VW Arteon 280 bhp 4motion – Honest review.
Discussion
Firstly, I do not claim to be a professional driver, nor reviewer but I’ll do my best to capture the car I’ve owned for over 12 months (13k miles). Please also excuse any “grammar” moments.
I'm pretty much a lurker on PH but have owned some nice cars. If I can work out how to post pictures here, I will.
Standing still (8/10)
It’s a big, wide car. I owned an E39 BMW and it’s wider than that. It will just about fit in my garage. It’s also very long, approaching 5m. I’m quite weary down country lanes. Not much fun here. Very imposing though it is, it is not that type of car.
IMHO, it has a “Godzilla” like profile (side on) to its front. Remember, I used to own a Nissan GTR that was the real …………………………………………… never mind.
Much in the vain of the GTR it has rather large hips. The doors are pillar-less and give it a pseudoesque coupe shape. I love the swoop to the rear tailgate and subtle spoiler. It is termed a Sportback by VW, as it has no rear wiper but I think that’s fanciful. Underneath, it’s a Skoda Superb with added badge snobbery.
This car was bought as a director’s demonstrator so it is fully loaded bar heated screen and acoustic glass. Hence the 20” rims. Preferred the silver finish but hey ho. BTW, the head up display is something I really wanted. It’s a gimmick and not used since.
Paint is very soft for a German car. Easily swirled but easily corrected. You would not want to do that too many times as it’s also quite thin hand has a horrible “orange peel” effect. Much like most VWs now. Not the best quality so a mark was docked.
However, the car receives quite a lot of complimentary remarks. Most of the time, I do have to say “no, it’s not the Passat CC”.
Interior (7/10)
Pure Passat inside but that’s not why I’ve marked it down. It’s a nice place to sit. Comfy and has nice touches but (and VW, are you listening?) it has too many squeaks and creaks, especially around the drivers A pillar. Also, some of the plastics are a bit hard. Not really the flagship VW thinks it is.
It has been back twice to VW to sort the creaks and guess what? They can’t hear them. I can, and I’m deaf in my left ear and below 50% in my right! If I put my hearing aids in, well, it’s a bit rubbish.
Thankfully I sourced one with the Dynaudio sound system. It’s great so an extra mark in my score.
SAT NAV is very good although it does take more time than I like, for it to boot up. Postcode and touch screen. These also have the virtual dash too so you can configure what to see dead ahead. Massage driver’s seat is nice, as were the rear heated seats during winter for our boys. Easy to get comfy and feel part of the car.
Accommodation (10/10)
It’s huge inside. Other than the slopping roofline for rear passengers (hasn’t troubled anyone yet) it has wonderful space for 4. The rear middle seat is not sculpted and a little flat so can be tiresome after an hour.
The boot is excellent. It even accommodates a full size spare alloy wheel in the well, along with the Dynaudio subwoofer.
Transmission (8/10)
Standard DSG affair, with 7 speeds and paddle shift. It has several driving modes but if you are in a hurry don’t use ECO or Comfort. If you kick down in these modes, the car will ask you;
“Are you sure about that Sir?”
(ME) “Yes I am”
“No, are you really, really sure about that Sir as you don’t want any mischief”.
AAAARRRGGGGHHH
In Normal and Sport, it responds nicely, although Sport brings with it, more fake V8 sounds than Donald Trump could fake up.
Handling (7/10) and Ride (9/10)
Handling is as you expect. Safe and benign. But it’s a big bus so it doesn’t like thuggish behaviour. Leave that to the Golf R.
In the wet, the 4WD system is very subtle. It expected more from it since my wife had an Audi TT Quattro that was grippier than a grippy thing in Grippysville.
This understeers and then gathers itself up. It comes on Pirelli PZeros. Don’t like them. They seem to be hard but not hard wearing. They are noisy and scrabble for grip. Unbecoming of this type of car. When they are spanked, I will get something better.
Ride quality is however very good. This is a much stretched wheelbase. Even with those tyres and 20” rims, it is more than agreeable. In comfort mode, it’s very soothing.
I’ve set the car in “Individual” mode. Configured everything to NORMAL except set the dynamic chassis control dampers to extreme comfort. A little floaty in the corners but still a nice setup.
