Despite being the “people’s car,” Volkswagen, the biggest automaker in Germany, occasionally strives to upgrade.
That applies to the Volkswagen Arteon for 2021. The goal of VW’s flagship vehicle is to provide a little extra luxury without going over budget. VW aims to distinguish the Arteon from its more affordable versions primarily through appearance, a plusher interior, and an extensive list of technological amenities.
The Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, and Kia Stinger are rivals of the Arteon in the decreasing market for prestige vehicles from mainstream manufacturers. But VW is so sure of the Arteon’s success that it even listed the Acura TLX and Infiniti Q50 as rivals. However, as we shall see, the Arteon is lacking one essential feature that those expensive manufacturers provide.
The VW Arteon was introduced for the 2019 model year, however it receives a significant facelift for 2021. It also gets revised aesthetics and a different equipment list, as well as the most recent MIB3 infotainment system, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist driver aids. The entry-level Arteon SE with front-wheel drive starts at $38,190, but our test vehicle was the top-of-the-line SEL Premium R-Line model with 4Motion all-wheel drive and a base price of $48,190.
Interior and exterior
The style of the Arteon is its key selling feature. It still looks like a VW, but it’s not as conservative-looking as the company’s other models. The Arteon was given a wider stance, short front and back overhangs, and a low roof, similar to “four-door coupes” from luxury brands like the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, by VW’s designers who used the traditional Detroit formula of “longer, lower, wider.” Big wheels neatly fill up the wheel wells, measuring 18 inches, 19 inches, and 20 inches for the SE, SEL, and SEL Premium, respectively.
For the 2021 model year, VW gave the Arteon some cosmetic enhancements, but you’ll have to look hard to see the alterations. The chrome bars on the grille as well as the front air intakes were modified. The previously optional R-Line aesthetic package is now standard on SEL and SEL Premium models. The addition of a rear spoiler and an LED light bar in the grille gives the vehicle sharper design features (all trim levels get LED headlights and taillights as standard equipment).
The Arteon’s modern design sacrifices passenger space. The Volkswagen Passat, which has a more traditionally shaped body than the Arteon, has more front and rear headroom due to its higher roofline. The Arteon has a little bit greater back legroom because of a longer wheelbase than that sedan, which also has better front legroom.
It still looks like a VW, but it’s not as conservative-looking as the company’s other models.
The Arteon’s rivals’ front headroom and legroom are also the worst. In terms of rear headroom and legroom, VW is second only to the Toyota Avalon, ahead of the Nissan Maxima and Kia Stinger.
The Arteon lacks a traditional trunk in favor of a rear hatch, just like the Stinger. The VW has far more cargo room than the Kia, Nissan, or Toyota, with 27.2 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. Additionally, the rear seats may be folded to increase cargo space by up to 56.2 cubic feet.
The minimalist interior design is typical of VW and is both practical and aesthetically pleasant. Design professionals avoided the interior of the Toyota Avalon’s visual clutter, and controls are positioned just where you need them. The inside materials of our SEL Premium test car felt adequate for the car’s price, despite the fact that material quality varies somewhat across VW’s portfolio. While the SEL and SEL Premium trim levels come standard with Nappa leather, a better grade than is often seen in this market, the base SE vehicles’ upholstery is V-Tex leatherette.
Driver assistance, tech, and infotainment
For the 2021 model year, the Arteon receives some noteworthy technological improvements, including VW’s newest MIB3 infotainment system. In addition to multiple device pairing, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and USB-C ports are now available. Standard on SEL Premium versions is a third port for the second row, in addition to the two ports for front-seat occupants. Additionally included as standard equipment are a SiriusXM satellite radio receiver, an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot, and support for Amazon Alexa. The SEL and SEL Premium trim levels also come standard with wireless phone charging, and the SEL Premium has a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.
The 2021 Arteon retains the same 8.0-inch touchscreen as the device from the previous year, despite running a different operating system. The instrument cluster screen for the 10.0-inch Digital Cockpit remains, although it is now a standard feature on all models. The panels don’t feel much different to operate when compared to the outdated MIB2 system because they have identical images and menu designs. That’s not a terrible thing because the UI was still simple to use, but MIB3’s improved smartphone connectivity appears to be the key advantage, not the display. We also didn’t like the additional haptic controls VW added to the steering wheel and dashboard. However, they lacked the tactile sense of true analog controllers and required intentional pushing like ordinary buttons.
The interior is minimalist in style and has a great aesthetic appeal.
The 2021 Arteon receives two new driver-assist technologies in 2021, Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, but only on the more expensive SEL and SEL Premium variants. The car can steer, accelerate, and brake on highways with clearly marked lanes thanks to Travel Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering (you still have to keep your hands on the wheel at all times, though). Emergency Assist, which is intended for instances in which the driver is incapable of operating the vehicle, continuously checks the driver’s alertness and will come to a halt if no activity is seen. Additionally, standard features for all Arteon models include forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring.
