Back in 2007, Volkswagen thought it would be a good idea to develop a large coupe with a heavily sloped roof. Some of you from way back then know it as the Passat CC, while more recently it has dropped the “Passat” name. Volkswagen had big ambitions for the CC, calling it a “sports sedan” and projecting sales of at least 300,000 over the first seven years of production. But, the CC is often overlooked and has performed very poorly. Fast forward to 2017 and VW has decided to usher in a successor to the last-gen CC and it comes complete with a name change. Now going by the name Arteon, the car now rides on VW’s MQB platform and will be offered with a number of standard features that includes LED lights outside, a progressive steering system, 18-inch wheels, and a handful of engines that offer a power output that ranges from 148 horsepower all the way up to 276 horsepower. You can have AWD with some drivetrain options, or only front-wheel drive in others.

Tobias Suhlmann, the man responsible for the Arteon’s design, said, “The athletic lines of the Arteon embody a highly functional overall concept. Form and function find common ground here in a progressive way. Thanks to its long wheelbase, stretched roofline, coupe-style fastback design and large rear hatch, this Gran Turismo provides more space and flexibility than conventional sedans."

But, while it does have a long wheelbase and it follows suit with a number of other sedans that have that low, sloping roof, the new Arteon isn’t all that different from the CC it replaces. So, let’s take a closer look at it and see if we can make out anything that might make this model more successful than the CC.

Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Arteon.

2018 Volkswagen Arteon

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Volkswagen Arteon
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The Arteon may be a “new” model, but I would be a liar if I said it even resembled anything different from the CC it replaced. To put things simply, VW took the blueprints for the CC and made the body lines sharper, and made a few adjustments here and there. Otherwise, as far as the exterior goes, it’s pretty much the same car. If you looked at the silhouette of the CC and the Silhouette of the Arteon, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. But, now that’ I’ve pointed that out, let’s talk about what has changed. First, the radiator grille has been shortened, giving it a lower appearance. The headlights get a new design but are the same general shape. The LED strips of the headlights do travel inward to meet up with the two horizontal slats of the grille – a nice touch. Down below, the nose has been opened up and garnished with four horizontal slats that match the grille, while the lower air dam is now shorter. A thin portion of the fascia separates the mid-grille area from the air dam below. The corner air intakes are now a bit smaller and are now garnished with Audi-like inserts that give it a hint of aggressiveness. The hood is also more aggressive, featuring more defined lines and taller peaks on the side.

Moving over to the side profile, VW rounded off the mirrors a bit and added a new badge the overlaps from the fender to the door. The body line below the waist runs more parallel to the waistline than before and is sharper. Both wheel arches flare out a bit more in comparison to the CC, while the lower portion of the doors now feature a concave area that actually looks pretty nice with the rest of the car’s design cues. From the side view, you can see that the roof is still low slung, but the door windows are now a bit larger, so the roof actually looks like it sits a little higher from some angles. The other thing to note here is that the rear door design has changed dramatically. Instead of the rear stationary glass being integrated into the rear door, the door isn’t quite as wide, and the glass is now part of the upper rear quarter. On a side note, the car does look really awkward from the side when you look at the wheel arches, as the front wheel arch looks excessively taller than the rear.

Around back, the rear glass maintains is steep angle, but the glass is now squared as opposed to having rounded corners. The rear decklid is just a bit shorter but extends farther outward at the tip to create more of a lip. Down below, the rear fascia is quite stylish and features long, sleek reflectors that match the design of the exhaust outlets that are integrated into the lower lip. A chrome strip wraps around the lower base of the fascia and is in-line with the chrome trim at the bottom of the doors on the side. All told, it isn’t an ugly car by any means, but VW didn’t do a whole lot to garner more attention than it got with the CC.

Competing Designs

Audi A5 Sportback

Lexus ES

Of the competitors out there, the most prominent in this segment is the Audi A5 Sportback. It was updated for the 2017 model year and features a similar look as far as muscular wheel arches and distinctive lines go. There are small, sleek lights all the way around and sporty fascias in the front and rear. It does sport that massive Audi grille, so that gives the front end a bit of a flatter look. Much like the Arteon, the A5 Sportback features a low slung roof and even has a similar side profile with one body line between the waistline and the door handles to go with a protrusion from the doors a little farther down.

Infiniti Q50

Outside of the A5 Sportback, the Arteon will also compete with the same cars the CC had to compete with. This includes models like the Lexus ES and the Infiniti Q50. The Q50 is about mid-way through its first generation and took a mild update for the 2016 model year. If you’re looking for something that is aggressive to look at that features a stylish side profile, the Q50 is for you. On the other hand, the Lexus ES is fairly toned down in comparison but features that massive “spindle” grille and sleek corner air changes that help to emphasize its sporty character. Needless to say, the competition is pretty stiff for the Arteon.

