The 2022 VW Arteon makes an attempt to be the reply for many who have outgrown their GTI or Golf R. That may appear ironic on condition that the GTI has lengthy been described as the one automotive you want. It’s enjoyable, well-made, well-equipped, moderately environment friendly and sensible. Ditto the Golf R, which provides much more enjoyable and all-weather assurance because of its all-wheel-drive system. The difficulty is, practicality tends to be redefined as soon as it’s worthwhile to put a child within the again seat and the mountains of stuff they require within the trunk. A GTI may get the job executed, nevertheless it wouldn’t be straightforward. Enter the Arteon.
For 2022, it now has the identical new engine as the brand new Golf R, a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It affords the earlier Golf R’s Haldex all-wheel-drive system, however comes commonplace with front-wheel drive. That’s an enormous quantity of thrust to channel by way of the entrance wheels solely, nevertheless it manages to quell torque steer remarkably nicely … identical to the GTI, truly. And certainly, the Arteon completely feels prefer it sprouted from the identical department of the household tree because the GTI and Golf R. That hasn’t all the time been the case with the Arteon, however this newest iteration completely does – even when this bigger, heavier automotive on an older variation of VW’s MQB platform unsurprisingly can’t match the verve of its smaller, newer siblings. It’s a enjoyable automotive to drive, and its huge again seat and Audi Sportback-style trunk grant it that further practicality that those that’ve outgrown their GTI or Golf R are in search of. It’s positively a extra participating various than a Taos or Tiguan.
Sadly, the Arteon begins to make much less sense when you look outdoors the Volkswagen household. Its beginning worth is north of $40,000 with a loaded SEL Premium R-Line that crosses $50,000. That may be cheap given the Golf R’s price ticket, however you’re in luxurious sedan territory there, with a listing of alternate options that will make this paragraph laughably lengthy. True, the Arteon is now extra highly effective than most of these at this worth vary (often significantly so), however the truth stays {that a} Volkswagen sedan won’t ever be thought-about a luxurious sedan. Even when some would possibly contemplate it the one automotive they’d want.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gasoline Economic system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2022?
As described above, the Arteon will get the brand new Golf R’s EA888 evo4 engine and DSG transmission for 2022. The bottom SE additionally beneficial properties the R-Line’s sportier seems. That is on prime of a considerable overhaul final yr that introduced chassis enhancements (the steering particularly is dramatically higher), larger high quality inside supplies, up to date tech and tweaked styling.
What are the Arteon inside and in-car know-how like?
As a lot as Volkswagen improved the Arteon’s inside final yr with higher-quality supplies and higher trim, it actually solely introduced it as much as snuff for midsize sedans just like the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. There’s completely nothing flawed with these – they’ve beautiful interiors, however in addition they don’t begin larger than $40,000. In comparison with a equally priced Mercedes, Audi, Acura, Genesis, and so forth., it’s fairly merely not as good as these.
Is it higher than a GTI or Golf R? Completely, each when it comes to supplies high quality in addition to know-how. The Arteon comes commonplace with Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen that options VW’s earlier technology tech interface. That’s truly a great factor, for the reason that newer system within the GTI and Golf R is a hair-pulling affair.
How large is the Arteon?
The Arteon affords a transparent dimension benefit when in comparison with VW’s scorching hatchbacks in addition to equally priced luxurious vehicles. Though ultra-sleek sedans just like the Arteon have historically come connected to a discount in practicality, that’s not the case right here. The again seat supplies loads of legroom even when the driving force seat is pushed all the way in which again, whereas offering adequate headroom for somebody 6-foot-3. It’s truly much like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
The trunk is equally spectacular. Opening its gaping hatchback lid reveals 27.2 cubic-feet of most cargo house, which is about 10 greater than you’d get in a conventional household sedan. It’s additionally what you’d discover in lots of small SUVs, though that quantity is achieved within the Arteon with higher cargo space size and fewer top. When you take away the inflexible cargo cowl and decrease the 60/40-split again seat, you’ll transport massive, boxy objects that do not have a prayer of becoming in a type of sedans. Now, they received’t be as massive or boxy as what you possibly can handle in an SUV (and even the GTI and Golf R with the again seat down), however that is nonetheless one of many Arteon’s finest attributes.
