Volkswagen Arteon variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £26,999. Borrowing £24,299 with a £2,700 deposit at a representative APR of 7.9%.

48 monthly payments
£362.27
Fixed interest rate
7.9%
Total amount payable
£32,848.77
Cost of credit
£5,849.77
Optional final payment
£12,760.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Volkswagen Arteon buying guide

What Volkswagen Arteon trim levels are there?

SE opens the range, with LED headlights, three-zone climate control and an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The more popular Elegance trim is next, with heated front seats, keyless entry, a powered tailgate and VW’s Travel Assist driver aid that takes the strain out of long journeys.

R-Line adds a sharper body kit, privacy glass and bigger wheels, plus 30-colour ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof to make the interior feel very airy. At the top of the range is the fast Arteon R, marked out by blue brake calipers, silver mirror caps and a heated steering wheel.

Volkswagen Arteon interior and technology

If you can get over the fact that the inside isn’t as lavishly designed as the outside, you’ll have few complaints about life in the Arteon. The touch-sensitive ‘buttons’ on the steering wheel could be easier to use, but other controls are instantly findable and feel solid. There is a quality feel in the Arteon, and you wouldn’t feel short changed if you chose the VW over an Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

The Arteon glides over most road imperfections and is stuffed with technology designed to make long journeys a piece of cake. One particularly snazzy touch is the configurable digital instrument cluster with a number of different info boards.

What’s the best engine for the Volkswagen Arteon?

Under the striking bodywork are some very familiar engines used extensively across the VW Group. There are petrol and diesel engines with 150hp or more, plus a zero-emission-capable hybrid and the Arteon R’s fast petrol engine. The diesels will be best for long-distance drivers, otherwise even the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol is a good pick. That engine is available with a manual gearbox, but most Arteons have a ‘DSG’ automatic gearbox.

Volkswagen Arteon engine range explained

(Most popular) Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TDI diesel

For a car designed to dispatch long journeys with no fuss, the diesel engines are a great choice. The 150hp version can manage 55mpg, while even the more powerful 200hp version tops 50mpg without much effort. On the latter, you can also get 4Motion four-wheel drive that may provide a little extra grip in wintry weather.

Volkswagen Arteon 1.5 TSI petrol

VW’s 1.5 TSI is a very successful installation in the Golf and it works well in the Arteon, too. The claimed 42mpg means it won’t be expensive to run for lower-mileage drivers, while offering plenty of power even a car the size of the Arteon.

Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TSI petrol

For slightly quicker progress without drastically increasing your fuel bills over the 1.5, the 2.0-litre TSI engine with 190hp is hard to overlook. It’s a rarer engine than the 1.5, though, as it’s only available on R-Line trim.

Volkswagen Arteon 1.4 TSI eHybrid

Short of the full-beans Arteon R, the plug-in hybrid is the most powerful Arteon. Its petrol engine and electric motor combine to produce 218hp, for similarly quick acceleration as the 2.0 TSI. Drive carefully and be sure to use the on-board battery pack for the majority of your driving, and you could see over 200mpg and drastically cut your petrol bills.

Volkswagen Arteon R 2.0 TSI petrol

Whether you’re after a rapid executive express or a fast family car, the Arteon R will be of interest. Using the same mechanicals as the VW Golf R, the Arteon R pumps out 320hp and scorches from 0-62mph in under five seconds. It’s fair to say that performance takes precedence over fuel economy but, given the power on offer, the 31mpg figure isn’t too bad.

Your Volkswagen Arteon questions answered

Whereas the VW Passat is a four-door saloon, the Arteon gets a more useful hatchback tailgate that makes it easy to load large items. When the Arteon was facelifted in 2021, the range was broadened with a new Shooting Brake estate, and at the same time a plug-in hybrid engine and a fast range-topper were added.

Measuring in at nearly 4.9 metres long, the Arteon is nearly as long as something like a BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class. All come with front and rear parking sensors, and all but SE come with a reversing camera. The Arteon is about 10cm longer than a Volkswagen Passat, but has a similarly sized boot at just over 560 litres. You might find that headroom in the rear seats is a little squeezed compared to the Passat, due to the Arteon’s more rakish styling, but there should still be enough room for most adults.

Under the striking bodywork are some very familiar engines used extensively across the VW Group. There are petrol and diesel engines with 150hp or more, plus a zero-emission-capable hybrid and the Arteon R’s fast petrol engine. The diesels will be best for long-distance drivers, otherwise even the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol is a good pick. That engine is available with a manual gearbox, but most Arteons have a ‘DSG’ automatic gearbox.

No, the Volkswagen Arteon is designed to run on 'normal' petrol or diesel fuel. All petrol Arteons can run on E10 fuel. For the powerful Arteon R, Volkswagen recommends filling up with super-unleaded (E5) petrol – it's fine to fill up on normal petrol but the engine might not be quite as powerful as when running on super-unleaded.

The Arteon is a premium-feeling comfortable cruiser that's very happy soaking up motorway miles – but it's definitely not out of its depth on twisty roads either. It's spacious inside and has lots of executive tech, plus a choice of trim levels and petrol, diesel and hybrid engines. So if that's what you're looking for, plus a dose of dashing style, then the Arteon is a very good car.

The Arteon should be reliable, as it uses a lot of tried-and-tested engines and parts that are used in a whole host of VW Group cars. With the sheer amount of technology on board, electrical gremlins can pop up occasionally – but that's equally true of the Arteon's main rivals from Audi and BMW. If you're at all worried, consider taking out an extended warranty when you purchase.