Lexus ES

Infiniti Q50

Audi A5 Sportback

Volkswagen Arteon

Wheelbase (inches)

111.0

112.2

111.18

111.69

Overall Length (inches)

193.3

188.3

186.33

191.41

Overall Width (inches)

71.7

71.8

72.55

73.66

Overall Height (inches)

57.1

56.8

54.56

57.08


Interior

Moving over to the interior and you’ll find that there might be some hope for the Arteon after all. To start things off the dash has been redesigned and is so simplistic in nature that it’s almost ridiculous. The dash pad is flat and uneventful while the face is nothing by HVAC vent from left to right, with the only break in between being the instrument cluster and an analog clock that resides right in the middle. A small row of buttons sits just below the clock and is embedded in a trim insert that runs the full width of the dash and visually links the dash to the doors. The door trim panels are simplistic but attractive, featuring a spacious cubby in the lower section and a flat armrest that is only impeded by the window control buttons and the pull handle. A large speaker resides in the front of the door trim panel but is integrated nicely.

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The center console sits relatively flat but sits a little higher in the front where the sides climb upward to link the console and center stack together. There are no cup holders up front to be seen, but there is a small sliding door on the center console that could reveal a pair of cup holders or a small storage cubby. The seats have been redesign with a new stitching pattern that cuts down on the ripple effect that we saw in the CC. The bolsters on the sides of the seat cushions and seat backs offer ample support. If you opt for the R-Line model, you’ll get even more supportive seats that also get the R-line logo embroidered just below the headrest. Around back, the seats take on a similar design but aren’t quite as supportive. On that note, however, it is quite spacious in the rear, and the seatback has a pull-down section that serves as an armrest and has a pair of cup holders for rear passengers. All told, the interior is visually pleasing, but what about the technology?

Standard features across the line include VW’s Composition Media infotainment system with eight speakers, an auxiliary port, and a USB port. The HVAC system is electronically controlled, and the front seats come standard as six-way powered units. Moving up to the “Elegance” trim will get you contrast stitching throughout, Aluminum-look pedal covers, and heated front seats. On the driver assistance front, you’ll get adaptive cruise control, a cornering light system with predictive beam control, and emergency assist, which will allow the car to slow itself down and steer into the nearside line assuming traffic permits such a maneuver. The vehicle does have GPS and collects road data, but VW has yet to elaborate other than saying that the car gets VW’s digital cockpit, a head-up display, and a new Discover Pro infotainment system with a 9.2-inch display screen is available. The latter of which comes with gesture control.

VW has yet to release official passenger space figures, but available cargo room starts out at 19.9 cubic-feet and expands to as much as 55 cubic-feet with the rear seats folded now.

Competing Interiors

For cars that you might label as entry-level luxury cars, it is really surprising to see the kind of luxuriousness now available. To put it simply, cars like the A5 Sportback, Lexus ES, and Infiniti Q50 all feature just a hint of ultra-luxury that is usually reserved for models on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Take the A5, for instance. It doesn’t feature the divided rear seat (instead, offering seating for three in the rear) but it does come complete with the width-enhancing dash, floating infotainment display, and can be had with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit. Seating is inviting and comfortable, but still basic. Soft touch surfaces can be found on the doors, while a two-tone appearance provides just the right amount of contrast.

When it comes to the Lexus ES, there’s plenty of luxurious features, but the dash takes on a rather odd design. Instead of having more of a wraparound appearance, the dash just comes to a stop at the sides, leaving a sizeable gap between the door trim and the dash itself. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not quite as smooth as that of other models in this segment. The ES also has its infotainment screen built into the top tier of the dash and is recessed quite a bit. It’s a somewhat dated design that makes the dash look incredibly tall from the outside. The steering wheel, door trim panels, dash, and center console at have wooden inserts that really add to the luxury feel. The seats all feature perforated center inserts, while the rear seat, much like the A5, is of the bench type and offers seating for up to three.

The inside of the Q50 also features its fair share of wooden inlays on the center console, center stack, and door trim panels. The infotainment display is integrated into the center stack with a touch panel located just below it for function control. Soft-touch leather can be found on the door panels, dash, center console, and the seats. The seats in the Q50 also feature perforated center inserts but have diamond stitching on the side bolsters. If it turns out that the Arteon ends up with a cabin similar to that of the Concept GTE on Panamera, it will certainly prove itself as a stiff competitor, but decisions based on the interior will be made based on whether or not you need seating for four people or five.

