The Volkswagen Arteon sedan has been updated, back in showrooms, and joined by a wagon.
- Sleek design
- Perky yet efficient turbo 2.0-litre
- Now available with wagon practicality
- No AM radio in the wagon
- Glare from alloy dash trim in direct sunlight
- Plastic heads-up display screen not very premium
Introduction
If you listen to AM radio – and rely on it in areas where digital radio or smartphone coverage are absent – and prefer the wagon over the sedan version of the updated Volkswagen Arteon, feel free to move along now.
The Volkswagen Arteon wagon joins the small but growing list of primarily electric cars that lack this basic feature.
In Australia AM radio is used to provide life-saving emergency alerts during disasters in regional areas – even though there’s no hybrid or electric tech in this car to interfere with AM radio coverage.
Volkswagen says the updated Arteon sedan has AM radio but the wagon, which joined the line-up last year, misses out.
With that out of the way, meet the flagship of the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon range.
This generation of the sleeker, more luxurious version of the Volkswagen Passat was introduced in late 2017, updated globally last year, and reintroduced locally a couple of months ago in sedan and wagon body styles.
This generation VW Arteon has had a patchy presence in Australian showrooms due to semiconductor shortages and, earlier, the need to resubmit fuel economy and emissions data in Europe (along with most other car manufacturers).
The revised Volkswagen Arteon line-up has two model grades and two body styles: Volkswagen Arteon Elegance sedan ($61,740 plus on-road costs), Volkswagen Arteon R-Line sedan ($68,740 plus on-road costs), Volkswagen Arteon Elegance wagon ($63,740 plus on-road costs), and Volkswagen Arteon R-Line wagon ($70,740 plus on-road costs).
Metallic paint is included in the price; the only options are pearl white paint ($800) and a panoramic sunroof ($2000).
The Arteon Elegance is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (140kW/320Nm) that sends power to the front wheels, while the Arteon R-Line is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (206kW/400Nm) that sends power to all four wheels. Both are equipped with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions.
Although this review is largely illustrated with photos of the Volkswagen Arteon R-Line sedan, we tested the Arteon R-Line wagon.
As this article was published, Volkswagen says there were just two Arteon R-Line wagons in the country – and the model won’t be in plentiful supply locally until April 2022, while the sedan will begin to trickle through between now and then.
So there’s plenty of time to come to a decision. Here’s what we discovered.
| Key details | 2022 VW Arteon 206TSI R-Line wagon |
| Price (RRP) | $68,740 plus on-road costs, sedan ($70,740 plus on-road costs, wagon) |
| Colour of test car | Lapiz Blue |
| Options | Pearl white paint – $800 Panoramic sunroof – $2000 |
| Price as tested | $72,740 plus on-road costs |
| Rivals | Audi A4 | BMW 3 Series | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
Inside
The sleek roof line means you need to stoop a little lower to get in and out of the Arteon, such is the nature of coupe-like sedans and wagons.
Once aboard, the interior has an upmarket presence dominated by a horizontal waistline that blends the air vents with the cabin trim.
Unfortunately, some of that trim – in particular the alloy garnish across the dash – can dazzle the driver’s eyes in direct sunlight. Presumably this alloy treatment was selected in an outdoor design studio cloaked in dark clouds.
Despite the sleek window line, visibility all around is fair for the class, and aided by surround-view cameras, convex side mirrors and blind-zone warning. Front and rear sensors also help squeeze into tight parking spots.
The digital widescreen instrument cluster has a choice of display settings; the steering wheel has touchpads that double as buttons. The infortainment and air-conditioning are also controlled only by touch, with buttons and dials absent.
There is a pop-up plastic screen on top of the dash for a heads-up display, the same basic type found in cheap and cheerful cars. Unfortunately, it adds a downmarket touch to an otherwise impressively luxurious interior.
Based on the Volkswagen Passat platform, the Arteon has comfortable leg room and shoulder room front and rear, with head room the only sacrifice by design – and even then, only tall people may struggle in this regard.
| 2022 VW Arteon 206TSI R-Line wagon | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 563L seats up / 1557L seats folded (565L seats up / 1632L seats folded, wagon) |
| Length | 4866mm (4866mm wagon) |
| Width | 1871mm (1871mm wagon) |
| Height | 1442mm (1447mm wagon) |
| Wheelbase | 2841mm (2840mm wagon) |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Helpfully, the revised Volkswagen Arteon has both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as digital radio, embedded navigation and Bluetooth connection.
The main difference: the sedan has AM/FM radio, whereas the wagon has FM but lacks AM, which could be a concern for listeners of news radio, shock jocks, and those who rely on emergency alerts in remote and regional areas (where digital radio and smartphone apps don’t reach).
Please, Volkswagen, and any other manufacturer considering deleting AM radio, reconsider this decision. It might save you a few cents per car but, in Australia at least, a real AM radio receiver – which can capture signals from vast distances – could save a life.
There is one 12V power socket and two USB-C charge ports in the centre console, so be sure to remember to grab a new-generation charge cord.
