2020 Volkswagen Arteon

The 2020 Volkswagen Arteon is available in four exciting trim levels namely– SE, SEL, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line. All of these trims get a standard 2.0-liter turbo inline-four engine. It gets an FWD drivetrain as standard, However, all the trims can be equipped with an AWD system for an additional $2,000. Starting at a price of $35,995, the Arteon seems to be a decently priced car. As standard, it includes features like Leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel, Premium color Multifunction Display (MFD), Heated front seats, Volkswagen Car-Net App-Connect, Cruise control, and a lot more. For the base trim, this package seems to be quite a bargain.

Which Trim should you buy?

We lean more towards the all-new SEL R-line trim. It is the perfect balance of luxury and affordability. This trim offers all the modern features you would expect in a premium car. Starting at $41,745 for the front-wheel-drive version and $43,645 for the all-wheel-drive version, it does not burn a hole in your pocket. Some of the standard features offered in the SEL R-Line trim are Power tilting/sliding panoramic sunroof, interior ambient lighting, Heated 12-way power sport front seats including 4-way power lumbar support, and driver's seat position memory, Perforated Nappa Leather Seating Surfaces, etc.

The Volkswagen Arteon has an amazing powertrain that is equipped with 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 upfront which puts out 268 hp and a peak torque of 258 lb-ft. The inline-4 engine is paired with 8-speed automatic transmission which is infamous for its sluggish downshifts. While the engine and gearbox send power to the front wheels as standard. Volkswagen also offers an all-wheel-drive system for an additional $2000.

On the performance front, the Volkswagen Arteon is capable of zipping to 60 mph from a standstill in 6 seconds flat and covers a quarter-mile run in 14.5 seconds. Also, it is capable of hitting a maximum speed of 149 mph which is quite impressive for a 2-liter engine. Unlike some other cars in this segment, the Volkswagen Arteon’s cabin gets quite noisy at high speeds which is a shame when you spend north of $35,000 for a car.

With plenty of performance at disposal and a highly capable powertrain, the BMW 3 Series is quicker than all the other cars in its class. while the Kia Stinger is the second fastest car with a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.7 seconds. When it comes to top speed, Volkswagen slightly has an edge over the BMW. On the contrary, the car with the underwhelming performance is the Cadillac CT5.

How well does the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon handle?

Handling is one of the best things to talk about the Volkswagen Arteon. For a family car, it rides and handles really well. Without a doubt, it surpasses most rivals in its segment. The suspension system is backed by the DCC Adaptive Chassis Control System which works actively to reduce the body roll and keeps the chassis stable at high-speed corners. Also, being a wide car with a relatively low center of gravity, it delivers overwhelming handling.

The Volkswagen Arteon comprises Mac Pherson strut suspension in the front which is quite common among the cars that belong to this segment and weight category. In the rear, it comes with a Multilink suspension to ensure maximum comfort to the passengers. On top of that, the Volkswagen also uses features like Electronic stability control and traction control to retain traction in tight corners.

2020 Volkswagen Arteon Braking Performance:

The Volkswagen Arteon’s brakes are quite sharp and that absolutely makes you feel confident while braking hard. It is equipped with 13.4 inches rotors in the front and 12.2 inches rotors in the rear. Also with the help of four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking on board. The Volkswagen Arteon comes from 60 mph to a complete halt at a distance of just 114 feet, Thanks to its spot-on braking system.

Although all the cars are closely stacked against each other in terms of rotor size, Volkswagen Arteon has the best braking performance in the competition. The BMW 3 Series has the next best braking performance and has a stopping distance of 123 feet. The Cadillac CT5 and Kia Stinger have not been tested when it comes to braking. However, the rotor size of both these cars is akin.

The Volkswagen Arteon uses a small engine like every other car in the competition. However, due to its tremendous power output, it churns sub-par fuel economy numbers. In the city, you can drive the Volkswagen Arteon for about 22 miles with a gallon of gas. On the highway, it hauls up to about 31 miles on a single gallon. Furthermore, it delivers a combined fuel economy of 26 mpg which is good if not the best.

Among the competition, it is the BMW 3 Series that delivers the best fuel economy numbers in the competition. It returns 26 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and a combined 30 mpg. Volkswagen Arteon gains second place in the table in terms of fuel economy. Both the Kia Stinger and the Cadillac CT5, on the contrary, deliver a dismal fuel economy despite having the least powered engines.

The standards of the German car’s interior have been drastically improved in recent years and the Volkswagen Arteon is not an exception. To start with, the dashboard gets a simple yet modern and classy design. The curation of the materials used inside is absolutely first class. To amplify your cabin experience, it sports a distinctive interior ambient light setup. With a Perforated V-Tex Leatherette material for the seats, it feels very comfortable during long journeys.

That being said, it gets one of the spacious cabins when compared to its counterparts. It happens to offer a generous legroom space in the rear which measures 40.2 inches. Speaking of headroom space, it is not quite up to the mark comparatively. As for the cargo space, it comes with the largest trunk space due to its hatchback-style rear door which measures 27.2 cubic feet.

