a massage function for the driver, heated rear seats, and a power liftgate.

Infotainment and connectivity

An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is standard on every Arteon. It’s controlled primarily via touch inputs, and there’s no longer a volume knob, but there are also touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. In addition to two USB ports, the VW has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moving up to the SEL adds navigation and wireless charging; the premium R-Line has a powerful Harman/Kardon audio system. With a Volkswagen Car-Net subscription, additional connected features like remote vehicle unlocking and emergency assistance are available.

Safety and driver assistance functions

The Arteon has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick. It comes standard with some driver-assistance technologies such as forward collision warning and automated emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist are standard on SEL models, while only the SEL Premium has automatic high-beam control, a surround-view camera system, and park assist with front and rear parking sensors. Key safety features include:

• Standard blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert
• Lane departure warning and lane keeping assist as standard
• Available adaptive cruise control

Warranty and maintenance coverage

Volkswagen offers an above-average limited warranty and two years of free scheduled maintenance, but most competitors offer a longer powertrain warranty.

Price VW Arteon

The introduction of a new base class has enabled Volkswagen to push the VW Arteon RRP (before road price) below €60,000 (Euro) for the first time.

Arteon 140TSI Elegance Liftback: $59,990 (new)
Arteon 140TSI Elegance Shooting Brake: $61,990 (new)
Arteon 206TSI R-Line Liftback: €66,990 (Euro) (minus €500 (Euro))
Arteon 206TSI R-Line Shooting Brake: 68,990 $ (new)