I have a 7.5 r estate, had an arteon as a courtesy car and liked it but the one thing I was surprised about is the rear seats can't be folded down from the boot like in the estate...quite a big plus for the estate
I take it you mean that they don't have the quick release handles in the boot, rather than the rear seats don't fold at all? One is an inconvenience, the other would instantly decide not to buy one at all.
The fact that @ 60k VW charge as an option for the upgraded headlights which are standard on all pre facelift cars regardless of trim is a joke! Even the upgraded screen which @ 9.2inch is smaller than the infotainment screen on most cars these days is also a joke. These two things should be standard at this price point, they are standard on a l&k superb which is much cheaper.
Interesting video Andrew. I currently have a Superb Hatch L&K 280 with a tune to 350bhp. Test drove an Arteon R and it felt heavy and slightly sluggish compared to the Skoda, and has less toys. But, wow, what a looker! It has the Superb beaten hands down in that regard. I note that the Arteons for sale very rarely have the Harman Kardon system. Upgraded sounds is important to me and I love the Canton system in the Superb. Of course, the aftermarket (Audison or Focal) can sort that too. Golf 8R is also in the mix for my next car as I won’t need the larger boot space for much longer. Decisions!! If you do pick up an Arteon, will be interested to follow your progress. Keep up the good work! 👏🏻🚗
My Arteon R has the Harmon Kardon Btw a stock Arteon R is going to feel sluggish compared to a stage 1 superb 280 which is around 100kgs lighter and will have slightly more power and torque. However seeing as the Arteon is more powerful stock Vs stock when u do a stage 1 tune on the Arteon you get around 400bhp or slightly over depending on where u get the car tuned.
@@rohanw1989 agreed. If I could find an Arteon with the spec I want, my preferred tuning specialist is stating 380bhp for a Stage 1. That would be sufficient!
@@duncanwood4313380bhp that's interesting as I was quoted 404BHP & 545nm from MRC and 401BHP & 525nm from DMS Automotive. Good luck finding a spec u want. When I got mine last March there were 4 highly specced ones on the market, mine which is lapiz blue, a light grey one, a black one which were at the same dealer and the same spec and a silver one. Mine is a 71reg which I picked up with 5, 000 miles for 41k, the black and the grey were also 71regs and also had around 5000miles but were 48 and 47k respectively and the silver one was 53k which was a 22 reg with 2000 miles (which I thought was quite high considering it was the 24th March so the car wasn't even 1 month old). Now with the interior quality and depreciation the Arteons have I am glad I didn't put the extra money down towards the black grey or silver ones as honestly the only thing I'm missing personally is the 360 camera which the other 3 cars have + they also had the head up display and the climate windscreen but I have the acoustic front windows which the other 3 didn't. I also have the full sized spare wheel.
Sold my Golf R mk7.5 with DCC to get into a 2020 M340i. So far, so disappointed. Golf was a comfy cruiser that could go very quickly. No issues with speed in the M340i but comfort even with adaptive dampers is an issue. Not sure if it’s the switch from cloth seats and a higher seating position to merino leather and a lower seating position but watching the Arteon R vids makes me wonder if this would be a better car for me comfort wise. Life is too short for the back issues the BMW is causing me.
Great review! Interesting you compared it with the Superb 280 TSI at the end as I spent the whole review thinking I’d rather have the Skoda personally (I was really impressed with the one I drove). The Arteon appears to be a relative bargain though!
@@tom5001I have the Harmon Kardon upgrade with mine, there is tri zone air con but u have to control the rear from the front, yet in the golf R u have actual controls in the rear🤔. I am also disappointed at the lack of heated rear seats again available on the Golf R, the cooling seats would be nice aswell but I'm not so fussed about those personally as I only used it once on my previous 2019 superb l&k
@@jon_273They are actually better these days. Tbh I think the Arteon is quite well equipped for a VW, I remember having a 2015 VW Passat GT which was basically naked apart from heated front seats which u didn't get on the r line.
Great in-depth review Andrew! Arteon R is a great looking car and those used prices can't be argued with! Spot on with the wheels, it's really needs to be Estoril
Very much tempted by one of these in Manganese. I currently have my trusty old CC GT. I do love it but with another kid on the way one of these makes alot of sense esp early ones which are creeping towards £35k
I liked them from when they came out. Have thought wether it could be a worthy replacement to our GTI pp in a few years. But £60k plus the extra LV tax for 5 years 😣
The 280 Arteon is pretty good (206 kw?). I've found out since filming Arteon is being discontinued at end of 2024 model year so just six months left. I'd imagine VW potentially lost money on them but at least they were a close spin off from the Passat. I think we'll appreciate the Arteon R SB when it's gone more than when it's been here - VW didn't need to build such an irrational car but so glad they did.
