Review - 2023 Volkswagen Arteon

Its flagship position in the range is matched by a unique styling package and long list of comfort, entertainment and safety features, offering a range-topping sedan or wagon package while undercutting its more traditional European rivals quite significantly on price.

Just how good is the latest Volkswagen Arteon, then, and which is the variant to buy? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Volkswagen Arteon Competition

Starting Price: $64,590

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Volkswagen Arteon range is priced from $64,590 for the entry-level Arteon 140TSI Elegance Sedan, while the 140TSI Elegance Wagon is priced at $66,590.

Step up to the Arteon 206TSI R-Line Sedan and prices rise to $72,390, while the Arteon 206TSI R-Line Wagon is priced at $74,390.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Volkswagen Arteon - 140TSI ELEGANCE (RESTR FEAT) Specifications

What Features Does the Volkswagen Arteon Have?

Volkswagen’s entry-level 140TSI Elegance lineup comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloys, and receives adaptive suspension, IQ.Light matrix LED head & tail lights, a powered boot lift, Nappa leather upholstery with heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats.

On the tech front, the Elegance comes packing three-zone climate control, a surround-view monitor with parking sensors, ambient lighting, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, a digital instrument cluster, a 9.2-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto and a Harman Kardon sound system.

Step up to the 206TSI R-Line and you’ll receive 20-inch alloys, an all-wheel drive system, sports seats lined with Nappa leather and an R-Line styling package.

Range Features:

• 19-inch alloys

• Adaptive suspension 

• IQ. Light matrix LED head & tail lights 

• Powered boot lift 

• Nappa leather upholstery with heated & ventilated front seats 

• Surround-view camera with parking sensors 

• Digital instrument cluster 

• Head-up display 

• 9.2-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 20-inch alloys (206 TSI R-Line)

• All-wheel drive system (206 TSI R-Line)

• Sports seats (206 TSI R-Line)

• R-Line styling package (206 TSI R-Line)

Is the Volkswagen Arteon Comfortable to Drive?

Volkswagen’s recipe for the Arteon is as simple as it is effective: take everything we’ve come to love about the Passat sedan and wagon, and make it even more premium.

The end result is a range of sedans and wagons that offer extremely comfortable, confidence-inspiring platforms that are truly representative of a European flagship, without heading into six-digit price tags.

Power for the entry-level Arteon 140TSI comes supplied by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol pushing out 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Step up to the Arteon 206TSI and outputs rise to a much more respectable 206kW of power and 400Nm of torque, which is channelled to all four wheels via the same seven-speed DCT, dropping the 0-100km/h sprint from 8.0 seconds to 5.6 seconds.

Whichever engine you opt for, the Arteon is fantastic behind the wheel, offering a decent amount of pick-up in the base model and impressive acceleration in the case of the 206TSI.

On the road, the Arteon is smooth, compliant and confident in its shoes, making for a super comfortable and user-friendly platform for town driving thanks to its smooth transmission and the lightweight steering rack.

Pick up the pace and the Arteon’s steering offers a healthy amount of feedback, though the base model’s front wheels can be a bit overwhelmed, leaving the 206TSI as the best option for those looking for a weekend tourer thanks to its 4Motion AWD system.

All up, the Arteon feels remarkably premium on Australian roads and with the help of that adaptive suspension system, adds some versatility to the mix for Volkswagen’s super impressive flagship sedan and wagon lineup.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is rated at 6.2L/100km on a combined cycle in the entry-level 162TSI Elegance range.

Fuel economy figures rise up to 7.7L/100km on a combined cycle for the more powerful 206TSI range.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

As you might expect from the company’s largest sedan and wagon package, the Arteon knocks it out of the park when it comes to interior styling, space and practicality.

Look out SUVs - the Volkswagen Arteon is a great lesson in how a well-curated sedan or wagon platform can match the outright size and practicality of a large SUV, all while looking fantastic both inside and out.

Up front, the driver and front passenger pick up a super comfortable set of Nappa leather seats with a great deal of adjustment in the seating position, lumbar support and added bonus of seat heating and ventilation.

The layout is super familiar to the Volkswagen brand, which means there’s a chunky centre console housing a pair of cupholders, a stout gear lever and some added storage at the base of the dash.

Practical touches extend to some added storage inside the folding armrest and a decent set of door bins on either side of the cabin, while there’s no issues when it comes to head room for even the tallest of drivers.

Move to the rear and there’s more than enough space for tall adults to get comfortable in the Arteon’s second row, making for a great option for families looking for a spacious sedan or wagon.

The long wheelbase platform allows for exceptional second row legroom, and also means you can squeeze even the bulkiest of forward- and rear-facing child seats into the second row thanks to the pair of ISOFIX anchors.

Finally, rounding out its impressive list of practical features, the VW Arteon offers boot space figures of 563L in the ‘Liftback’ sedan, increasing up to 565L in the ‘Shooting Brake’ wagon format, making it a truly SUV-rivalling package in terms of space and practicality.

Is it Safe?

The Volkswagen Arteon has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 96% for adult protection, 85% for child protection, 85% for pedestrian protection and 74% for safety assist.

As standard, the Arteon is packaged with a long list of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise and steering assist, side assist with active blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, a surround-view monitor and front & rear parking sensors.

Our Verdict: Is the Volkswagen Arteon Worth it?

While it doesn’t come cheap, the Volkswagen Arteon confidently ticks all the boxes that buyers in this price range should be looking for, making for a truly impressive large sedan and wagon offering.

Put it under the microscope and the Arteon has no trouble in accommodating a large family and their belongings while offering a healthy list of safety and entertainment features and sleek European looks that make it a must on your shortlist.

On that note, if you’re searching for a large, practical family car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help narrow-down your shortlist and find you the best possible price on your dream car.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating 

4. 6.2 - 7.7L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures 

5. 563 - 565L boot space (sedan vs wagon)