Performance (9/10)
Its, just a big Golf R with a slightly detuned engine so offers brisk progress. I haven’t used the launch control but it just monsters away from standstill. It’s genuinely hilarious, getting this to pick up its skirt and hustle. Not sure what it looks like for the bystander though.
In sport mode especially, it’s always in the sweet spot of torque.
Running Costs (8/10)
So far, no consumables but one service recently cost £250. Didn’t feel much different afterwards. I’m a conservative driver (yes I am), and get 35 mpg in mixed driving. I have averaged 40 mpg on a motorway stint. I only use Shell V Power or Tesco Momentum fuel. However, I was forced to buy normal unleaded, as the was desperately low and passing Morrisons. The car felt notably more resistive to drive but averaged more mpg! Go figure.
No warranty claims costed, although some niggles still haven’t been sorted by VW.
Poor sill protection (chips easily), cabin creaks, keyless locking and unlocking (now finally sorted).
Service from two different dealerships has been very, very poor. I’m in the process of making complaints to their head office. Based on the competencies seen so far, expect a fob off.
Refinement (9/10)
Not much to say but a mark deducted for the creaks. My wife has a 2016 Mercedes A Class (AMG style so hard “sporty” setup) and that doesn’t creak. Same miles now as well. The quality of its fixtures and fittings are much better than the Arteon. The quality of the tactile surfaces and buttons are also in a different league.
Summary (8/10)
A very accomplished car that will be an absolute bargain for depreciation lovers everywhere.
It does everything well, with boring confidence, in a beautiful body (much like my wife).
The score would be 8.3/10, but I’ve round down, due to unacceptable dealer service. I will update, when I hear from VW about my complaint, but the car is very nice.
If you are looking for more driving engagement, buy a BMW 4 Gran Coupe.
I'm pretty much a lurker on PH but have owned some nice cars. If I can work out how to post pictures here, I will.
Standing still (8/10)
It’s a big, wide car. I owned an E39 BMW and it’s wider than that. It will just about fit in my garage. It’s also very long, approaching 5m. I’m quite weary down country lanes. Not much fun here. Very imposing though it is, it is not that type of car.
IMHO, it has a “Godzilla” like profile (side on) to its front. Remember, I used to own a Nissan GTR that was the real …………………………………………… never mind.
Much in the vain of the GTR it has rather large hips. The doors are pillar-less and give it a pseudoesque coupe shape. I love the swoop to the rear tailgate and subtle spoiler. It is termed a Sportback by VW, as it has no rear wiper but I think that’s fanciful. Underneath, it’s a Skoda Superb with added badge snobbery.
This car was bought as a director’s demonstrator so it is fully loaded bar heated screen and acoustic glass. Hence the 20” rims. Preferred the silver finish but hey ho. BTW, the head up display is something I really wanted. It’s a gimmick and not used since.
Paint is very soft for a German car. Easily swirled but easily corrected. You would not want to do that too many times as it’s also quite thin hand has a horrible “orange peel” effect. Much like most VWs now. Not the best quality so a mark was docked.
However, the car receives quite a lot of complimentary remarks. Most of the time, I do have to say “no, it’s not the Passat CC”.
Interior (7/10)
Pure Passat inside but that’s not why I’ve marked it down. It’s a nice place to sit. Comfy and has nice touches but (and VW, are you listening?) it has too many squeaks and creaks, especially around the drivers A pillar. Also, some of the plastics are a bit hard. Not really the flagship VW thinks it is.
It has been back twice to VW to sort the creaks and guess what? They can’t hear them. I can, and I’m deaf in my left ear and below 50% in my right! If I put my hearing aids in, well, it’s a bit rubbish.
Thankfully I sourced one with the Dynaudio sound system. It’s great so an extra mark in my score.
SAT NAV is very good although it does take more time than I like, for it to boot up. Postcode and touch screen. These also have the virtual dash too so you can configure what to see dead ahead. Massage driver’s seat is nice, as were the rear heated seats during winter for our boys. Easy to get comfy and feel part of the car.
Accommodation (10/10)
It’s huge inside. Other than the slopping roofline for rear passengers (hasn’t troubled anyone yet) it has wonderful space for 4. The rear middle seat is not sculpted and a little flat so can be tiresome after an hour.
The boot is excellent. It even accommodates a full size spare alloy wheel in the well, along with the Dynaudio subwoofer.
