If you know me, you know that I pretty much exclusively prefer coupés. There are so many nicely designed hatchbacks, sedans, CUVs, SUVs, etc. out there, but at the end of the day I know deep down I won’t be purchasing anything with more than two doors until I have kids… if that, even.
Coupés are becoming harder to find within OEM lineups as they all move toward crossovers or SUVs to suit consumer demand. However, one emerging trend is the sportback design (or the illusion theroef).
Recently, I had the pleasure of driving the all-new VW Arteon. I’m a huge fan of its premium design and I wanted to find out if it lived up to my expectations of it.
Where It Stands
The Arteon replaces the CC as Volkswagen’s largest sedan. It’s undoubtedly the most luxurious vehicle they offer. Because of the sportback design, it’s often compared to the A5 Sportback from Audi. Its starting price also nudges it into more of a premium category.
How It Drives
The steering on VW vehicles will forever annoy me. I personally feel it’s too light and the feedback is non-existent.
What I do like about the car is that it feels quick despite it only having a 2.0L turbo inline-four.
What I Like
I really do admire the Arteon’s exterior and interior design. Another added plus is the spaciousness.
What I Don’t Like
The driver’s seat has a massage function that made me feel like I was sitting on someone’s lap and I could feel the rise and fall of their stomach with their breathing. It felt really weird.
Also, some of the controls aren’t very intuitive. For example, the heated steering wheel button is to the right side of the gear shifter—not very close to the steering wheel or even the heated seat functions.
Conclusion
The Arteon is beautifully designed and it’s incredibly spacious, however it doesn’t the offer the type of drive I like. It’ll be ideal for someone who isn’t big on the “prestigiousness” of an Audi A5 Sportback and simply wants a car that’s stylish and functional without having to spend as much on an Audi.
Sharnelle Kan 