2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 R-Line Review : Fast(back) love

Singapore - I will not deny that the Volkswagen Arteon is an oddball to the straight-laced, who believe that a sedan should stay a sedan, and a coupe should only have two doors. The same could be said about SUVs with swooping rooflines. The Volkswagen Arteon, sits between the former, being a cross of both a Coupe and a Sedan.

But there is plenty to love here. German fastback now has a new face, and even includes a GTI-like fancy LED strip which connects its headlamps. Visually, it has a similar silhouette to the Peugeot 508 fastback, and a class up (and about the same size), the Audi A5 Sportback, and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe. 

Perhaps i should stir things a little here. The two-litre KIA Stinger, which is as Korean for grand tourer as you can get, is within the same price bracket, and it comes from a different (RWD) school of thought.

Four-door coupes are really a thing, and personally, I appreciate them.

2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 R-Line - inside

Major design improvements to the Arteon’s interior, include the cleaning up of the air-conditioning vents, and a re-design of its controls. VW has also done away with the analogue clock, which felt out of place in early versions of the car.

For the driver, the Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster, has grown in size, from 9.2-inches to 10.25-inches, and its animation graphics have been tidied up. If you find the steering wheel familiar, it is from the Golf R-line and GTI parts bin. 

And then, there are the electric dual-memory sports seats up-front, with adjustable thigh cushions and driver’s side massage... 

You can tell from its relaxed seating position, like its Passat CC predecessor, that the Arteon is designed to be a grand tourer.

Beyond the reworked bits, there are still some bits and bobs which remind you, that the Arteon first broke cover in a time the Mk7 Golf was still around. While I say this, the infotainment operating system feels current, and wirelessly connects for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless smartphone charging is also standard equipment on the R-line car.

One of the things I wish that Volkswagen had addressed, is the not-so-useful head-up display screen, which I feel is too in your face; they should have gone with a neater windscreen-projected unit, or done away with it altogether.

But I have to say that the Arteon has got enough equipment and creature spoils to punch above its weight, and to give cars like the A5 Sportback a run for their money.

The German fastback also has a practical side to it, boasting a 563 litre boot, which can be expanded to 1557 litres, with the rear seats folded.

2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 R-Line - driven

For Singapore, the 2.0 Golf R engine has been dropped, in favour for improved efficiency, and I dare say cost management... well, because of the current COE situation.

The present 2.0 turbocharged four puts out 190hp, which is half the power of the pre-facelift R-Line car. Torque is also down from 350Nm to 320Nm. And while you still get that incredibly quick 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, the grand tourer loses its 4Motion all-wheel drive system. There is an advantage though, (combined) fuel efficiency is now 5.9L/100km, as opposed to what would have been 7.3L/100km previously.

I have to say that VW engineers have done an incredible job in the handling department. Sure, there is that expected slight bit of understeer, typical of a front-driven car around quick corners, but what gets me, is that the Arteon’s suspension feels just so well-sorted. The big part of this, is because the fastback now has the 15-stage adjustable Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) which you can find the Golf GTI (and is also found in both the Skoda Octavia RS and Combi RS cars). This is where you can dial in just the right amount of suspension stiffness you desire.

I would agree with you, if you were to say that the former 4Motion car handled better. It did. But I have to say that having just FWD, the Arteon, in its current guise, has more character around corners.

On the highway, with the suspension set to ‘Comfort’, you will be largely rewarded with ride quality, you would expect to find in a larger, more luxurious vehicle. That is until you cross over heavily patched strips of tarmac. Those 20-inch rims, with thin rubber are also not the best shoes for these moments.

But while most things on the road are good, I feel that more could be factored in, when it comes to noise management. When the DCC is set to ‘Sport’, I notice that the interior significantly picks up on what the suspension transmits from the road. But for most, this may not be a deal-breaker.

Volkswagen's fastback might be in the middle of its life, but with small tweaks to its exterior design, it looks as fresh as the day it was launched.

Sure, it may not attract the attention of the buying masses, but that is a thing with many four-door coupes... they simply don't. But in this day and age, the Arteon is a stunning alternative, if you are not keen to go down that SUV slippery slope.

PHOTOS Clifford Chow

2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TSI DSG R-Line

Engine 1984cc, inline4
Power/rpm 190hp/4200-6000rpm
Torque/rpm 320Nm/1500-4100rpm
Transmission 7spd DSG dual-clutch
0-100km/h 7.9secs
Top Speed 237km/h
Fuel Consumption 6.5l/100km
CO2 135g/km