£67K….Ouch! Considering AT has 2022 ones at £34K and new ones with 7K off, you d be nuts to buy new. So agreed with you on a potential bargain….Good review as ever…..
I have driven both the Arteon R and the BMW M340i touring, the reason the BMW holds its money better is obvious when you have lived with both cars. The BMW M340i touring is no doubt a level above the Arteon R and that’s before you get into the handling and the wonderful B58 engine. Personally I would pay the extra for the M340i or get a higher mileage model rather than the Arteon.
I've tried to avoid going too old when considering alternatives because you could say "I'd rather have a C7 RS6 Performance' than an M340i' if you go older/high mileage. Look up to a year old and 5k miles when the car will still be very fresh and there's not a lot of competition at £37680 and for most drivers it's fast enough and handles well enough while also being a less obvious choice than the 3 series.
Agreed you could get a 2nd hand Volvo or Subura estate which are of a similar marque to VW and just as rare but that’s stating the obvious and is why I suggested paying the extra for a BMW M340i touring, it’s a class above in every way, holds its value better and it’s not just another 3 series.
@@volkswizardalso if space is required then the M340i isn't a comparison, the Arteon R shooting brake even had a slightly bigger boot than the 5 series touring.
To be honest the Arteon R’s real comparator is the Skoda Octavia VRS estate, with a similar fit and finish, has the same engine as the Arteon, though not tuned plus it’s a lot cheaper than the Arteon if cost and boot size is your only concern, if it’s performance and quality then the extra is well spent on with the M340i touring.
@@GreaterManchester1surely you mean the rival is a Skoda superb 280? As they are very similar sized cars. The Octavia VRS is a smaller car infact more inline with he size of the 3 series and even less powerful than the 280 superb. But I agree quality and performance etc is ofcourse better on a m340i. I'm just saying if it's space u require and we are talking about m340i Vs Arteon R here then the Arteon R is the better option.
Very thorough review, Andrew. Thanks. Also VERY interesting pricing discussion at the end. Subjective - lovely looking machine although interior, from shoulder height down.... little disappointing IMO. Noticed Kate's TT in the background, no action there yet then?
Good spot, TT on sale when wheels back from refurb next week, got to contact a chap who has first dibs. Kate will drive GTD estate in short term as it largely just sits around
The Arteon doesn't have Matrix light. It does have IQ Light and is still able to ignore road users. The difference, however, is that unlike Matrix, for example in the Passat, it does not have LED structures that are switched off, but the high beam bulbs on the left and right can each swivel outwards mechanically. This means that at the moment in the inner area between the two lights, no high beam is on, only to the left and right of the road user. A matrix light would hide a square hole in the light wall. Personally, however, I think that the technology in the Arteon works better, even though it is older.
Great review Andrew. I have a TDI 4-Motion Arteon Sportback (company car). The best all-rounder I’ve ever had after 20 years of VAG product. Can completely understand how the full R package would be great. Interestingly how was real world economy?
After driving a mk8 Golf the dash, infotainment and mechanical DSG just seems cheap! I regularly jump between a 72 plate T-Roc and a 22 plate Golf Mk8 and the Golf just seems better in these areas IMO
Good honest review as always. Looks different which is in its favour but price and slightly low rent interior let it down i.m.o Live it up against the usual price bracket opposition (BMW,Audi,Merc) and just can't see it.
It only really makes sense heavily discounted and then I can forgive the carpets etc. Let’s not ignore its rarity as well, Merc C & BMW 3 are everywhere
@@volkswizard They are but maybe for a reason? The roof line inhibits passenger room somewhat. Strange that VW went all digital in the Mk8 etc but this looks like a part- bin raid to me. Sorry Andrew!
A few nice touch’s incl the hydraulic strut for the bonnet but I have to agree with you about the quality of the carpet (cheap) and the hard rear door cappings. Good looking car though.
Great comprehensive review Andrew. A few pointers you mention about the quality is not met with this £60+k - the chrome trim around the windows not lining up and the vw carpet is poor quality. Looks like the car has been build to a price. I can’t see this cars price being what it is for me. How the price of a car over the last few years has increased it’s getting unobtainable for most even in basic trim option. My dad has the climate windscreen in his golf GT 1.5 tsi evo. I wonder how many cars get optioned with this cool feature?
