The Volkswagen With More Luxury Than A Mercedes-Benz… And It’s Not An Audi

Few cars in recent memory have been as quietly impressive — or as thoroughly ignored — as the Volkswagen Arteon. While buyers lined up for Mercedes-Benz sedans, BMW Gran Coupés, and Audi Sportbacks, this sleek fastback sat on VW lots offering comparable refinement, genuine performance, and a cabin that punched well above its price point. Now that production has wrapped and used examples are hitting the market at a fraction of their original cost, the Arteon’s moment may finally have arrived. If you missed it the first time around, here’s why it deserves a second look.

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While we have seen the typical luxury German brands battle it out on the sedan front for some time now, VW is not always seen as the most luxe of the lot; we usually think about the cool hot hatches, impressive vans, and mid-luxury SUVs they have churned out. But this discontinued Volkswagen sedan can do it all as well as some of the most well-known Mercedes and BMW models.

The Volkswagen Arteon: A Hidden Gem In Luxury Sedans

Produced by Volkswagen between 2019 and 2023, the Arteon and its many trims represent a German sedan lineup you may not have considered when thinking about a car that can outclass the likes of Mercedes and BMW.

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Sensibly priced, with a selection of capable engines under the hood and sprint times you wouldn’t expect from a VW, it has a unique character that’s hard to ignore. An abundance of luxury and comfort features are included as standard, along with a sleeper sedan style that never goes out of fashion. Imagine what the Arteon could have been if more buyers in the U.S. had given it a chance during its original run.

The Arteon Proves Volkswagen Can Do Stunning, Too

Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s Arteon is proof that the brand can deliver more than just pragmatic cars. With its sleek fastback silhouette and frameless doors, the Arteon exudes coupe-like presence and a level of charisma rarely associated with VW sedans. It’s stylish, unexpected, and refreshingly bold.

Step inside, and the Arteon continues to impress with a cabin that leans heavily into modern luxury. Expansive digital displays and minimalist design cues give it the polish you’d expect from pricier German rivals. Yet it remains practical, with ample space and everyday usability — exactly what you’d want in a refined grand tourer that doesn’t sacrifice function for form.

The Arteon’s Style Evolution Made VW Look Like A Luxury Leader

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Even in its debut year, the Arteon made a clear visual statement. The base SE trim came dressed with sleek fastback styling and frameless doors, while the SEL and SEL Premium added flair with larger wheels, ambient lighting, and a more upscale interior. For those chasing the sportiest edge, the R-Line delivered with bold bumpers, exclusive badging, and a choice of 19- or 20-inch wheels.

By 2021, Volkswagen gave the Arteon a facelift, sharpening its look with a wider grille and a striking LED light bar across the front — elements that pushed it closer to its German luxury peers. From 2022 onward, all trims embraced the R-Line identity, meaning even the entry-level models carried a premium, sporty attitude. Sure, Mercedes and BMW can match the aesthetic — but expect to pay significantly more to get there.

Performance Ability That Allows It To Compete With Its Countrymen

Volkswagen

The VW Arteon wouldn’t be much of a threat to its German counterparts without the performance to back it up — and it delivers. The 2019–2021 models are equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder that produces a solid amount of horsepower and torque, propelling the 3,665- to 3,854-pound Arteon to 60 mph in just under 6.5 seconds.

Volkswagen Arteon Performance Specifications

That’s respectable, but it’s the final model years that take the Arteon’s performance credentials right into the face of its rivals. With AWD models claiming a rest-to-60 time of 4.6 seconds, they’re quicker than the 2022 Mercedes EQS 450+ Pinnacle (5.4 seconds), the 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (4.7 seconds), and the 2022 Audi A4 Prestige 45 TFSI S-Line Quattro (5.0 seconds) — and on par with the manual 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster.

