Summary
The Volkswagen Arteon was a large five-door liftback (and, from late 2020, also available as an estate) based on the Volkswagen Passat. It was launched in 2017 and received a mid-life update in mid-2020. It was discontinued in 2023 and has not been replaced.
Volkswagen appeared to work from the same German-English dictionary as Mercedes-Benz as it insisted on referring to the estate as a ‘Shooting Brake’, which it absolutely wasn’t. As well as regular petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid models, there was also a high-performance Arteon R model.
The Arteon was praised for its comfort, equipment levels and practicality – especially its load space. However, the interior was considered a bit dreary and its pricing put it right in the same ballpark as premium rivals from Audi and BMW, which offeredbetter driving dynamics and more prestige.
As of February 2026, the Volkswagen Arteon has a Used Car Expert Rating of C with a score of 63%. It gets a good grade for its low CO2 emissions, but the rest of its grades are average to poor.
Key specifications
Body style: Mid-sized liftback and estate
Engines: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid
Price when new: From £41,890
Launched: Summer 2017
Last updated: Summer 2020
Discontinued: Autumn 2023
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon is a dramatically styled hatch with a luxury feel that takes on premium executive rivals.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“This is the cheapest Arteon on sale, and is an appealing proposition for private car buyers. Performance is adequate rather than ferocious, and it’ll accelerate up to the national speed limit as fast as you need it to, but without any drama or fuss.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic
Score: 8 / 10
“VW’s latest push into a premium market sector is a stylish, comfortable and capable attempt. Sure, a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is better to drive and an Audi A5 Sportback more luxurious, but the Volkswagen Arteon’s more distinctive look will get it noticed in the company car park.”
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Estate 2020
Score: 8 / 10
“Like a traditional estate but sleeker, the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake is stylish family transport for those not sold on the SUV craze but need something more exciting.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon is an appealing prospect. Trouble is, the Audis and BMWs it competes with have much the same virtues, along with more desirable premium badges, and yet these rivals aren’t much more expensive than the VW, either to buy or to run.”
Read review
Business Car
Model reviewed: Shooting Brake
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkwagen Arteon Shooting Brake would be rewarding to use as a company car.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Shooting Brake estate (2020)
Score: 6 / 10
“The Arteon is a fantastic motorway cruiser, with an impressive ride even without adaptive damper trickery and a quiet petrol engine.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon defies ready categorisation: bigger than a Passat, sleeker than a Skoda Superb, fancier than a Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia, more passenger-friendly than an Audi A5 Sportback. It’s heavy and on the expensive side.”
Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic 190hp
Score: 9 / 10
“If you’re after a long-range cruiser that’s a bit different from the Audi, BMW and Mercedes models that have placed a monopoly on the segment, then the Volkswagen Arteon could be for you.”
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon is a polished all-rounder, with the potential to upset premium rivals.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic R-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“The R-Line trim level adds sporty looks to VW’s flagship saloon but doesn’t change the relaxed driving experience”
Read review
Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon has cool exterior design and a big boot, but it’s expensive, and the interior and the way it drives could do with a bit more wow factor.”
Read review
Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic R-Line estate (Shooting Brake)
“Good looking and practical with a high-quality cabin, the Shooting Brake is a neat addition. Its minimal cost over the fastback should allow it to grab attention within the improved Arteon range.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol manual Elegance
“It’s a very stylish and well-priced four-door coupe, albeit the Passat saloon roots are there. The downside is that there’s a hefty price walk of thousands of pounds to get from the humble Passat to the Arteon.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre diesel automatic Elegance
“Technology impresses more than the driving experience, and the interior could be a bit more special, but the Volkswagen Arteon is a classy alternative to the existing flash four-door coupes.”
Read review
Evo
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 280hp R-Line
Score: 7 / 10
“Handsome yet understated Arteon is fast, refined and capable, but you pay for the privilege.”
Read review
Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Even in more powerful variants, the Volkswagen Arteon isn’t exactly a thrilling drive. But that’s not what you buy an Arteon for. If you’re looking for something that stands out, feels extremely upmarket but you’re not too worried about the badge on the bonnet, the Arteon could be the car for you.”
Read review
Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Available as a Fastback saloon or Shooting Brake estate, the Arteon is a more stylish alternative to a Volkswagen Passat. But be warned: top-spec versions of the Arteon can breach £50,000, pushing the Volkswagen well into upmarket territory.”
Read review
Motors
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon is a rare thing in the car world, as it manages to both look the part and be exceedingly practical at the same time.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Volkswagen Arteon is a supremely competent car. The question is whether you, as a buyer, value this competency over the image and also the driving dynamics offered by more recognisably premium competition.”
Read review
The Sun
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic R-Line
“If most of your miles are done in a company car, the VW Arteon is something to aspire to. This is the car David Brent will drive in five years’ time when he is hitting his targets.”
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic 280hp AWD R-Line
Score: 6 / 10
“I simply couldn’t think of anyone I’ve met, or even seen, who might want a good-looking four-door coupé that’s huge in the back and ordinary at the front, with a VW badge and a 40 grand bill” (Jeremy Clarkson)
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 1.4-litre petrol/electric plug-in hybrid eHybrid Elegance liftback
Score: 8 / 10
“It isn’t flawless but, on balance, the Volkswagen Arteon eHybrid is a solid effort. Perhaps a little expensive, but not so much so that you couldn’t justify it if you were in the market for a PHEV and really liked its styling, especially given it’s more polished than a Passat and more stylish than a Superb.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“There’s little doubt the Volkswagen Arteon is a fine car with a smooth ride and lots of space, but whether or not it can tempt buyers out of their Audis and BMWs is another matter.”
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Good looking, spacious and well equipped, but it’s missing on that oh-so-important ‘buy-me’ factor…”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: July 2017
Date expired: January 2024
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 96%
Child protection: 85%
Vulnerable road users: 85%
Safety assist: 82%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Volkswagen Arteon was not assessed by Green NCAP during its production life.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of February 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen Arteon to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us from new car warranty and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the Arteon, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score |
| Petrol models | 35 mpg | D |
| Diesel models | 43 mpg | C |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 234 mpg | A |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 176 g/km | D | ||
| Diesel models | 144 g/km | C | ||
| Plug-in hybrid models | 28 g/km | A |
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Plug-in hybrid models | 37 miles | E |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 28 | C |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £233 | C |
| Year 2 | £602 | C |
| Year 3 | £987 | C |
| Year 4 | £1,271 | C |
| Year 5 | £1,713 | C |
| Overall | £4,806 | C |
When its comes to running costs, the Volkswagen Arteon is a pretty mixed bag, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel economy is disappointing for petrol models and fairly average for diesel-engined versions. The plug-in hybrid models look amazing on paper, but this is largely thanks to ridiculous EU/UK government lab tests that are completely inadequate for plug-in hybrids. There is no way you will ever travel for 234 miles on a single gallon (4.5 litres) of fuel and some electricity…
The battery range of the plug-in hybrid model is also below average when compared to rivals, with a 37-mile range unlikely to cover most of the weekly driving without using any petrol.
Compared to the rest of the mid-sized saloon sector, the car’s service and maintenance costs are pretty average, as are insurance premiums.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volkswagen Arteon has received
2019
- Tow Car Awards – Overall winner + 1,550-16,99kg category winner
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volkswagen Arteon, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Alfa Romeo Giulia | Audi A4 | Audi A5 Sportback | BMW 3 Series | BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé | Ford Mondeo | Jaguar XE | Kia Stinger | Mazda 6 | Mercedes-Benz CLA | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | Peugeot 508 | Subaru Levorg | Vauxhall Insignia | Volkswagen Passat | Volvo S60 | Volvo V60
The Arteon is conceptually similar to the Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLA – all of which are lower and sleeker versions of more mundane models (the A4, 3 Series and A-Class, respectively). But the fact that the Arteon is essentially a reworked Passat means that it also competes with a wide range of other models, including the Passat itself.
Buy a Volkswagen Arteon
If you’re looking to buy a new or used Volkswagen Arteon, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car
Find your next used car with Motors. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more
