A surprising, sporty offering from Volkswagen

This review first appeared in the February 2020 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg
 

Sacramento, California – It's new and it might be the most obscure motor vehicle marketed by Volkswagen ... which is saying something for that massive marketing machine.

Yet the VW Arteon has won praise from many an auto reviewer, and yes, consider me among that group.

It's a sleek four-door fastback that looks good in the driveway and feels better opened up on a clear stretch of road. An Arteon can be had for far less than $40,000 at dealerships, but my 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line tester with the automaker's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system was seriously dressed up and sporting $47,705 on the bottom line.

For that kind of money, I would want my sporty VW to have lots going for it.  Fortunately, the Arteon answered the bell nicely on that score.

Power came from a turbocharged, 2-liter 4 rated at 268 horsepower.  That package moves the Arteon around with muscular authority.  On dicey freeway runs, I consistently felt secure buzzing the Arteon into tight spots and out of harm's way with just a short hop on the accelerator.

There was a bit of body roll on hard corners, a trait mentioned by others who have reviewed the Arteon.  Granted, but not a deal-breaker, in my view.

The Arteon name is derived from the Latin term artem, a shout out to design art.  OK, I'll bite.  Smooth, sporty, contemporary styling is evident nose to tail, and the curvaceous sweep of the Arteon's front grille is an attention-grabber.

I was likewise impressed with the 20-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires.

Inside, thoughtful touches were evident.  A remarkably spacious back seat grabs the eyes in a heartbeat.  The Arteon's ride was smooth and quiet on long stretches of interstate highway.  A good road trip ride to be sure.

My Arteon was so loaded up with technology and convenience features that I had to tackle the owner's manual in shifts.  Perks rating special mention on the plus side included an overhead camera view, a fully digital cockpit, autonomous emergency braking and LED lighting all around.

So, why haven't I heard more about this Arteon on the TV airwaves and in social media marketing circles?  Seems like a natural to me, although the Arteon competes against some very formidable hardware in its segment.

Even so, it might be your cup of tea ... certainly worth a look or a test drive.