The Arteon’s immediate competitors do not provide a service that is comparable to Travel Assist or Emergency Assist. Thankfully, we never had to put Emergency Assist to the test, but Travel Assist demonstrated how far this technology still needs to advance. When we modified the predetermined cruising speed, the system took a little while to react. While it was able to keep the Arteon in its lane, it tended to steer late, enabling the vehicle to approach the yellow or white lines quite closely. A newbie human driver would typically make the error. Surely a machine would be preferable?
Driving knowledge
The Arteon provides an exceptionally smooth driving experience, although it lacks sportiness compared to its competitors.
VW only offers a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive as the only available drivetrain options. Although it is not standard on the base SE model, all-wheel drive is an option on the SEL trim level and comes as standard on the SEL Premium.
In comparison to the Arteon’s 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon have more power. The larger V6 engines that are standard in the Japanese sedans have about the same torque as the turbo-four in the Arteon and both produce about 300 horsepower. The standard four-cylinder engine in the Kia Stinger has less power than the base engine in the Arteon, but a 3.3-liter twin turbo V6 with 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque is also an option. Both the Stinger and the Avalon have all-wheel drive options, although Toyota only provides it with a less potent four-cylinder engine.
Even on winter-damaged roads with crater-sized potholes, the ride quality was impressive.
The Maxima and Stinger were created to be sporty, and even the Avalon now offers a TRD performance option. However, large cars like the Arteon have always prioritized comfort above performance. Simply put, the Arteon lacks any defense against that. Although it isn’t slow, the acceleration doesn’t exactly cause you to recline. The Arteon doesn’t have the floaty feeling often associated with large automobiles, but the handling is precise and there isn’t any sense of urgency either.
The Arteon is fantastic at a slower pace. The adaptive standard suspension performed a superb job of blending comfort and handling. Even on winter-damaged roads with crater-sized potholes, the ride quality was impressive. The transmission’s jerky shifting and what we considered to be excessive tire noise were the only things we had to complain about.
The Arteon has all the makings of an excellent commuter or long-distance cruiser, but it also has the makings of a terrific driver’s car. Alongside the normal version, we’d love to see a tauter, livelier version (similar to the Arteon R marketed in Europe).
Fuel efficiency and safety
The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon has combined fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg (22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive and 24 mpg (20 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive. That’s not awful, but only because vehicles like these aren’t frequently built with fuel efficiency in mind. The Toyota Avalon Hybrid, which has a combined fuel economy rating of 43 mpg, is the lone exception.
With perfect “Good” ratings in every crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon a “Top Safety Pick.” Due to the Arteon’s standard headlights’ poor ratings, it did not receive the top “Top Safety Pick+” designation. The 2021 model should maintain those grades. For the 2021 Arteon, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t released crash test results.
In addition to two years of free scheduled maintenance, VW gives a four-year, 50,000-mile new car guarantee that is transferable to subsequent owners. In addition to a three-year, 36,000-mile new car guarantee, Nissan and Toyota both provide a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. With a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile limited warranty, Kia outperforms the competition. VW doesn’t enjoy the same level of reliability that the Korean and Japanese brands do.
How DT would set up this vehicle
You must get the top-of-the-line SEL Premium R-Line model if you want the most technology. All of the technological features from lower trim levels, such as the Travel Assist and Emergency Assist driving aids, wireless phone charging, and traffic-sign recognition, are included, in addition to parking assistance and the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Along with standard all-wheel drive, heated and ventilated front seats, and a massaging driver’s seat, the SEL Premium also has.
Our view
In order to gain distinction and support larger price tags, vehicles like the VW Arteon often serve up more of everything – more power, more space, and more creature comforts. VW raises the bar.
The Arteon offers many high-end features, including the newest smartphone connectivity and Nappa leather, but it also has a more sophisticated appearance than its competitors. While the Kia Stinger falls short of the Arteon in terms of interior quality, technological amenities, and overall refinement, the Nissan Maxima and Toyota Avalon feel like larger versions of the other sedans from their respective manufactures.
Although it costs more than a true luxury car, VW’s flagship has a true luxury car feel. Our top-of-the-line SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle was priced reasonably close to a mid-level Acura TLX, a vehicle that VW views as a rival. Even though the Arteon lacks some of the Acura’s more high-tech features, such as its ELS Studio audio system, the actual difference can be felt when driving on a winding road. The Arteon is capable of many things, but it is not sporty.
Do you need one?
Yes. Be not a snob about badges.
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