2.0T SEL 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MOTION Sedan
2019 Volkswagen Arteon

Why would you buy a 2019 Volkswagen Arteon? Quite simply, it should be because you love the look. It's low, wide and sleek, with muscular shoulders, a sexy tapered roofline and a refreshing lack of embellishing details. We know from experience that it really turns heads, which definitely can't be said for most similarly sized sedans. Plus, that sexy tapered roofline disguises a useful hatchback trunk and doesn't come at the expense of the surprisingly spacious back seat. The Arteon offers nearly as much function as it does form. We could see someone falling in love with the Arteon because of these reasons, but there's also plenty to give one pause. For starters, the interior isn't nearly as special – it's all pretty much straight from the VW's parts bin and design catalog. The driving experience can be similarly described, feeling an awful lot like a numb Passat behind the wheel. Then there's the matter of price. Yes, it costs less than a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe or Audi A5 Sportback ­– specifically, a loaded Arteon is about $4,000 cheaper than its similarly equipped Audi corporate cousin. However, the VW's base price is roughly equal to a completely loaded Honda Accord 2.0T and other similarly sized sedans. The Arteon is also generally pricier than the Buick Regal Sportback and Kia Stinger, two vehicles of similar body style, performance and near-luxury positioning. Is its distinctive style, added functionality and Volkswagen badge worth that much? That's ultimately the question one has to answer before bringing one home. What's new with Arteon for 2020? The Arteon is an all-new model for 2020, though it replaces the CC atop VW's lineup. You can read a more in-depth look into its design and engineering in our first drive review. What's the Arteon's interior and in-car technology like? As much as the Arteon wows with its sleek exterior, the interior is conservative to a fault. While Volkswagen's various parts bin controls and switchgear operate with a rich fluidity, they all come together in a design that just isn't distinctive enough from other Volkswagens. True, there are more soft-touch, squishy surfaces, and the analog clock and vertical strakes disguising the air vents add some pizzazz, but regardless of trim level it provides an illusion of true luxury. That puts it in the same space as a top-of-the-line Honda Accord or 2020 Hyundai Sonata, which are considerably cheaper. Indeed, the similarly priced Kia Stinger's interior looks and feels more like an actual luxury car. Every Arteon comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, which is a bit low on the dash relative many competitors, but it also works well. We especially like the satellite radio layout that presents large, clear icons for each of your favorites station as well as what they are playing. Standard Apple CarPlay works well with VW's system as well (Android Auto is standard, too). The SEL trim levels include VW's Digital Cockpit, which replaces the instruments with one large display. It's configurable, looks pretty …
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