Volkswagen Arteon 2018 Review – Long-term test #2

The idea of an emotional farewell with a Teutonic, tech-laden passenger car such as the Volkswagen Arteon might seem a little lost on some.

And had you asked your correspondent before the commencement of our recent six-month loan of Volkswagen’s new flagship earlier this year, I’d have agreed.

But I was wrong. Because it turns out Volkswagen’s first major play in the luxury car space has a softer side. A family-friendly softer side.

Returning our Pure White Arteon to its maker (so to speak) earlier this week, it’s clear the up-town VW has left an indelible mark. In all, we amassed 10,000km over the space of six months with the Arteon long-termer, testing its measure as not only an executive express offering but also as an alternative to the modern SUV.

What the Arteon does extremely well is package the latest safety, technology and creature comforts with a honed set of dynamics and outright refinement. Noted, the same thing can be said of many modern European sedans (or liftbacks, in this case), but the relative point of difference with the Arteon is the price: $65,490.

Cons? There aren’t any absolute corkers; rather, the rear seat is cramped for headroom if you’re on the taller side of the ledger and some may find the ride a tad firm for daily duties. It’s a relatively small price to pay given the dynamic skillset on offer, however.

In our final report, we go into the car’s safety suite, cost of ownership and long-term prospects. Previous reviews have covered the car’s long-journey amenity and ride/handling evaluation, and infotainment and packaging.

Our tech story has the full rundown of Arteon safety gear, but in short, it’s extensive.

From full airbag coverage to the latest acronyms in driver aids (ESC, ABS et al.), the Arteon has things covered. It also dabbles in the semi-autonomous space thanks to its ability to maintain lane positioning – with the caveat the system must be constantly overseen by the driver. No unsolicited hands-free operation on VW’s watch, thank you very much.

There are various functions not tested in the space of our six-month loan, like the proactive occupant protection system which pretensions the seatbelts if it detects an oncoming crash from behind. Thankfully.

There’s even a heart-attack mode. It’s officially called Emergency Assist with Emergency Lane Change Assist system, but it kicks in if the car thinks the driver has stopped responding due to a heart attack or seizure. Simply put, the car will pull to the left lane by itself, navigating around traffic, then come to a stop.

The various safety features including Adaptive Cruise Control are neatly portrayed on the car’s digital instrument cluster via clever graphics. For instance, if a slower car is detected in the lane ahead, a graphic will appear as such on the screen as the Arteon slows down to match the other vehicle’s speed and maintain one of three pre-selected distances. It’s all very easy to digest and understand, and helps the driver ultimately garner a better sense of why the Arteon is doing what it’s doing.

All told, the execution and packaging of said equipment is quite convincing, too. The adaptive cruise control function, for instance, will hit the brakes quite smoothly and progressively if it senses an obstacle in the path, and the car’s ability to assist with steering input on the freeway is quite accurate and well measured.

The Arteon suffers the usual litany of alarms and tones should its occupants forget to buckle up their seatbelt, but isn’t as zealous if the automatic tailgate hasn’t closed all the way, for instance. On one particular occasion, this happened when an object unknowingly prevented the tailgate shutting, leaving me to drive down the road with an exposed cargo area. Live and learn.

In all, the Arteon’s safety suite is comparable with the German triumvirate of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, even on cars costing twice as much. Not surprising, given most of the equipment is shared with Audi’s back catalogue.

Without reaching for the crystal ball, it is near-impossible to forecast the long-term prospect of a new car. And this, in essence, explains some of the motives behind motoring.com.au’s long-term car tests: a transparent, real-life account of what a new vehicle is like to live with.

Putting to one side some of Volkswagen’s past indiscretions (yeah, Dieselgate), the Arteon has been a paragon of perfection during our six-month tenure. Across the space of 10,000km it has not so much as given us an erroneous flash-up warning on the instrument cluster; something so common among modern cars.

In fact, the only real reminder the Arteon is nearing the completion of our long-term loan is that its service is due in coming days.

On the maintenance front, Volkswagen’s estimates reveal servicing will set you back $2896 over the first five years. It is quite a hefty figure, no doubt, and compares with a charge of $2010 if you cross-shop the Arteon with a high-spec Kia Stinger (five years and 50,000km), for instance, or $1535 for the Holden Commodore VXR (five years and 60,000km).

Volkswagen’s fine print says the capped price deal includes labour, sundries, replacement parts and lubricants, along with “such other parts determined by Volkswagen from time to time”. Things not covered include brake pads and discs, wiper blades, globes, trims and fuses.

Servicing is spaced at 15,000km/12 months ($443), 30,000km/24 months ($593), 45,000km/36 months ($658), 60,000km/48 months ($759) and 75,000km/60 months ($443), or whichever occurs first.

Elsewhere, the Arteon’s paint finish has held up well and those irresistibly speccy 20-inch ‘Turbine wheels’ have come away unscathed despite a litany of local pot holes and precarious gutters to navigate.

The low-slung, mudflap-less door sills that I originally pictured being resplendent in stone chips and road grime after some open road miles, have also borne the brunt of NSW’s back roads without any visible signs of wear and tear. Ditto the paint finish generally, which sparkles after a good wash.

Inside, the Arteon’s plush cabin has survived daily wear and tear remarkably well. There are no visible squeaks or rattles on our tester, and the contact points around the cabin present as if they were still new.

Ever-so-slight wear on the driver’s seat bolstering is the only visible reminder. In short, it doesn’t sit quite as perkily as it did upon being picked up. But elsewhere, the carpet, seats, and contact points present as new.

We reported a persistent rattle in the dashboard upon picking up the long-termer, but this eventually dissipated to the point it vanished altogether. Go figure.
Would you buy one?

Ah, tough question. The Arteon has been a pleasure to live with and would likely be a pleasure to own, based on our extensive long-term test.
Its merits as a family hauler are proven, and there is enough luxury, tech and performance on offer to satisfy most enthusiasts. And despite initial suspicions, this is a car worthy of establishing a real connection with its driver.

So let’s spin it this way: if I were in the market for a luxury car, then I would definitely consider the Arteon – luxury badge or not. It has been a pleasure.

How much does the Volkswagen Arteon cost?
Price: $65,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 206kW/350Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 170g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP