Volkswagen Arteon review

The Volkswagen Arteon was designed to inspire temptation. Imagine the scene; you’re in a showroom in the company of a salesperson with a broad smile and toothpaste ad-white teeth who’s busy trying to close a deal with you for a new family car. Just as you’re about to sign on the dotted line, out of the corner of your eye, you spy something that makes your pen pause. It looks a bit like a normal executive saloon, yet it’s glitzier, sleeker and altogether more desirable. That’s the Arteon.

It’s based on the Passat, and as well as being a bit more expensive, it's slightly longer, lower and wider, with a distinctive coupé-like roofline that tapers smoothly into the boot, giving it a more upmarket appearance. And that's exactly the way Volkswagen pitches it: an upmarket car to rival the likes of the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé and the Jaguar XE.

Like all three of those models, the Arteon retains the practical four-door layout of the saloon on which it’s based, so it’s a choice that can be justified on more than image alone. It also offers a range of engines to satisfy those looking for fuel economy at one end of the scale and fast acceleration at the other; fans of the latter will appreciate the bolder styling that comes with the R-Line Edition trim level. Should you need a dash more practicality than the regular Gran Turismo model, there’s the Arteon Shooting Brake (read estate).

But let’s return to that showroom scenario. Should you go with your head and sign up for the Passat, or your heart and swap to the Arteon – or, indeed, one of its rivals? Read on and we’ll guide you through all the details. And if you are persuaded that the Volkswagen Arteon is the car for you, remember to check out our New Car Buying pages for a hefty saving with absolutely no hassle.