Transmission (8/10)
Standard DSG affair, with 7 speeds and paddle shift. It has several driving modes but if you are in a hurry don’t use ECO or Comfort. If you kick down in these modes, the car will ask you;
“Are you sure about that Sir?”
(ME) “Yes I am”
“No, are you really, really sure about that Sir as you don’t want any mischief”.
AAAARRRGGGGHHH
In Normal and Sport, it responds nicely, although Sport brings with it, more fake V8 sounds than Donald Trump could fake up.
Handling (7/10) and Ride (9/10)
Handling is as you expect. Safe and benign. But it’s a big bus so it doesn’t like thuggish behaviour. Leave that to the Golf R.
In the wet, the 4WD system is very subtle. It expected more from it since my wife had an Audi TT Quattro that was grippier than a grippy thing in Grippysville.
This understeers and then gathers itself up. It comes on Pirelli PZeros. Don’t like them. They seem to be hard but not hard wearing. They are noisy and scrabble for grip. Unbecoming of this type of car. When they are spanked, I will get something better.
Ride quality is however very good. This is a much stretched wheelbase. Even with those tyres and 20” rims, it is more than agreeable. In comfort mode, it’s very soothing.
I’ve set the car in “Individual” mode. Configured everything to NORMAL except set the dynamic chassis control dampers to extreme comfort. A little floaty in the corners but still a nice setup.
Performance (9/10)
Its, just a big Golf R with a slightly detuned engine so offers brisk progress. I haven’t used the launch control but it just monsters away from standstill. It’s genuinely hilarious, getting this to pick up its skirt and hustle. Not sure what it looks like for the bystander though.
In sport mode especially, it’s always in the sweet spot of torque.
Running Costs (8/10)
So far, no consumables but one service recently cost £250. Didn’t feel much different afterwards. I’m a conservative driver (yes I am), and get 35 mpg in mixed driving. I have averaged 40 mpg on a motorway stint. I only use Shell V Power or Tesco Momentum fuel. However, I was forced to buy normal unleaded, as the was desperately low and passing Morrisons. The car felt notably more resistive to drive but averaged more mpg! Go figure.
No warranty claims costed, although some niggles still haven’t been sorted by VW.
Poor sill protection (chips easily), cabin creaks, keyless locking and unlocking (now finally sorted).
Service from two different dealerships has been very, very poor. I’m in the process of making complaints to their head office. Based on the competencies seen so far, expect a fob off.
Refinement (9/10)
Not much to say but a mark deducted for the creaks. My wife has a 2016 Mercedes A Class (AMG style so hard “sporty” setup) and that doesn’t creak. Same miles now as well. The quality of its fixtures and fittings are much better than the Arteon. The quality of the tactile surfaces and buttons are also in a different league.
Summary (8/10)
A very accomplished car that will be an absolute bargain for depreciation lovers everywhere.
It does everything well, with boring confidence, in a beautiful body (much like my wife).
The score would be 8.3/10, but I’ve round down, due to unacceptable dealer service. I will update, when I hear from VW about my complaint, but the car is very nice.
If you are looking for more driving engagement, buy a BMW 4 Gran Coupe.
Nice review.
I had an Arteon (albeit a peasantry 2.0 TDI R Line) for a company car for just over a month, and agree with a lot of your sentiments. Actually really surprised me and I liked it a lot, it felt much more than a posh Passat, also still think they look very fresh.
I'm now in BMW company cars, and concur on the 4 Gran Coupe being a much better driver experience (Arteon was a bit boaty/VAG'y), however as something to tool around in I miss the Arteon!
I had an Arteon (albeit a peasantry 2.0 TDI R Line) for a company car for just over a month, and agree with a lot of your sentiments. Actually really surprised me and I liked it a lot, it felt much more than a posh Passat, also still think they look very fresh.
I'm now in BMW company cars, and concur on the 4 Gran Coupe being a much better driver experience (Arteon was a bit boaty/VAG'y), however as something to tool around in I miss the Arteon!
I enjoyed reading that, thank you.
I've fairly recently gone Audi > VW and for all the things I love I most certainly don't love the squeaks!
Even one squeak in an Audi I'd have thought unusual, in the VW I've just about bodged up the worst one and for the little ones I turn the stereo up.
