Lifestyle Motoring
ARTEON
Unveiled Arteon. VOLKSWAGEN’S UNOFFICIAL CC REPLACEMENT HAS ARRIVED IN THE FORM OF THE ARTEON, A FIVEDOOR COUPE WITH MAJOR ASPIRATIONS. CONOR FORREST GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL TO DISCOVER MORE.
The name itself brings some mysterious or mythological being to mind – an ancient Greek god, or perhaps Hercules’ dog. It’s actually a rather distinct-looking five-door coupe made by Volkswagen, sitting just above the Passat in their current line-up (formerly occupied by the CC). First things first – the elephant in the room. The Arteon could be described as a Passat-and-a-half, but it’s quite a bit more expensive than its little brother. My mid-spec Elegance model with a couple of extras (think sunroof, tech upgrades, winter pack) costs a sizeable €52,497. Even the entry-level version will set you back a cool €41,495. So is it worth it? To be honest, it’s a little hard to justify the price-tag, but you do get quite the bang for your buck. If it’s comfort and proper quality you’re after, the Arteon delivers in spades. Regardless of the surface, the body soaks up the punishment. Steering is perfectly balanced, more so than any other car I’ve driven in recent months. Driving dynamics are impressive and there’s never a hint that it can’t cope even on wet and windy roads, though it’s more of a motorway cruiser than a weekend thrillseeker. Despite its size (5cm longer than the Passat), it’s easy to park, and it’s well-insulated to boot. Standard spec includes a multi-function steering wheel, digital instrument clusters, handy 12V and 230V outlets, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a variety of safety features including predictive cruise – a nifty piece of tech that uses GPS and radar to maintain distance from the car in front
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15/03/2018 12:16