Used 2020 Volkswagen Arteon for sale 

2020 Volkswagen Arteon is segregated into 4 well-defined trim levels as compared to 3 trims that came with the last model year. A new SEL R-Line trim has been introduced for the current model year. All trims are powered by the same turbocharged 2L Inline-4 motor mated to an 8-Speed Automatic gearbox. Barring the base SE trim, all other trims have VW’s 4Motion AWD system as the standard drivetrain.

2020 Arteon boasts of a rich list of standard features such as heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheels, 60/40 split-folding rear seats and 3 months access to Sirius XM services. The list only gets more and more impressive as you climb up the trim ladder.

Which trim do we recommend?

We would suggest you get the newly introduced SEL R-Line trim as it is the best VFM trim in our humble opinion. It bridges the features gap between the mid-level SEL trim and top of the line SEL Premium R-Line trim.

The powerplant for the 2020 VW Arteon remains unchanged from its previous iteration. Thus, the same 2L turbocharged four-banger finds its place inside the hood of this car. This motor is capable of producing 268 horses and 258 lb/ft of pulling force. Transmission duties are taken care of by an 8-Speed Automatic gearbox.

 Apart from the base SE trim, all other trims come with standard VW’s 4Matic AWD system. For the SE trim, you can choose from either an FWD or AWD drivetrain. The shifts are efficient, but there is a noticeable lag. Other than this, the gearbox performs its duties well.

The I-4 unit under the hood of the 2020 VW Arteon is a very potent one. In terms of raw power, it is the most powerful churning out 258 hp. The peak torque of 258 lb/ft is also available at just 1950 rpm which makes it excellent for daily driving in the city. However, this car does not have the best fuel economy. But, you lose some and you gain some. And for the Arteon, you get extra power for fuel economy.

How fast is the Arteon?

The acceleration of the VW Arteon is sure to disappoint you. With the most powerful engine and the AWD drivetrain, you would expect this car to be faster than the rivals. However, with a 0-60 time of 6 seconds, it is the slowest accelerating car in the lot. The quarter-mile run clocks in at 14.5 seconds.

2020 Arteon is the heaviest car of the lot at 3854 lbs. The transmission system is also not the most efficient you will find in the segment as there is a pretty evident lag between the shifts. Combine both the factors, and you have your answer as to why the Arteon is the slowest of the lot.

Talking about the competition, the BMW 3 Series is the quickest of the lot. This Bimmer takes 5.6 seconds to reach 60 mph from naught and the quarter-mile run clocks in at 14.1 seconds.

How well does it stop?

Although the 2020 Arteon might not be as sporty to drive, as Volkswagen projects it, but it does get a sports car like braking setup. In fact, it gets the largest front rotors in the segment at 13.4 inches. All four corners are monitored by ventilated discs and ABS as well.

The Arteon really impresses with its braking. Although you don't get a very firm and confident pedal feel, the brakes are very good in their business, making the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon stop from 60 mph in just 114 feet.

How well does it handle?

If you see any of the VW ads, you would believe that the Arteon handles like an expensive sports car. While it's not entirely true, it is still one of the better-handling cars of the segment. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and the suspension system aided by the DCC Adaptive Chassis Control System does a great job of making the ride a very comfortable one too. The road imperfections are well contained and hardly any would make it’s way to the cabin. However, the same cannot be said for the noise insulation. At high speeds, the tire and wind noise is pretty audible.

VW’s 4Matic AWD drivetrain does an excellent job of distributing the power between the front and rear wheels as required so that you have optimum traction all the time. The sloping fastback roofline also ensures that the Arteon stays glued to the road all the time. The body roll is negligible, even while cornering at high speeds. The XDS Cross Differential System also makes sure that the maximum power is channeled to the outer set of wheels in order to improve the cornering abilities of the 2020 Arteon. The variable-ratio steering system provides a quick response to driver input at higher speeds thus improving the overall handling of this car.

The VW Arteon is not the most efficient car in the segment. The extra power churned out by the engine takes a toll on the fuel economy. If you opt for the available FWD drivetrain with the base trim, this car will travel 22 miles for a gallon of gas in the city and 31 miles on the highway for the same amount of gas. The combined economy figure stands at 26 mpg.

However, if you opt for the higher trims that come standard with VW’s 4Matic AWD drivetrain, the fuel economy takes a further hit. In the city, you will be able to drive the Arteon for just 20 miles for a gallon. On the highway, you would be able to drive a little further, 27 miles to be exact. To make up for the poor economy figures, VW has installed one of the largest fuel tanks of the segment in the Arteon that a capacity of 17.4 gallons.

The Bimmer is the most efficient car in the segment with a combined fuel economy of 30 mpg, followed by the Caddie and the Kia, both with a combined economy of 25 mpg.

The interiors of the VW Artreon are not the most premium in the segment. When you’re locking horns against the likes of a BMW, you have to really bring out the A-game. However, VW missed out on this. Still, the cabin is pretty spacious and comfortable. The dashboard is very ergonomic and everything is within the reach. The view of the road ahead is also adequate, thanks to the wide windshield and thin A-pillars.

