The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon represents Volkswagen's halo car as the brand slowly climbs into the premium automotive market. The Arteon comes as the spiritual successor to the Volkswagen CC and brings the same bold euro-centric styling.
Volkswagen is currently in the midst of a brand renaissance. The brand is presently revamping its entire lineup from the ground up, an aggressive strategy in the current market. With new styling, technology, and nods to their past, Volkswagen is recapturing the individuality some consumers feel they had lost in the past decade.
The Arteon enters the U.S. market with a refreshed and bold front fascia, featuring a similar full-length grille daytime running lot that attracted so much attention on the ID.4. The Arteon also gains a new dashboard with an array of updated interior features. The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon is a stiff competitor but will be able to draw buyers away from more traditional premium brands? That question has yet to be answered.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon Powertrain And Drivetrain
While European Arteons receive several powertrain and drivetrain variants, at this time, VW is only offering one engine and two drivetrains in the United States. Power comes from Volkswagen's venerable 'TSI' two-liter four-cylinder. An upgraded turbocharger helps the engine achieve an impressive 300 horsepower and 295 lb-feet of torque.
The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon is available in either front-wheel drive or '4motion' and variants. The base SE is FWD only. While stepping up to the R-Line gives consumers optional AWD, the flagship SEL premium comes standard with 4motion.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon Performance And Handling
The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon is a large and comfortable car, but that doesn't mean it is a bore to drive. The turbocharged four-cylinder abruptly brings the Arteon to 60 mph in an astonishing 6.3 seconds. Through turbocharging and clever engine management, the Arteon is in line with many premium offerings that have an additional two cylinders.
The 4motion all-wheel-drive system is another defining characteristic of the Arteon. The system is designed by Haldex in Sweden, who is responsible for class-defining all-wheel-drive systems in Land Rover, Volvo, and Saab and modern iterations of the famed Audi 'Quattro' system. The system allows the Arteon to have a sure-footed, quick jump off the starting line and allows supreme traction on wet or snow-covered roads.
Overall, consumers describe the cars ride as poised. The ride is soft and stable at high speeds yet hits that perfect mix of firm handling when the Arteon takes a hard corner. Fuel mileage is a benefit of the car's four-cylinder, with EPA ratings 22 city and 32 highway, with a combined 25 MPG in mixed driving.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon Interior, Quality, And Technology
The cabin of the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon is befitting of a premium car. A large digital gauge cluster, a rebranded version of Audi's digital cockpit, is standard equipment on all trim levels. Volkswagen Auto Group's digital cluster is one of the best systems on the market, with just the right amount of configuration. With Apple Carplay and Android, Auto integration consumers can mirror their navigation or media screen right between the digital tach and speedometer, freeing up the infotainment system for passengers. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated satellite navigation is standard on the Arteon. An analog clock centered in the dashboard reminds drivers and passengers that this is a premium offering from Volkswagen. Heated seats for front passengers are standard, while the SEL package adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and ventilated seat upfront. Volkswagen faux leather is standard, while a full-leather interior is also available. Two-tone interiors are available in rich white and black or caramel and black configurations. For consumers looking for something more subtle, an entirely black interior is standard. The top SEL trim includes a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, a power liftgate, and lane-keep assist.
Consumers will be shocked to find that despite the slender sedan shape of the Arteon, it features a rear hatchback. The Arteon features a crossover rivaling storage capacity of 27.7 cubic feet with the seats up and 55 cubic feet with the seats down. Unfortunately for consumers, the massive wagon variation of the Arteon is reserved only for Europe. Below the hatch floor, consumers will also find a full-size spare tire with a matching wheel, something almost extinct in the current market.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon Safety
The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon features incredibly excellent safety ratings by both EU and US standards. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Arteon a Top Safety Pick, while Euro's NCAP awarded the car a coveted 5-star safety rating. Besides an incredibly rigid cabin, the Arteon features a total of eight airbags, including knee airbags that keep passengers safe in the event of a collision. The car also helps avoid a crash in the first place.
A host of safety technologies are standard. An onboard collision avoidance system will brake if a collision between a pedestrian or another car is unavoidable, after enough time with no driver reaction. The Arteon also comes standard with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon Pricing
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The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon is a compelling car with a host of standard features. As a premium offering from Volkswagen, pricing is reflective of other vehicles in this segment. The base SE 2022 Volkswagen Arteon starts at $39,990, the SEL R-Line starts at $45,399, while the flagship SEL Premium begins at $48,999. These prices include a $1,995 destination charge, since the Arteon is only produced at Volkswagen's home factory in Osnabruck, Germany.
The Arteon is a compelling alternative to entry-level premium offerings from Acura, Infiniti, and even BMW. The 2022 Volkswagen Arteon once again proves that Volkswagen has what it takes to climb into the premium market.