What are the Arteon gasoline financial system and efficiency specs?
Each Arteon is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four that produces 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automated handbook, dubbed DSG, is commonplace. The bottom SE R-Line is front-wheel-drive, whereas the SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line have 4Motion all-wheel drive.
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system is 24 miles per gallon metropolis, 34 mpg freeway and 28 mpg mixed with front-wheel drive, which is great for such a robust automotive. It falls to 22/30/25 for the all-wheel-drive trim ranges.
What is the Arteon prefer to drive?
After final yr’s chassis upgrades and this yr’s severe energy infusion, the Arteon now drives prefer it sprouts from the identical department of the Volkswagen household tree because the GTI and Golf R (versus the previous Passat). The steering’s effort and response are indicative of the GTI’s, in addition to its skill to quell torque steer with front-wheel drive. It impressively received’t noticed the wheel out of your hand once you gun these 300 horses and 295 lb-ft. They may, nevertheless, overwhelm the traction management system and causes wheel hop, which is why choosing all-wheel drive remains to be a good suggestion. It sends as a lot as 50% of obtainable energy to the rear, reacting to and anticipating lowered traction up entrance. A brake-based XDS “cross-differential” system mimics a limited-slip differential by braking the within rear wheel whereas turning as a way to scale back understeer.
We discovered the Arteon surprisingly enjoyable to drive round tight, technical mountain roads – both with front- or all-wheel drive. There may positively be extra really feel from the steering, however that may be stated about many sport sedans. The usual adaptive suspension companies itself up relying on drive mode: Consolation, Regular or Sport. There’s an Particular person mode obtainable to combine and match your selections, which we utilized after discovering the Sport suspension a bit too agency on an extra-bumpy stretch of mountain street. This variability and customizability are appreciated and definitely extra indicative of a luxurious sport sedan than a Honda Accord, for example. Certainly, many luxurious sedans don’t embody adjustable suspensions at this worth level. Trip high quality is superb, and we discovered inside noise ranges to be cheap.
What different Volkswagen Arteon critiques can I learn?
2021 Volkswagen Arteon First Drive
Be taught extra concerning the substantial upgrades made final yr to the Arteon (simply ignore all these bits the place we gripe about not having sufficient energy)
What’s the 2022 Arteon worth?
Pricing for the bottom Arteon SE R-Line, which is front-wheel-drive, begins at $41,945, together with the $1,195 vacation spot cost. The opposite two trims come commonplace with all-wheel drive: the SEL R-Line at $46,745 and SEL Premium R-Line at $50,745.
Even the bottom Arteon could be very well-equipped. It consists of 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, adaptive dampers, proximity entry and push-button begin, blind-spot warning, entrance and rear parking sensors, three-zone computerized local weather management, leatherette upholstery, eight-way energy entrance seats with four-way lumbar and heating, the Digital Cockpit instrument panel, 8-inch touchscreen and wi-fi cellphone charging. For 2022, the bottom Arteon additionally will get the R-Line look package deal of assorted gloss-black exterior trim and paddle shifters.
Key upgrades with the SEL embody 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, leather-based upholstery, driver reminiscence settings and the additional driver help options listed within the part under. The SEL Premium then provides 20-inch wheels, energy trunk lid, an enhanced parking digital camera system, rear-seat local weather management, a heated steering wheel, a massaging driver seat, ventilated entrance seats and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
As with different Volkswagens, there aren’t any manufacturing unit choices.
What are the Arteon security scores and driver help options?
Each Arteon consists of ahead collision warning with pedestrian detection and computerized emergency braking, plus blind-spot and rear-cross visitors warning. The SEL trims add lane-keeping help and adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality.
The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security named the 2022 Arteon a High Security Choose, its second-highest award. It acquired the best-possible scores in crash exams, in addition to for its computerized emergency braking system’s vehicle-to-vehicle entrance crash prevention. Its vehicle-to-pedestrian efficiency was sufficiently ranked excessive as nicely. Its base LED headlights have been rated “Poor,” nevertheless, whereas the SEL’s adaptive items got the best-possible “Good.”
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