Thanks Darren. I guess all cars are built to a price but Arteon seems to not add up in a lot of ways which is largely unusual for VW. In a way that's its charm and I think in the longer term it will become more appreciated as a product of the (relatively) frivolous times when VW would take punt (much like Phaeton, Lupo GTI, Audi A2, Bugatti Veyron) which are long gone. Possibly the last pre-dieselgate and pre-SUV dominance product, committed to one generation cycle (which came too late) and then rubbed out. Quite a rare thing for a VW model to do just 7 years and then vanish, even Phaeton did double that. What cements its coolness is the fact the Shooting Brakes were built in the old Karmann factory in Osnabruck along wity my Corrado and my Cayman GT4. Must visit the musuem there one day.
Not sure why this exists. There's the Golf version for practicality and affordability. And the Audi version for luxury. That's just way too much money for a new VW. But like you point out, if you like this one, don't buy it new.
It’s really nice. Really really nice. And a lot bigger than it gives away, thanks to a lovely flowing design. I agree with you on the chrome window surround. Not only do they clash with the Matt chrome mirrors, the drivers door tail edge trim looks like it sits proud (and on the factory pic when you were demonstrating the ride height at 10:30 too). That’s pretty poor, but could be easily detracted from if it were black. I can’t unsee it now.
VW have added on an Extra 2.5k to the price of the Adtwon R sportback and shooting brake, rhey are tsking rbe absolute piss. A fully loaded version of each is now 70k and 72k respectively.
I've got the climate windscreen on my mk7.5 and love it on a frosty morning! When I bought the car used from a Renault dealer, I had to stop them swapping the stone chipped original screen for a non heated generic one... Something to watch out for! I only knew it had one from reading the build spec from the VW website
Good info rob. Those screen do look very obvious if you where polarised sunglasses as they have a brown tinge to then from outside, perfectly normal from inside though. Very rare on Golf
More great content 👏. That's a video that's particularly relevant to me, as I've often thought the Arteon R shooting brake is the only car in the current VW range I'd change my 7.5 R estate for. It's a little bit "style over substance" for me (I noticed the huge lip in the boot, not good. The extra length over the golf is useful though (although I think the Mk8 Golf estate is longer than the 7 as well). Nice spec (the seats are a bit tacky, with that blue border - doesn't really suit it - but I bet they're nice to sit in!). You didn't mention if the Harmon Kardon upgraded sound pack is standard or optional though (it should be standard, for that price...). For a GT type car, that sort of thing is important. To be honest though, it's not quite good enough for me to go for - I'm happy with my golf - it functions well as a GT type car (I've just done over 1700 miles in 8 days). If I was heading into the VW range right now, the Arteon R shooting brake would be my first (& only) choice. But I wouldn't swap my Golf for one. If only VW would do a Passat R estate! I'd actually prefer that (although basically it's the same car underneath), it's more practical & just as good to look at. I've fancied a fast BMW touring, but I wouldn't touch them now - the 3 series doesn't even have a proper dashboard any more..
Volkswagen has so many engine options. That 4, though powerful-ish, cheapens the feel of that car. I test drove one, not the shooting brake. Let jist say im so glad i could not buy it. There are so many netter options.
Good video as always Andrew but my only concern is it’ll keep depreciating, I’ve still got my Golf R 6 years in next year and the depreciation has been pretty good. I’m not so sure this would be the case but can’t make my mind up on what I want so keep the videos coming!!
I guess I would too. Make it a 7.5 while you are it. That's a car where all the bits are in perfect harmony. I can't tell you how much I dislike cars that have cheap bits where (they think) you won't notice then better bits on top. This has been going on for years but the difference between these bits has grown massively.
1 Aren't these cars similar priced to the Arteon? That means they loose so much of their value within a year aswell ? 2. What if someone needs the extra space especially boot space?
The problem I have with this is I need a car like that to transport a decent sized dog and the low roof combined with the sloping back would instantly rule it out. Other people might need an Estate car for putting bulky things and it would seem like it would be no good for them either. So what's the point of it ?
Brilliant in depth review Andrew. Shame the Rev counter from the Mk8 R doesn’t appear or the VR6 or even the 2.3 5 pot from the RS3. Would love to own one but here in Ireland they took it off the price list a year or two ago when at that stage it was hitting around €85k. Wud prob be mid to late 90’s now. M340i is over €100k Guess I’ll stick with my Mk8 R but wud love a fast estate. Octavia vRS is 55k here. Maybe you can review that at some stage ?
Thanks so much Fergal! Thanks also for pointing out that the instrument cluster graphics aren’t as stylised as Golf R’s, I knew there was something amiss. I did review Octavia Vrs in 2021, didn’t really get on with it. Couldn’t fathom why everyone moans about Golf 8 infotainment, Octavia is way worse, no shortcut pad so fewer direct ‘buttons’ , home buttton on wrong side and screen not angled correctly for RHD drivers.