I've fairly recently gone Audi > VW and for all the things I love I most certainly don't love the squeaks!
Even one squeak in an Audi I'd have thought unusual, in the VW I've just about bodged up the worst one and for the little ones I turn the stereo up.
Maty said:
What's the story behind the plate? Did you pay extra for that? Seems a random car to go to the lengths of a private plate.
Lovely thing though. Very different, bit of a q car, rare and a great write up!
Thanks for the kind words Maty.Lovely thing though. Very different, bit of a q car, rare and a great write up!
The Arteon is a 67 plate. I put my private plate on, that I've had for several years. However, this is on retention now as this plate was spotted on the DVLA website. Looked nice and I think it suited the car so I bought it. Wasn't too expensive (£399). Simple as that really.
The car has been back to the dealer (as mentioned above), and they offered me £500 for the plate.
When I eventually sell the car, it'll go with it.
ANIL-4tdkf said:
It’s a big, wide car. I owned an E39 BMW and it’s wider than that. It will just about fit in my garage.
Good write up.Just on this point i had a E39 and didnt think it was that wide at all - 1800mm. The current Astra is 9mm wider than an E39 for example.
Your Arteon is 7cm wider than E39 but seems about right for most modern cars (awaits next comment about modern cars being too big...)
Having had my Arty for two years this November and having done currently 22k in it, I echo at lot of what you've written up (mines a 280PS as well but nowhere near as heavily spec'd, though I've got the heated screen which was the only option I really wanted, wish I'd gone for the audio upgrade mind)
The ride issue you mention I found was with the optional 20's, on the 19's its not so pronounced hence going for those
I found the MPG less on normal 95 as well as being more resistive to want to go, couldn't get it above 37mpg on the 95 where as I crack 43mpg or more on a run with Momentum (see pic)
Only found the kickdown to be awful in Eco (or E gearbox if you select on Individual, though that said its not as bad as full Eco mode) I tend to ride around in Comfort mode and find it perfectly acceptable for everyday, though you've always got the paddles which I tend to go for rather than kickdown
My sills are ok so far but less can be said about the bonnet, 22k of mainly motorway means quite a few stone chips
they don't squat like quattro Audi's they just get on with it!
The pipes do open in sport mode like the Golf R so you're definitely getting exhaust noise but not sure it sounds like a V8 though
The ride issue you mention I found was with the optional 20's, on the 19's its not so pronounced hence going for those
I found the MPG less on normal 95 as well as being more resistive to want to go, couldn't get it above 37mpg on the 95 where as I crack 43mpg or more on a run with Momentum (see pic)
Only found the kickdown to be awful in Eco (or E gearbox if you select on Individual, though that said its not as bad as full Eco mode) I tend to ride around in Comfort mode and find it perfectly acceptable for everyday, though you've always got the paddles which I tend to go for rather than kickdown
My sills are ok so far but less can be said about the bonnet, 22k of mainly motorway means quite a few stone chips
ANIL-4tdkf said:
I haven’t used the launch control but it just monsters away from standstill. It’s genuinely hilarious, getting this to pick up its skirt and hustle. Not sure what it looks like for the bystander though.
In sport mode especially, it’s always in the sweet spot of torque.
It doesn't need the launch, just planting it in sport mode is fast enough, properly caught out some guy in an EP2 Civic Type R who wasn't expecting something of this size to move as fast as it did! It is genuinely quite amusing In sport mode especially, it’s always in the sweet spot of torque.
they don't squat like quattro Audi's they just get on with it!The pipes do open in sport mode like the Golf R so you're definitely getting exhaust noise but not sure it sounds like a V8 though
ANIL-4tdkf said:
The Arteon is a 67 plate. I put my private plate on, that I've had for several years. However, this is on retention now as this plate was spotted on the DVLA website. Looked nice and I think it suited the car so I bought it. Wasn't too expensive (£399). Simple as that really.
The car has been back to the dealer (as mentioned above), and they offered me £500 for the plate.
When I eventually sell the car, it'll go with it.
I would be inclined to contact the U.K. VW Press Fleet people as they would probably offer you more than £500!The car has been back to the dealer (as mentioned above), and they offered me £500 for the plate.
When I eventually sell the car, it'll go with it.
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