All the cars in the competition offer a similar passenger capacity. However, in terms of the quality fit and finish levels, the BMW offers a superior cabin compared to all the others in this division. The BMW on the other hand provides the highest headroom space of 40.3 inches. The Kia Stinger and Cadillac CT5 are mediocre when it comes to interior space. On the downside, the Cadillac has the smallest cargo space of 11.9 cubic feet. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• Leather/Piano Black Steering Wheel
• Seats w/Leatherette Back Material
• Heated Front Comfort Sport Seats -inc: 12-way power front seats including 4-way power lumbar support
• Leather/Metal-Look Gear Shifter Material
• Aluminum Instrument Panel Insert
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Leatherette Door Trim Insert

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Volkswagen Arteon features an 8-inch touch infotainment system that looks crisp and lag-free. The system consists of modern and intelligent features which are quite intuitive to use. This infotainment system is also connected to an 8-speaker sound system which offers a splendid experience with high definition audio quality. Moreover, the Apple Carplay and Android Auto are included as available. Some other standout infotainment features include:

• Bluetooth connectivity
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 4G LTE enabled Wi-Fi hotspot
• Speed Compensated Volume Control
• Aux Audio Input Jack
• Steering Wheel Controls 

Volkswagen has gone a step ahead in terms of exterior styling. It is one of the highlights of this car indeed. With fresh and athletic exterior styling, it grabs a lot of attention on the road. This new take on the exterior styling is the genesis of next-generation Volkswagen models. As far as the exterior styling goes, it gets a sharp and sleek sport back design with a tapered roofline that is quite aero efficient and has less drag as well. The shape of the headlights just blends in seamlessly with the front grille of the car. It gets LED lights in the front with DRL that merges with the front grille.

The rear fascia looks like it has been inspired by Audi but the rear end has a style and personality of its own. Moving on to the exterior dimensions, it measures a length of 191.4 inches which appears to be one of the longest in its segment. Also, it is the widest car in its class measuring a length of 73.7 inches. As for the ground clearance, the Volkswagen stands 5.4 inches above the ground.

The Volkswagen Arteon might not be a flashy car to drive but it is not unnoticeable either. The BMW will certainly turn a lot of heads in the streets. While some of you would love to have some more attention. Well, in that case, we believe that the BMW 3 Series might be a better option here. It has the most unique styling elements with the right blend of sportiness and luxury. On the other hand, the Cadillac measures the highest length of 193 inches and width as well. Some other standout exterior features include:

• LED Brakelights
• Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers with Heated Jets
• Light Tinted Glass
• Cornering Lights
• Chrome Bodyside Insert
• Front Fog Lamps

Volkswagen always offers uncompromised safety and build quality and the all-new Arteon is a pretty safe car and its ratings from IIHS do the talking. It gets an overall Good rating in all the tests organized by IIHS and has been awarded Top Safety Pick for 2020. Thanks to its robust build quality. However, the NHTSA has not rated it yet. On the features front, it definitely incorporates some sophisticated and modern features into the safety equipment list. Some of the top-notch safety features are:

• Side Assist Blind Spot
• Front Assist w/Autonomous Emergency Braking and Rear Traffic
• Collision Mitigation-Front
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Driver And Passenger Knee Airbag
• Back-Up Camera

2020 Volkswagen Arteon Vs 2020 BMW 3 Series

The BMW 3 Series is the closest rival to the Arteon in many aspects. However, BMW is a notch better than the Arteon in terms of performance, handling, exterior styling and Cabin. However, when it comes to braking, the Volkswagen Arteon edges over the BMW. Apart from that, the BMW seems to be a better option and also delivers sheer driving pleasure.

2020 Volkswagen Arteon Vs 2020 Cadillac CT5:

The Cadillac CT5 is a well-equipped sedan from America. It has been a popular car in the American market but it is nowhere near the Volkswagen Arteon in terms of performance, looks, and the quality of the interior. However, the Cadillac comes with a more spacious cabin and is slightly lighter in weight which gives it a better power to weight ratio.

2020 Volkswagen Arteon Vs 2020 Kia Stinger:

The Kia Stinger is the only driver-focussed car from the brand. It offers athletic performance like the Volkswagen. In fact, it is even quicker than the Volkswagen in the 0-60 mph test. However, it loses out to the Volkswagen Arteon when it comes to fuel economy. Moreover, the Volkswagen Arteon offers a better exterior and interior as well. On the plus side, the Kia is way cheaper than the Volkswagen Arteon.

The Volkswagen Arteon is new to this segment but it trumps most cars in its class in every way. Although it offers a great-looking exterior, incredible performance, and an opulent cabin which makes it a wholesome package, it has some negatives too. The transmission is not very impressive and feels sluggish and the tire noise can be heard inside the cabin at high speeds which might be a bit annoying sometimes. Apart from that, by all means, it is a commendable package from the German automaker. If you are in the market for a sporty and a premium Sportback, the Volkswagen would definitely be a great option. However, there are other great cars worth checking out too.