CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:56 Exterior
2:30 Cargo Space
3:47 Engine and Transmission
4:54 Interior
8:21 Driving Impressions
15:24 Verdict
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2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line is a stylish coupe-like sedan that has been given more power, more torque, and a new transmission which has completely transformed this car. The last one I tested was a 2021 model which was somewhat underwhelming and certainly didn't exceed my expectations.
Sedans and coupes are a dying breed and despite this being one of the best-looking cars you can buy, only 12,000 people have opted to buy one since it was launched in 2019 and that’s a real shame. To put that into perspective the VW Tiguan has sold almost 370K since 2019.
It looks great from all angles, it’s a seriously good-looking car, and the clamshell hood and the flared wheel arches are among the details that make the Arteon one of the best-looking vehicles on the road. From the side, VW's fastback-sedan is somewhat reminiscent of the Audi A7, while the sculpted headlight surrounds are a beautiful design.
There are three 3 flavors to choose from, the SE R-Line, the SEL R-Line, and the SEL Premium R-Line, and as you've probably guessed the R-Line trim is now standard across the range. What's not standard is 4Motion AWD, the base model doesn't get it, instead, it's a front driver and that means constantly howling tires as they struggle for grip.
Prices start at $40,750, my 2022 Arteon SEL Premium was $47,340 incl. destination, and the top-spec SEL Premium R-Line is just short of $50K and gives you a powered liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a Harman Kardon sound system.
In this latest Arteon, VW uses the 4-cylinder turbo from the Golf R that puts out 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, up from 268 hp and 258 lb-ft previously. It’s a tad less than the Golf R has but it makes a lot of difference.
With all-wheel drive and the help of launch control, which kicks in at around 4,000 rpm, 0-60 comes up in less than 5 seconds some 1.1 seconds quicker than the outgoing model. This is not only thanks to the extra power but the fact that the Arteon trades out the 8-speed auto for a 7-speed DSG.
Just because it has a Golf R engine under the hood don’t expect it to do what the R does on twisty roads. The Arteon's chassis has been primarily tuned for comfort, even when you have its adaptive dampers in their stiffest setting. The steering is also quite light, but thanks to the long wheelbase it’s very composed and quiet.
It’s a perfect combination especially since it comes with standard DCC adaptive chassis control that allows the driver to configure the vehicle for normal, comfort, or “sport” driving. I'll be honest it's actually very comfortable in all the modes, even when you have it in Sport. There's an Individual mode so you can dial in the right level of steering, DCC,
This SEL R-Line gets a set of very nice 20-inch rims ($595) with Continental procontact tx all-season tires which are pretty good but I wish they had fitted Summer tires instead.
The 2022 Arteon gets slightly better fuel economy, with an EPA Combined/city/highway of 24/20/31 mpg. Despite a heavy right foot, I averaged 22 mpg for the week.
2022 VW Arteon SEL R-Line Numbers
BASE PRICE: $45,550
AS TESTED PRICE: $47,340
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback
ENGINE: 2.0 liter turbocharged and inter-cooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4
POWER: 300 hp @ 5,350 rpm
TORQUE: 295 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
0-60 MPH: 4.9 sec
TOP SPEED: 128 mph (Governed)
CURB WEIGHT: 3,935 lbs
CARGO VOLUME: 27.19 ft³, 54.98 ft³ with seat area
TIRES: Continental ProContact TX 245/35R-20
EPA COMB/ CITY/HWY: 25/22/30
OUR OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: 22.0 MPG
PROS: Much quicker than before, very spacious, hatchback versatility, fun to drive
CONS: Some turbo lag from a stop