Volkswagen’s CC originally won points for being the only four-door coupe in the mainstream sector, but it never turned heads as easily as the Arteon that replaced it for 2019. This gorgeous mid-size sedan not only makes it easy to forget the CC, but even the newer Passat looks yawn-inducing when parked side-by-side.
Likewise, many will find the Arteon more attractive than Kia’s much-lauded Stinger, and while I’ll refrain from delving into a complete comparison between the only two four-door coupes available to budget-oriented buyers, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I left out some of the Korean car’s details. For now, I’ll call the Arteon pretty and the Stinger handsome, the latter in more of an aggressive, manly way.
Volkswagen hasn’t made any notable changes to the Arteon over its two-year tenure, but 2021 will see a modestly refreshed grille and headlamps, plus subtly-modded taillights and a mildly updated interior. It won’t be noticeable to anyone but serious VW fanboys, so it’s probably best to hope for any new and improved enhancements.
Stylish interior comes up a bit short on tactile quality
Then again, if VW improves some of the substandard plastics inside, the 2021 Arteon might be worth the wait. Don’t get me wrong, as this 2020 example is better than some models the German brand offers, but long past are the days that Volkswagen rivaled the materials quality of premium brands’ interiors. Now it struggles to compete for such accolades against once-maligned Kia, the just-noted Stinger besting the Arteon’s cabin refinement in many respects, but for the time being the Arteon is the best VW has available in North American markets.
On the positive, while the Arteon’s glove box is made from hard plastic, par for the course in the lower classes, the underside of the dash is entirely formed from a high-quality pliable composite, as is the dash-top, the mid-section of the instrument panel all the way down to the halfway point of the center console, and the door uppers. The mid and lower surfaces of the doors are all hard synthetic, their softly padded inserts and armrests aside. This is where VW could especially improve the Arteon, important in a car that starts above $35k.
Arteon priced closer to premium brands
That’s right, front-wheel drive Arteons start at $35,995 plus freight and fees, whereas the same car with 4Motion all-wheel drive can be had for $1,900 more at $37,895. That might be a bit too close for comfort to Audi’s $39k A4, and will cause some would-be buyers to consider the luxury branded VW group variant instead.
Some Canadian readers might notice a significant discount south of the 49th, but take note the Arteon comes almost fully loaded in the great white north, including AWD, so therefore its $49,960 CAD base price (just over $38,000 USD) is justified. That’s more than $1,000 CAD higher since 2019, incidentally, due to the inclusion of a standard 360-degree surround parking camera, automated parking assistant, and lane change assist.
Only forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert are standard with both Canadian- and US-spec cars, the extra degree of safety requiring a move up to the $47,695 SEL Premium R-Line with 4Motion in the US, the equivalent of $62,650 CAD (yah, Canadians are getting a sweet deal).
Arteon upgrades include plenty of high-tech and luxury features
Ok, to be fair, those on the northernmost portion of our great continent (Alaskans aside) need to add $2,995 CAD ($2,280 USD) for the R-Line package, which (no matter the market) includes unique R-Line exterior styling, a stunning set of 20-inch dark matte graphite Rosario rims wrapped in 245/35 all-season rubber, aluminum door sills with R-Line branding, a special leather-clad R-Line sport steering wheel with a heatable rim, paddle shifters, upgraded “Silver Rise” decorative inlays, and a black headliner.
This bumps the Canadian-spec car up to $52,995 (about $40,350 USD), leaving Kurkuma Yellow metallic paint as the only additional option in Canada. All other metallics are standard, including the eye-catching Chili Red metallic shown on this test model, but this said no actual colors are available at in the US, only shades like Pure White, Pyrite Silver, Manganese Gray, Urano Gray, and Deep Black Pearl.
As you might expect, all features found on lesser US trims come standard in the better equipped Canadian car, such as the LED headlamps and taillights, proximity-sensing keyless entry with pushbutton ignition, electromechanical parking brake, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, 8.0-inch center touchscreen (with proximity-sensing digital buttons that emerge from the display’s bottom edge when your hand gets close), Android Auto or Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, satellite radio, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, etcetera.
Arteon starts to get ritzy in SEL and SEL Premium trims
The same goes for the mid-range $39,995 SEL, which gets upgraded from mechanical primary instruments to VW’s fabulous digital gauge cluster capable of almost completely replacing its conventional looking dials with a navigation map or alternative functions, while other SEL features include remote engine start, all-weather lights with low-speed corner illumination, a similar adaptive front-lighting headlight system, power-folding side mirrors with memory, adaptive cruise control, ambient interior lighting, leather upholstery, navigation, a panoramic sunroof, and more.