Lexus ES

Infiniti Q50

Audi A5 Sportback

Volkswagen Arteon

Lexus ES

Infiniti Q50

Audi A5 Sportback

Volkswagen Arteon

37.5/37.5

40/2/37.5

TBA

39.36/37.00

Headroom front/rear

41.9/40.0

44.5/35.1

TBA

TBA

Legroom front/rear

57.6/55.0

56.6/56.1

TBA

TBA

Shoulder room front/rear

54.8/53.8

53.2/52.5

TBA

TBA

Hip room front/rear

15.2 cu ft

13.2 cu ft

17.0 cu ft

19.9


Drivetrain

Few details are available as far as what motivates the new Arteon, but it will be offered at launch with six different engines, all of which are four-cylinder, turbocharged mills. There will be three diesel engines and three gasoline engines. The entry level models in TDI and TSI form produce 148 horsepower. The mid-range models come with 188-horsepower units. The range-topping gasoline drinker produces 276 horsepower while the range-topping diesel delivers 236 horsepower. The two top gasoline engines come standard with a DSG, dual-clutch automatic. All engines, except for the entry-level TSI in Germany can be equipped with the DSG. No word on what the entry-level models will get as standard, but I’m willing to bet it will be a six-speed manual. The range-topping diesel and gasoline engines come standard with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard equipment while the 188-horsepower TDI engine can be equipped with it optionally. All other models will soldier on as front-wheel drive only.

Few figures are available, but the range-topping 276-horsepower gasoline engine is rated on the NEDC cycle at 25.6 mph in the city, 38.6 mph on the highway, and 32.2 mpg combined. Whether or not the lesser engines will provide better fuel economy remains to be seen, but given the sheer size of the Arteon, the entry-level model might not be quite so fuel efficient – that’s a lot of car to move with just 148 ponies under the hood.

Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TSI

Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TDI

Engine

2.0-liter four-cylinder

2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel

Horsepower

276 HP @ 5,100-6,500 RPM

235 HP @ 4,000 RPM

Torque

258 LB-FT @ 5,600 RPM

368 LB-FT @ 2,500 RPM

Transmission

Seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG)

Seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG)

0 to 100 km/h (62 mph)

5.6 seconds

6.5 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph

152 mph

Weight

3,783 Lbs

4,030 Lbs

Fuel economy l/100km city/highway/combined

9.2/6.1/7.3

7.1/5.1/5.9


What the Competition Offers

Lexus ES engine.

The Lexus ES can currently be had in two different forms: The ES 350 and ES 300h. The ES 350 runs a 3.5-liter, 60-degree, V-6 that delivers a decent 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the ES 300h runs a 2.5-liter four-banger that is paired with an electric motor and delivers a total system output of 200 horsepower. Lexus has never released torque figures for the hybrid, but we know that it can hit the 60-mph sprint in 8.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 112 mph. Combined fuel economy comes in at 40 mpg. The ES 350, has been reported to make the same sprint as quickly as 5.8 seconds, according to private testing of a 2015 model. Fuel economy for the 350 is significantly lower than they hybrid at 21 mpg in the city, 31 on the highway, and just 24 combined.

Infiniti Q50 engine.

Looking at the Infiniti Q50 will have you looking at more trim-level choices than you can count on two hands. To put it simply, the Q50 can be had in 14 different trims. The Infiniti Q50 2.0t can be had in six different variations, but all offer up a 208 2.0-liter four-banger that produces 208 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy sits at 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The Q50 3.0t is available in four different variations and comes equipped with a twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter V-6 that delivers a cool 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Next up is the Q50 Red Sport 400 that uses the same 3.0-liter V-6 as the 3.0t, but it’s massaged to deliver 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy sits at 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Finally, there’s the Q50 Hybrid Premium that utilizes a 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a 50 kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. Total system output sits at 360 horsepower. The engine delivers 258 pound-feet of torque while the electric motor delivers an additional 214 pound-feet. A seven-speed automatic is used as standard equipment across the entire range.