Safety and Technology
The Volkswagen Arteon is equipped with nine airbags (two frontal airbags, ‘curtains’ along each side of the cabin, airbags in the four outboard seating positions, and a driver’s knee airbag) and has a five-star safety rating from 2017.
Autonomous emergency braking, radar cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-zone warning, lane-keeping assistance, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, and front and rear parking sensors are standard.
A plastic pop-up head-up display – which reflects key information in the driver’s line of sight – is also part of the package, and helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road, though is not as bright or as sharp as other head-up displays that reflect information into the windscreen.
A matching full-size alloy spare wheel – tucked neatly under the boot floor – is a welcome inclusion in an era of skinny space-saver spare tyres. It means you don’t need to skate on thin ice if you cop a puncture.
Conspicuous by its absence: speed-sign recognition technology, which is a standard feature on many new cars these days, including Toyota, Mazda, and Ford vehicles, among others.
| 2022 VW Arteon 206TSI R-Line wagon | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2017) |
| Safety report | ANCAP report |
Value
This generation Volkswagen Arteon arrived in Australia in one model grade and one body style – the 206kW R-Line sedan – in November 2017 priced from $65,490 plus on-road costs.
The price had climbed to $67,490 plus on-road costs when it disappeared from Australian showrooms in April 2020 due to a pause in production amid new emissions tests in Europe that impacted most car manufacturers.
Volkswagen reintroduced the Arteon in Australia in October 2021 with a new four-model line-up and another price rise.
The revised Volkswagen Arteon line-up has two model grades and two body styles: Arteon Elegance sedan ($61,740 plus on-road costs), Arteon R-Line sedan ($68,740 plus on-road costs), Arteon Elegance wagon ($63,740 plus on-road costs), and Arteon R-Line wagon ($70,740 plus on-road costs).
Metallic paint is included in the price; the only options are pearl white paint ($800) and a panoramic sunroof ($2000).
Warranty is five years/unlimited kilometres. Service intervals are 12 months/15,000km.
Pre-paid service packages are available for three years ($1600) and five years ($2500). If you pay for servicing at each interval, the costs climb to $1806 (three years) and $3053 (five years). Customers have until prior to the first service before committing to a prepaid or pay-as-you-go plan.
| At a glance | 2022 VW Arteon 206TSI R-Line wagon |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1600 (3 years, pre-paid plan), $2500 (5 years, pre-paid plan) |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.7L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.2L/100km |
| Fuel type | 98-octane premium unleaded petrol |
| Fuel tank size | 66L |
Driving
As with the Volkswagen Passat on which it is based, the 206kW Arteon is perky yet efficient, and the performance is understated. Once on the move, it has plenty of urge – and momentum.
Volkswagen claims the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo 206kW/400Nm Arteon does the 0–100km/h dash in 5.5 seconds for the sedan and 5.6 seconds for the wagon.
In normal mode, on our V-Box timing equipment, the 206kW version of the VW Arteon did the 0 to 100km/h dash in 6.5 seconds (a touch slower than a VW Golf GTI hot hatch and about a second off the official claim).
Launch mode delivered a perfect start and slashed almost one second off the 0 to 100km/h time; we matched Volkswagen’s 5.6-second claim after a pair of 5.7-second runs.
The exercise demonstrates how sluggish twin-clutch gearboxes are when moving from rest in normal mode.
A footnote: launch control can only be activated with stability control disabled, making it impractical to unlock the 5.6-second performance except on a race track. Most customers will only experience the Arteon R-Line’s 6.5-second acceleration to 100km/h.
Helpfully, emergency braking performance was above average for the class (pulling up from 100km/h to a complete stop in an impressive 36.9 metres, versus 39 to 41 metres for most other cars), aided by large brake discs and sticky Pirelli P Zero 245/35R20 tyres.
Performance-car enthusiasts may prefer a little more character from the engine and exhaust, which are muted in this application to provide a more refined experience.
Fuel consumption on test – while not driving for economy in a mix of city, suburban, and inter-urban driving – was 8.2L/100km, par for the class. However, it’s worth noting the 206kW engine commands 98-octane premium unleaded (the 140kW version of this engine is compatible with 95-octane premium unleaded).
The suspension is surprisingly comfortable over bumps, despite the low-profile tyres. However, as is the case with grippy tyres, there’s some road roar on coarse-chip surfaces.
The steering is light and precise, and the brake pedal has a reassuring feel.
The seven-speed twin-clutch automatic is happiest once on the move. The minor hesitation on take-off or when making a three-point turn is a small annoyance that we soon adjusted to, though it may bother some customers more than others, so be sure to take it on a decent test drive.
| Key details | 2022 VW Arteon 206TSI R-Line wagon |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 206kW @ 4950 to 6600rpm |
| Torque | 400Nm @ 2000 to 4950rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Weight (tare) | 1692kg (sedan), 1717kg (wagon) |
| Tow rating | 2200kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.9m |
Conclusion
The 206kW version of the Volkswagen Arteon is a pleasant and pampering car to drive, but it’s now firmly priced in Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series, and Audi A4 territory.
Volkswagen is banking on buyers favouring the Arteon’s sleeker design and extra performance than its similarly priced German rivals.
Wagon
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