The Volkswagen CC has been an excellent mid-size sedan from the German carmaker, but the Volkswagen Arteon has now replaced it. In this article, we look at the 2019 model, to find out whether it is the best bang for the buck.
Under the hood, all the Arteon trims will have a Turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that delivers 258 pound-feet of torque, without lag at 1950RPM, which is so impressive. Unfortunately, there is only one transmission: 8-speed automatic. When it comes to the drivetrain, at least we have some variations. The standard configuration is a FWD set up. However, the SE and SEL trims can be customized with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system at an extra amount of money. The SEL Premium is the only Arteon trim that comes with the 4Motion AWD system. If you want power, this is the best choice as it displaces half of the power to the rear axle. The Normal and Sport drive modes come in handy on the highway and when out for an off-road adventure. Also worth mentioning are the 12 standard adaptive damper settings for a smooth ride, regardless of the road surface.
One of the easily noticeable aspects of the 2019 Arteon is the five-inch longer wheelbase and a 2.3-inch longer body. The combination provides more space and consequently, comfort in the cabin. Talking of the cabin, the rear seat boasts spacious 40-inch legroom, which is more spacious than that of the CC, by almost 3 inches. At 37 inches, the headroom has also been improve
d, though it is negligible. Average passengers will fit in comfortably, but those above 6 inches might struggle a little bit. Well, this is not a significant concern as it is a mid-sized sedan. For storage, you get an ample 27.2-cubic feet cargo space, under the rear hatch. You can increase storage space by folding split back seat to get a crossover’s storage space – 55 cubic feet!
When it comes to the interior, the base model isn’t that impressive. The standard features include an 8-inch Infotainment system, support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, 3-zone climate control, blind-spot monitor, among others. The higher trims like the SEL and add-ons like adaptive cruise control, leather seats, and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster also makes this model better. As for the SEL Premium, you get a massaging driver’s seat, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, a power rear hatch and driver assistance features like parking assist, lane-keeping assist and surround view camera, to mention but a few.
At the time of writing this review (May, 2019), the release date for the 2019 Volkswagen Arteon had not been confirmed, but probably, it should be made available in summer. There are three trims; Arteon SE ($35,800), Arteon SEL ($39,935) and the Arteon SEL Premium ($44,945). The values could change, who knows?