Lexus ES

Infiniti Q50

Audi A5 Sportback

Engine

3.5-liter V-6

3.0-liter V-6

2.0-liter Inline four-cylinder

Horsepower

268 HP @ 6,200 RPM

300 HP @ 6,400 RPM

252 HP @ 5,000 - 6,000 RPM

Torque

248 LB-FT @ 4,700 RPM

295 LB-FT @ 1,600 - 5,200 RPM

272 LB-FT @ 1,600 - 4,500 RPM

Transmission

6-speed automatic

7-speed automatic

7-speed dual-clutch transmission

Engine

7.1 seconds

6.5 seconds

6.5 seconds

Top Speed

130 mph

155 mph

155 mph

Horsepower

21/30/24

20/30/ 24

TBA

Weight

3,571 lbs

3,662 lbs

3,240 lbs


Then there’s the Audi A5 Sportback that can be had with a series of 2.0-liter gasoline engines, a 2.0-liter diesel engine, or two variations of a 3.0-liter diesel. The 2.0-liter gasoline units can be had with 187 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque or 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The diesel drinking 2.0-liter offers 187 ponies and 295 pounds of twist. The 3.0-liter TDI twins can be had with 215 horsepower and 295 pound-feet or a 282 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque – now that’s a lot of twist, don’t you think?

Obviously, if you’re looking for a hybrid fastback, the Q50 or the Arteon may be for you, but if it’s diesel power that you want, the A5 Sportback will float the bill well. All competitors seem to offer a fair amount of power for anything you might want to do, but we’ll have to wait for VW to drop official specs for the Arteon if we really want to talk about how they all compare.

Pricing

The Volkswagen CC starts out at about $34,500, so I would expect the Arteon to carry a similar starting price. In comparison, the Lexus ES starts out at $38,900, the Q50 starts at $33,950, and the A5 Sportback starts at somewhere around $47,000 at current exchange rates. So, with VW struggling to keep its head above water after its big scandal, pricing could go one of two ways. VW could recognize the fact that it’s in trouble and that the public wasn’t all that willing to pay out $35,000 or more for the CC. This could mean pricing for the Arteon could come in around $30,000 instead, giving the car a bump against the competition and making it more obtainable for customers who are hesitant to trust the brand anyway.

Then again, VW has a habit of thinking that it is better than every other kid in the sandbox (Take the Touareg being priced at nearly $50,000, for example) and may try to suck as much blood from folks as it can, hoping it still sells enough to earn a tiny profit. If that turns out to be the case, expect to see pricing closer to that of the A5, maybe around $40,000 to start. Also, with a high starting price like that, the Arteon won’t be around long, so if it turns out to be a good car, let’s hope VW goes with the lower price point.

Lexus ES

$38,900

Infiniti Q50 3.0t

$40,650

Audi A5 Sportback

TBA

Volkswagen Arteon

TBA


Another Option

Acura TLX

We’ve covered quite a few models that the Arteon may struggle to compete with, but another option out there is the Acura TLX. It’s a baby in Acura’s lineup, being introduced for the 2015 model year. But a brand like Acura knows what customers want, and as such, it comes loaded up pretty well in standard form. It comes complete with 17-inch wheels that are stylish, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, an eight-way powered driver’s seat, and leather seating throughout. And, it looks the part too, it’s got smooth and sleek styling, the traditional Acura beak, and a beautiful side profile. It doesn’t have as much of a sloping roof as models like the Arteon, but those sitting in the rear will certainly appreciate that. Under the hood, you get the choice of two different engines. The base model comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-banger with 206 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque, while the range-topping model gets a 3.5-liter V-6 with 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque – clearly more than the Arteon will offer in its range-topping form at launch. The lesser trim levels can be optioned with the 3.5-liter if you so desire. Pricing for the TLX starts out at $32,000 but can climb to $40,000 easily if you opt for the Advance Package at $3,200 and the Technology Package at $4,050. Going for the 3.5-liter will set you back another $3,450 if you’re not going with the range-topping model and AWD will set you back another $2,200 before everything is said and done. Even with most of the major options checked, it’s price should be right on point with the Arteon, so it’s certainly a model worth considering in this segment.

Read our full review on the Acura TLX here.

Conclusion

After actually seeing the Arteon in the metal, I have to say that it’s clearly a combination of other models under the VW umbrella. You can see some Audi A5 DNA in there, and the rear end is reminiscent of the Panamera (as is the interior, to some extent.) The Arteon is a good-looking car, no doubt, but at the same time, it seems a little too similar to the CC for it to actually garner a lot of interest. Unfortunately, VW is still trying to climb out of the hole it put itself in, and as such, we’re seeing a lot of revised and updated models that are generic or look similar to those that they replace. The Arteon has the credentials to compete in the $40,000 and $50,000 market, but at the same time, VW could probably generate a lot more interest in the vehicle if it keeps the price on the lower side of expensive for now. At this point, the focus should be profit, not high profitability, which is where I fear the Arteon is expected to reside. What do you think about the new Arteon? Is it fresh enough to generate new interest or will it be as big a flop as the CC? Let us know in the comments section below.