2019 Volkswagen Arteon First Test: Teutonic Spice

Sensuous isn’t a word you’d use to describe most mainstream German cars, some of which suffer from the Russian doll syndrome. The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon is an exception; its low, sweeping roofline and long wheelbase create a seductive sedan that draws eyes to it, especially in colors like Chili Red metallic or Kurkuma Yellow. As a flagship car, the Arteon looks the part, but does it back up its looks with respectable MotorTrend-tested performance? Let’s find out.

Moves Like (a Volkswagen)

Built on Volkswagen’s MQB platform, the 2019 Arteon’s driving experience lives up to its extroverted styling. With standard adaptive dampers, the car has two personalities. Keep it in Comfort or Normal mode, and it rides like you’re on a cloud. Switch to Sport, and it hunkers down, gleefully tackling winding roads like Angeles Crest Highway. Body control is excellent, and it doesn’t sacrifice comfort in the name of agility. The steering, although accurate, lacks communication and can feel numb regardless of the driving mode. The Arteon could also use slightly stickier rubber; the chassis handily overwhelms the standard Continental ProContact TX all-season tires.

At the track, the Arteon completed the figure eight in 26.7 seconds with a 0.64 g average and produced 0.84 g of lateral acceleration. “As usual, a very nice-handling Volkswagen,” testing director Kim Reynolds said. “Turn-in is sweet, too, with a bit of rotation. From there it’s understeer, but despite it being significant, it doesn’t feel punishing.” The Arteon’s Custom mode lets you change throttle response, damper stiffness, and steering individually to create your ideal setup.

Volkswagen’s venerable 2.0-liter turbo I-4 makes 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque in the 3,942-pound Arteon, enough to move it with verve. Minimal turbo lag results in smooth power delivery, allowing you to take advantage of the engine’s sweet midrange torque. The car hits 60 mph in 6.3 seconds before crossing the quarter mile in 14.8 seconds at 93.5 mph. Road test editor Chris Walton liked that the car responds well to pedal overlap but found the eight-speed automatic jarring on the 1–2 shift. The gearbox responds quickly enough, but I found it had a penchant for higher gears in heavy traffic. Braking from 60 mph took 114 feet. Walton noted a firm brake pedal, little dive, and no vibrations during hard stops. On our tester that was fitted with 19-inch wheels, tire noise got excessive on uneven surfaces.

Stylishly Spacious

Move inside the Arteon’s cabin, and you’ll find generous passenger and cargo space. There’s plenty of head- and legroom in the back even for taller people, and the cargo area has enough room to haul bulk items with the second row folded or in use. A ski pass-through gives the Arteon extra flexibility by enabling it to haul long items without needing to fold down one of the rear seats.

Like other Volkswagen vehicles, the 2019 Arteon’s interior features a simple yet tasteful design. Your eyes don’t get overwhelmed by a sea of buttons or controls that look intimidating at first glance. Most materials feel substantial except the center stack, which has buttons and knobs that are clearly shared with lesser Volkswagens. Some of the harder plastics (especially in the rear) also remind you that this car sells in the high-$30,000 to high-$40,000 range, and we wish there weren’t so many blanks around the shifter.

A Mixed Tech Bag

Volkswagen’s latest infotainment system features a responsive 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The touch-sensitive buttons react quickly but require the driver to look away from the road when using them. Navigating the interface is a cinch, and key functions aren’t buried deep within submenus. The center stack layout needs rearranging: Having the knobs and shortcut buttons flanking the sides visually shrinks the screen. Moving them down into a row below the display would open up space for a larger touchscreen.

Digital Cockpit, Volkswagen’s version of a full digital gauge cluster, adds a modern look without compromising user-friendliness The display has clean, crisp graphics, and the information is laid out in a logical manner. A 12-speaker, 700-watt Dynaudio system offers a satisfying listening experience and plenty of adjustability. Unfortunately, its surround sound doesn’t create a rich, immersive soundscape like the Harman and Bose units found in the Arteon’s competitors.

The Volkswagen comes standard with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control, which comes only on the SEL and SEL Premium grades, works beautifully. It leaves just the right amount of space between you and the vehicle ahead, minimizing the likelihood of someone cutting you off. It even works in heavy traffic and can bring the car to a full stop. The same can’t be said with the unpredictable lane keeping assist; it’s too lax in some instances and then can be too aggressive a few minutes later, jerking you back to center even though you’re far from the dividing lines.

The Elephant in the Room

At $47,205 as tested, the Arteon is pricier than most flagships similarly equipped, including the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima. The Arteon makes its case with the added functionality of a hatch and a driving experience bested only by the rear-drive Kia Stinger.

Although the parts-bin bits may make you question why it isn’t a little cheaper, is the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon still worth your time? Yes. Its blend of practicality, style, comfort, and handling makes it a multitalented grand tourer that also stands out in a sea of boxy crossovers.

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