The Go-Fast Features That Make It A Luxury Sleeper

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The Arteon may win hearts with its design, but its performance makes an even bolder statement — especially in the 2022 and 2023 model years. Beneath its sleek shell sits a 300-horsepower engine mated to the same rapid-fire seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission found in the Golf R. This pairing delivers sharp throttle response and brisk acceleration through every gear. Available 4MOTION all-wheel drive keeps all that power planted with confidence in any conditions.

Drivers also benefit from adaptive chassis control (DCC), which continuously adjusts suspension settings to prioritize comfort or agility on demand — enhancing the Arteon’s “sleeper sedan” persona. It’s the kind of luxury car that handles a twisty road with sports-sedan swagger, yet settles in for highway cruising with effortless composure. For those who know what to look for, it’s a hidden gem in plain sight.

High-End Comfort Features, Thoughtful Design, And A Cabin Worth Savoring

Volkswagen

The Arteon’s interior was clearly designed with Mercedes-Benz in mind as a benchmark. It is slick, comfortable, spacious, and loaded with luxurious features. Up front, you get 41.2 inches of legroom; rear passengers enjoy a very generous 40.2 inches, and folding the rear seats opens up 56.2 cubic feet of cargo space.

Standard features are impressive and include heated front seats, Climatronic tri-zone automatic climate control, and V-Tex leather upholstery. The cabin is tastefully highlighted with ambient lighting, contrast stitching, and aluminum or Black Carbon trim depending on the trim level chosen, while upper trims like the SEL Premium R-Line go further still, adding:

• Ventilated front seats
• A massaging driver’s seat
• A heated steering wheel
• A panoramic sunroof

Advanced Technology Throughout The Cabin

Volkswagen

Every Arteon comes standard with Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a fully customizable display that allows drivers to tailor navigation, speed readouts, and driver-assist information to their liking — familiar territory for recent VW owners. Apple CarPlay Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard across the lineup, ensuring solid connectivity. Step up to higher trims, and you’ll find premium upgrades like a head-up display, wireless charging, gesture controls, and a Harman Kardon sound system — features that elevate the Arteon’s cabin well beyond what you’d expect from a typical Volkswagen sedan.

Owning A Volkswagen Arteon Today

Volkswagen

It may not carry a Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi badge, but the VW Arteon delivers a great deal in the luxury segment — and one of its best qualities has always been its price. When it launched in the U.S. in 2019, starting prices sat around the $37,000 mark. By its final model year in 2023, base prices had risen to just over $44,000.

Today, used examples span a wide range depending on model year and condition, with well-equipped late-model cars available at a significant discount from their original sticker prices. While luxury cars do tend to depreciate quickly, in the Arteon’s case that’s less a reflection of quality or reliability and more a consequence of the VW badge failing to generate the same aspirational pull as its German rivals — meaning buyers who do their homework can find exceptional value.

Volkswagen Arteon Average Used Values

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Running Costs And Things To Know About The VW Arteon

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According to Car Edge, the VW Arteon’s model years carry an overall cost-to-own rating of “C-” — not the best, but certainly not the worst. Depreciation does take its toll, with a reported value loss of around 46 percent over five years, though this is not far from the norm in the luxury segment. Fuel costs can add up as well.

The good news is that over five years, maintenance costs account for only about 4 percent of total ownership expenses, with an average five-year maintenance bill of $2,152 — roughly $430 per year.

Because the engine changed for the 2022 model year, fuel economy figures depend on which generation you choose. A 2019–2021 Arteon returns a combined EPA rating of 25 mpg (22 city / 31 highway). The 2022–2023 models bring more power and return the same combined figure in 4MOTION AWD form, with a slightly better return from the front-wheel-drive variant.

Volkswagen Arteon EPA Figures

The Arteon is by no means the cheapest luxury car to run, but if you can look past the ownership costs, you’ll have a well-priced luxury sleeper sedan that combines elegance, speed, comfort, and strong owner satisfaction. According to reviews on Kelley Blue Book, 95 percent of owners would recommend the Arteon, giving it an overall score of 5 out of 5.

Source: J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, Car Edge, and Fuel Economy.gov.