Volkswagen Arteon review

The Volkswagen Arteon was designed to inspire temptation. Imagine the scene; you’re in the showroom, enjoying the company of a salesperson with a broad smile and ivory teeth who’s busy trying to close the deal on your next 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. That gives it a more upmarket appearance, which is 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 (bar the XE), the Arteon retains the practical four-door layout of the saloon on which it’s based, so it’s something 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 may appreciate the bolder styling that comes with the R-Line trim level, or, should you need a dash more practicality than the regular Gran Turismo model, there’s the Arteon Shooting Brake (read estate). You can read about that by clicking the link.

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.