The debut of the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon has been a long time coming. We first noticed Volkswagen’s new flagship car teased in 2016, and it arrived within the flesh at a North American auto show in early 2018, but certification issues in Europe meant that the car was delayed world wide. Now, Volkswagen’s new flagship car is finally right here. 37K … Wait, What’s the Arteon Again? When it was introduced, the Arteon had a number of potential powertrain configurations, but as is widespread for these globally sold automobiles, these choices acquired condensed into one for the U.S. Here we’ll get solely a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 268 horsepower and 258 pounds-toes of torque. It comes mated to an eight-velocity computerized transmission and customary front-wheel drive. 1,800 on all the Arteon’s trim ranges besides the highest SEL Premium R-Line, which I examined, the place AWD is normal. The powertrain is likely to be the a part of the Arteon that feels the least luxurious, partially on account of that transmission.
Volkswagen has a superb twin-clutch seven-pace computerized, but the corporate chose to make use of the eight-velocity as a substitute and it isn’t as good. There’s noticeable off-the-line acceleration lag, and shifts aren’t fairly as crisp as they could be. Once the engine gets up into its energy band (round 3,000-4,000 rpm is when it actually kicks), it’s as much as the task of hauling the Arteon round, but keeping the engine in that range can be difficult. What does really feel luxurious, however, is the trip. The Arteon comes commonplace with an adaptive suspension, and it puts it to wonderful use. The suspension, in combination with the excellent MQB platform that Volkswagen uses under the Arteon (and a lot of its different vehicles), make for a pleasant cruising experience. The car rides buttery easily however with out feeling obscure. At both low and freeway speeds, there aren't any bobbles, and it rumbles over even imperfect roads with nary a care.
Overall, the setup is tuned for comfort — even in Sport you’ll feel some body roll in corners, particularly on entry. But by the time you get by way of the corner, the suspension has labored out what the automobile is doing and it stays surprisingly level on exit. The Arteon isn’t a blast to drive like the Kia Stinger, but it surely feels stable and competent in its personal right. Hop contained in the Arteon and some issues are instantly apparent: There’s no skimping on supplies, and man does it have loads of space. The accents that appear to be metal throughout the cabin actually are, higher trim ranges get Nappa leather-based seating surfaces, and the whole front setup appeared acquainted to me. It reminded me of several Audi products, except the Arteon keeps its bodily local weather controls. You can even get the identical 12.3-inch instrument panel show, however right here it’s called Volkswagen Digital Cockpit as a substitute of Audi Virtual Cockpit.
There’s also a ton of area, especially in the backseat. The Arteon is the “spiritual successor” of the CC, says Volkswagen, and the Arteon has a 5-inch-longer wheelbase than the CC while being only 2.Three inches longer general. This allowed the inside to increase — almost all of that added wheelbase went into a backseat that offers 40.2 inches of legroom. One factor to be careful for is that the roofline does start to dip because it strikes to the rear of the car; if you’re taller, you might run into some slight headroom limitations the farther back you lean. There’s sufficient legroom, nonetheless, which you can settle again into the seat nicely and avoid the roof. The inside isn’t perfect — the only charging option in the backseat is a 12-volt outlet, however otherwise there aren't any USB ports or wireless charging mats to assist out with that. I used to be disappointed to see touch-sensitive buttons flanking the multimedia screen, and Volkswagen’s digital show doesn’t offer the identical Google Earth satellite navigation view or the same stage of customization as the Audi system.
But on the entire, it’s a formidable cabin that’s snug for four occupants over lengthy journeys. Waiting for VW’s Luxury Arteon Sedan? Can’t Decide Between a Tiguan and a Pickup? Then, Get Ready Tarok! Given its measurement and worth, the place the Arteon suits in the competitive landscape is open to interpretation. 47,705 — that’s with all the bells and whistles plus the sportier appears of the SEL Premium R-Line (all costs include destination fees). Against other giant sedans, it matches proper between the sporty Kia Stinger and the frumpy Toyota Avalon. It may also fight upward; I feel the Arteon makes a powerful case against premium automobiles like the Acura TLX and the Buick Regal, against which its mix of impressive cabin materials, roominess and journey high quality give it an edge. But what was most attention-grabbing to me was comparing it towards closer kin than that: the Audi A5 and A7, that are additionally fastbacks. 68,995, which puts quite a gulf between the two. And if you carry people usually, though the A7 is simply over four inches longer, it has 3.2 inches much less backseat legroom. I got here away from my time in the Arteon impressed. Its journey and interior high quality, good use of house and value give it sturdy enchantment — but we’ll see if that interprets to gross sales. The 2019 Arteon arrives at dealerships this month. Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and evaluations. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics coverage, editors and reviewers don’t settle for gifts or free journeys from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s promoting, gross sales and sponsored content material departments.