Lastly, aforementioned SEL Premium trim adds automatic high beams, softer Nappa leather upholstery, front seats with power lumbar support, massage action and forced ventilation, three-color adjustable ambient lighting, an impressive Dynaudio sound system, a hands-free powered liftgate, plus all the R-Line upgrades and advanced safety features noted earlier.
Details like fabric-wrapped A-pillars, a decades-old Volkswagen hallmark, are included as well, and I have to say the interior design looks fabulous, in a minimalist Germanic way, the two-tone gray and silver motif only upstaged by all the colorful display screens and ambient background lights. The perforated gray leather upholstery impresses, and the seats are that ideal combination of plush comfort and Euro-firmness that VW does so well, while the brand’s steering wheels are some of the best in the lower classes. Truly, this top-line Arteon’s rich looking cabin makes it appear much more upscale than its price implies.
Performance is not the Arteon’s strongpoint
Certainly, there are too many dummy buttons around the shifter, even though they’re as nicely finished as the rest of the car’s impressive switchgear. The shift lever itself looks like something out of a premium sport sedan too, and connects through to a smooth yet quick-shifting eight-speed automatic that’s powered by Volkswagen’s venerable 2.0-liter turbo-four. That engine is good for 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, which is similar output to entry-level models from most premium brands, and actually improves on the 255 hp and 260 lb-ft of twist found in the base Stinger. Then again, the Stinger fights back with an optional V6 good for 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, which as you can guess is just a tad more spirited than the Arteon.
While fun to drive around town or down a gently curving highway, a spin around the block in an Arteon won’t cause you to give up your less potent GTI or even a Jetta GLI on performance alone, but its comfort, quietness and overall class might attract Volkswagen fans that appreciate a calming, quiet character over edgy excitement. This is the kind of classic European alternative that American muscle car zealots will never understand as they blast past in their less expensive 485 hp Charger SRTs, which come to think of it is a car that doesn’t really give up much in interior refinement either, while improving on handling… hmmm.
The fact is, when pushed hard the Arteon understeers too much to be considered a performance sedan, even when equipped with all-wheel drive. The just-mentioned Jetta GLI that I tested the following week was much defter through fast-paced corners, while my Stinger 2.0 tester gripped pavement more assuredly too. So, the Arteon is a personal luxury coupe. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Comfort is cool too
We’ve all had enough excitement this year anyway, right? Doesn’t a nice relaxed drive along the river, lakeside or seashore while listening to your favorite chill playlist sound better than a heart-pound, adrenaline-inducing rollercoaster ride on the same two-lane, circuitous, serpentine strip of tarmac? Wouldn’t you rather cruise up to the mall to stare at its permanently locked doors than slam your VeeDub through an autocross course on the other side of the parking lot? Thought so.
Of course, different strokes for different folks, and while there are days that I’d love to light up the front or rear tires (or all four in this case) against a stopwatch or slice and dice my way down a West Coast canyon road, reality dictates a calmer approach to motoring more often than not. This is when I appreciate the Arteon’s comfortable ride, superb driver’s setup, relatively roomy rear seating area and sizable enough cargo compartment. It’s a sporty near-luxury sedan that I enjoyed driving every day, with enough oomph off the line for an occasional grin and adequately capable handling for a pleasurably quick jaunt on a curving road.
23All that and it’s fuel-efficient too, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg city, 29 highway and 25 combined in FWD trim, or 20, 29 and 23 with AWD (12.0, 8.6 and 10.5 L/100km in Canada), thanks in part to an Eco mode and auto start-stop system. Kia’s Stinger 2.0 AWD is rated at 21, 29 and 24 respectively (11.1, 8.1 and 9.8 L/100km), by the way, a slight improvement on the VW.
Finishing off any Volkswagen review on the subject of fuel economy might seem like a low note for anyone familiar with the brand, but Germans no longer hold any performance titles in our mainstream volume sector, so maybe it’s fitting. Fortunately, this Arteon is a style leader, while providing a great looking interior filled with mostly high-grade materials and superb electronics. It seems perfect for the entry-level personal luxury coupe crowd, if only such groups hadn’t almost completely disappeared. A shame, as it’s a winner in most respects.