The seats of the Arteon live up to the expectations though. They are super comfortable with good bolstering and under-thigh support. The seats are very well cushioned and the Nappa leather treatment feels very soft to touch. The front seats also come with 12-way power adjustment, two-person memory and yes they are heated and ventilated too. The front seats also get massage facility, which is not as good as an Audi or Mercedes though but is still appreciable in a Volkswagen. 

Above all, because of its stretched body, the seats get generous space all around. There is plenty of legroom and headroom for average passengers, even in the back seat. However, taller occupants might feel a bit cramped in the rear seat because of the sloping roofline. Rest assured, the seats of the Arteon are undoubtedly among the best in its price range.

What’s there to keep you entertained?

2020 Volkswagen Arteon comes with an 8” infotainment touchscreen which runs VW’s Car-Net App-Connect interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard across all trims. The higher trims also get a reconfigurable instrument cluster panel and an inbuilt navigation system. Audio is taken care of by 12 speakers and 700 watts Dynaudio premium sound system helps you enjoy your favorite music in concert quality.

How much cargo can it store?

The Arteon is not only sharper on the outside but is also smarter on the inside. Volkswagen’s design team carved out a class-leading 27.2 cu-ft of trunk space despite the coupe profile. The secret lies in the fact that how thoughtfully the stretched up dimensions have been utilized. Not only this, the rear hatchback profile allows folding the rear seats down, which opens up crossover like staggering 55 cu-ft of boot space.

The same formula works with the competition here. The similar styled Stinger GT too gets the fastback advantage, but not as efficiently as the Arteon does. The Stinger offers a healthy 23.3 cu-ft of cargo area which is way more than the other conventional sedans in the segment like the BMW 3 Series or the Cadillac CT5.

What are the creature comforts on offer?

The 2020 Arteon comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a car in this segment. Some of the features that are on offer with the Arteon are

• 8- inch touchscreen infotainment
• 3-inch drivers display
• Satellite radio
• Overhead console with storage
• Leather steering wheel
• Three-zone climate control
• Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
• Electric power steering
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• 8- way power, heated front seats
• Rear ventilation ducts
• Split-folding rear seatback

The Arteon has to be one of the most stylish cars in the segment. The front fascia boasts of a very contemporary look. The straight chrome lines on the grille seamlessly integrate with the bi-LED headlamps. The clam-shaped hood nicely wraps around the bumper giving it a curvy look.

The side profile of the Arteon is sleek. This is has executed the sloping roofline fastback design with perfection. All the car companies, including VW, had tried this design language before, but none could execute it as VW did it with the Arteon. The body lines only add to the overall appeal of this car.

Contrary to the overall design language, the overhang is pretty minimal. The trunk lid is extended to look like a mini spoiler. The LED taillamps extend to the side walls as well as the trunk lid. The highlight of the rear design has been the symmetrical dual exhausts that sit on both the corners.

What are the highlights of the exterior shell?

The beautifully crafted exterior of the 2020 Arteon sports many design highlights. Some of them are

• Liftgate rear cargo door
• Rear lip spoiler
• Frameless windows
• Heated power-folding side-view door mirrors with turn signal indicator
• Front bumper with black rub strip
• Chrome rear bumper insert
• Body-colored front and rear bumpers.
• Fully galvanized steel body material

Safety is very high on the list of priorities at Volkswagen. All the cars they manufacture come with a wide range of standard safety tech. Some of the features onboard the 2020 Arteon are

• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Front and rear head airbags
• Front and rear head airbags
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Blindspot warning accident avoidance system
• Pre and post-collision safety system
• Emergency braking preparation
• 4-wheel ABS
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• Rearview camera

Volkswagen Arteon vs BMW 3 Series

Both of these cars are excellent in their own ways and choose either from the two ultimately boils down to your preference and priorities. There is no two way to the fact that the Arteon is the better-looking car with better utility. However, the Bimmer is more premium and comfortable than the VW. With a significantly better fuel economy, the 3 Series is the better car as a daily driver too. Thus, jot down your preferences on a piece of paper and choose a car that better meets your needs.

Volkswagen Arteon vs Cadillac CT5.

Cadillac CT5 is the largest car in the lot with the longest wheelbase. Thus, if space is what you want from a car, the CT5 is the car for you. In all other aspects, the Arteon is a better deal. It is stylish with better performance and more utility owing to the huge cargo space. The cabin is also more tech-rich than its American counterpart.

Volkswagen Arteon vs Kia Stinger

Arteon and Stinger has adopted the same design language. The sloping fastback roofline makes for a large trunk capacity in both of these cars. The performance of the cars is also very similar. However, we would recommend you go with the Arteon as it the upper hand over the Stinger in terms of reliability and better tech features.

The Arteon is definitely worth your attention. VW has taken its time while designing the car, and it shows on its styling. It has to be one of the best looking cars in the segment. The tastefully crafted body lines only add to the elegance of this car. The engine is also potent and driving this car is definitely a blissful experience. However, the Arteon has its fair share of drawbacks. The fuel economy is lower than most of its rivals. Also, the materials used in the cabin fall behind its competitors. Still, we recommend you give the Arteon a serious look if you are looking for a stylish and practical car.