2018 Volkswagen Arteon Review
You’re indestructible, because you are Gold!
By Shahzad Sheikh
Click below to watch my 2018 Volkswagen Arteon Review
Meet the all-new Volkswagen Arteon, it’s a four-door – or five-door if you’re counting the hatchback – coupe. Or saloon if you believe that coupes should only be two-door cars. You could even call it a Fastback. So there you go, my definition of the Arteon is, well, it’s no help at all actually.
Okay then, aside from being an SUV it can be whatever you want it to be, although having said that, the AWD can handle some off-roading in the sand as we proved with this car’s predecessor some years ago.
Well at least I can say it’s gold! Well actually it’s not, Volkswagen describes this colour as ‘Tumeric Yellow’.
Nonetheless I’m calling it Gold, because that’s what I perceive it to be and because I really like the song by Spandau Ballet and because the lyrics fit the car – ‘You’ve got the power to know, You’re indestructible, Always believe in, because you are… Gold!’
So let’s settle with Gold four-door coupe then, which is what the old VW CC (formerly Passat CC) used to be.
Although this car is 64mm, 28mm taller and a little wider. So perhaps it’s closer to being a replacement for what used to be the Volkswagen flagship, the Phaeton – which formed the basis for the 2003-2018 Bentley Continental GT .
It’s not quite that big though, but the real big thing about this car are the looks – it’s certainly a stand-out VW with that elongated sleek profile, the low wide grille, low bonnet line and sporty frameless doors.
Now this is the R-Line top of the range version of course and as already hinted at, they all come with 4Motion AWD with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission.
Power comes from a 2.0 Turbo four-cylinder available in two states of tune offering either 190bhp or 280bhp as in this car, and that’ll give it a 0-100kph acceleration time of an impressive 5.6 seconds and a limited 250kph top speed.
The price of this car is AED190,550 ($52k) including VAT. The same engine in Elegance SEL Trim is AED172,737 ($47k). Although prices start from AED139,207 ($38k) for the base S with 190bhp.
It’s practical too. The boot alone is massive under that hatch, and you can drop the rear seats for more space.
Talking of the rear seats, you’d think that style would compromise space, but even for my tall frame set to sit behind myself, I had plenty of leg room, and head room was just about adequate. Nice back here too.
Not as plush as up front though with the full array of VW’s latest infotainment system offering multiple drive modes with which you can fine tune your suspension setting – although I didn’t feel there was a marked difference in the settings.
Plus sporty readouts, a stylish full-width vent across the dash, wireless charging and a fantastic stereo. The centre digital display on the instrument panel has some appealing touches with graphics of the car itself coming to a rest when you switch off etc.
On the go there is torrent of performance aided by reassuring all-wheel drive grip and superb brakes. It’s just as good at cruising fast as it is blasting across town through traffic-logged city streets. It’s not exactly a sports saloon, but it’s does a pretty good impression of one and is a satisfying car to pedal.
Overall then a far more attractive and desirable alternative to the Passat saloon – which admittedly is cheaper and even more spacious in the back, but nowhere near as charismatic. Put it this way, the Passat won’t make you want to do a dance in a sandstorm! This one did.