Quick Take: 2019 Volkswagen Arteon
Last week, the Cartrast team got some seat time with the stylish 2019 Volkswagen Arteon. Finished in Chili Red Metallic with a two-tone Nappa leather interior, the German-built Arteon got plenty of looks wherever we drove by. As Volkswagen’s flagship vehicle in the United States, the Arteon can accommodate tall people both in the front and back of the car, with rear-seat passengers getting their own climate control panel and heated seats.
We drove the Arteon on the Laureles Grade in Carmel Valley, where the car proved to be quite an adept handler, helped by its adaptive chassis control and 4-wheel independent suspension. When certain sections of the road became rough, despite the low-profile 19-inch wheels, the ride still stayed comfortable. All Arteons get a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder generating 268 horsepower paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 700-watt 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system alleviated any stress we had in traffic while the overhead view camera makes parking the Arteon a breeze.
Our fully-loaded Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line with 4MOTION test car had an MSRP of $46,210, which is right in line between highly-optioned midsize sedans and base entry-luxury cars. The Arteon is a wonderful alternative to both types of vehicles, especially for buyers who want a classy four-door but don’t want themselves associated with driving a high-end marque.
