Now available in either fastback or Shooting Brake layouts, the new Arteon has been given a wide variety of new specifications.
Though introduced back in 2017, the Arteon has only been available as a fastback until now. The reveal of a more practical Shooting Brake model gives buyers a more spacious option.
What is it?
This is the Arteon Shooting Brake and it’s a car which created a fair amount of buzz when it was first released in concept form. Fortunately, Volkswagen managed to get the Shooting Brake into production while retaining the concept’s jaw-dropping good looks, resulting in the car you see here.
But is it a car with only design in mind? Let’s take a look.
What’s new?
Of course, the biggest change here is that striking, sloping roofline. Apart from that, the Shooting Brake shares a lot with the regular hatchback model. It’s also available with a wide variety of engines, including both petrol - which we’re testing here - and diesel, while a new plug-in hybrid version has recently been added.
A range-topping ‘R’ version will join the fray too, bringing more performance to the Arteon range.
What’s it like to drive?
The Arteon Shooting Brake feels most at home on the motorway, where it manages to bring a quiet and relatively refined experience which helps it to eat up the miles. This is certainly a plus point, given that the majority of Arteon drivers will be using their cars to sweep across long-distance journeys..
It does struggle around town, where its firm suspension and large alloy wheels combine to create a relatively jarring ride which can’t quite deal with potholes. The engine provides more than adequate performance though and when accelerating hard produces a surprisingly tuneful and sporty note.
What’s under the bonnet?
‘Our’ Arteon was driven by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which then sends its 187bhp and 320Nm of torque to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Volkswagen says that it’ll return up to 35.6mpg combined and emit 179g/km CO2.
In terms of performance, this Shooting Brake will crack 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds and be able to hit a top speed of 145mph.
How does it look?
To our eyes at least the Arteon Shooting Brake is one of the best-looking cars on sale today. Though the standard Arteon is by no means an ugly duckling, the Shooting Brake’s swept-back design really helps it to stand out from the crowd like few other mainstream cars.
We’d argue that the Shooting Brake would look the business in darker, more subtle shades. Though our car’s silver paint was by no means unpleasant, its dynamic looks would only be enhanced by a slightly more impactful colour.
What’s the spec like?
Again, given the Arteon’s tip-top place in Volkswagen’s line-up, it’s got plenty of standard equipment to offer too. Features such as adaptive cruise control, three-zone climate control and a panoramic roof were just three in an exhaustive list of features fitted to our R-Line specification car.
In the centre of the cabin sits an eight-inch touchscreen which incorporates all of the media and satellite navigation functions. It also gets both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, making smartphone integration even easier.
What’s it like inside?
Given that the Arteon takes the place as Volkswagen’s range-topping saloon and estate, it’ll come as little surprise to hear that its interior has been lavished with all manner of high quality materials. It’s a pleasingly well-finished placed to be, with solidly fitted controls matching high-end leather and aluminium accents.
When it comes to boot space, the Shooting Brake affords its owners 590 litres of load area with the seats up and this can be expanded to 1,632 litres with the seats folded down.
Verdict
The Arteon Shooting Brake is likely to be a big hit with those who like a touch of class from their estate car. It might not drive as keenly as rivals in this segment, but its fit-and-finish will likely prove to be a real selling point for those interested.
While the petrol engine is certainly an interesting addition, we’d be inclined to opt for either a diesel or plug-in hybrid powertrain were we the ones ticking the boxes.