I saw 35 when driven with restraint. Official combined figure is 31.8 and being WLTP test is usually about right. Ignore dash display as testing & filming is not normal use
I average around 25-35mpg with mine. 35 on a very very long motorway drive @ 70mph 31 on a 16 mile 1 way motorway trip to work in the early hours of the morning between 3-5 which takes around 15 mins and around 25-27 on the return journey home around 2-3pm as there is usually more traffic and stopping and starting and that journey takes around 20-25mins. I have the sportback version not the shooting brake, I also have the 20 inch alloys. Overall the fuel economy is not great at all.
Value of money? Appart from the performance elements, the equipment and quality of the interior finish appears to be no better than my Seat Tarraco FR, which incidentally has illuminated door sills, door cards, mirror puddle lights, oh and the door arm rest is padded. So 30k extra for the performance. I don't see that as value especially if you're buying new.
To be clear it is VERY POOR value for money new. As for the Tarraco it’s a great car but Seat’s being wound up by VW Group so clearly that level of VFM isn’t sustainable
Imagine paying 60k for a VW with a 4 cylinder. Manufacturers have lost the plot. Now the car prices are correcting themselves we are seeing how hard they’re going to be hit
Invisible in Aus and now discontinued but a real find due to depreciation and to me look great as alternative to Sportback A5 or A6 estate or impossible to get mk8 Golf R estate - great information as always 👍🎯
I'm not sure what VW's logic was there TBH, it's a beautiful design but then it loses practicality, it's got interior materials that are far from premium but it's a premium price. The R isn't that quick but struggles to do 30 mpg. The only thing its really got going for it (aside from on the limit handling) is the looks and I think personally it needs Lapiz blue to work (and that's only on R). BUT it's major plus point is individuality, it's so much rarer than obvious rivals from Audi/BMW/Merc and deserves a bit of a cult following.
@@volkswizardI agree with this summary having owned the car since last February, it definitely could do with some more horse power as it weighs 1774kgs well mine does as it's the sportback, I know it has full leather electric front seats, standard panoramic sunroof and 4wd but it's still too heavy for a car with a 4 cylinder engine tbh, imagine it had the V6! The material quality is less than on my previous car which was a 2019 Skoda superb l&k
You'd have to be a die hard VW fan, ideally a baby boomer with a triple lock pension, mortgage paid off and be of the 'can't take it with you' mindset and be well and truly in love with the way it looks.
Wow as a new car proposition hugely expensive and that road tax! The used prices seem to be bargains. Love the pop away tow hook. The scratchy carpet already looks like it wearing in the footwell side. I see all those £50k and £60k cars for sale and thinking wheres this cost of living crisis?
Glad we agree on the bargain factor and thanks for watching the key bit of the video before commenting. Agreed re the wear on that carpet. It will be interesting to watch these Arteon R prices over next few weeks as there are currently 29 2023 cars for sale, a mix of some ex-VW Fleet cars (KM/KN reg) and dealer demos (reg plate reflects dealer location) and not much is shifting. The big question is, did VW have a MASSIVE profit margin at £60k RRP or are they losing loads of money on these used cars that they still own? Has to be one or the other.
The engineers behind the Arteon R said the 5 pot crank was too long inferring this gave it some dynamic deficiency. Agreed it would have been really nice.
Great video. Comes across as a strange car though... very low headroom in the back (for a big car) and cheap interior would annoy me quite a lot for a car at that price.
I'm not too worried about the headroom but the carpets and plastic put me off even at £37k and final nail in coffin is mpg, doesn't want to top 30 mpg even driven pretty sedately (done more 'normal' (non-test) miles since video was shot). RS6 C7 with its cylinder deactivation wouldn't be much worse.
Ridiculous price when new and unsurprisingly 50% depreciated in 2 years. Car industry wouldn't be getting away with such crazy pricing if not for company car drivers or folks with no financial savvy buying on lease / PCP.
Good review. Sorry to be negative, but keyless entry and go rule it out. Have you seen what's happening to Range-Rover insurance because of it. A friend who works for Land-Rover, told me it is a concern for them. They know the solution, but don't want to be the first to move 'backwards' to having a key and barrel. Oh and of course the touch screen as well. And cheap carpets and interior for £60,000. No thanks.
I know full well about JLR's security issues as I live near Gaydon and see staff cars of very high value on drives with Halford's steering locks on them which frankly is not a good look. I've not heard of many VW or Audi stolen via relay theft though. All the key needs to do is go to sleep until its moved, not rocket science. With regards to cheapness of Arteon, the point of the video is to show it's available nearly new for a lot less at a price point that is actually very attractive even considering its flaws. It doesn't have the touchscreen of the Golf 8 so it's quite traditional in that respect with a separate climate control panel.
@@volkswizard .the interior still looks cheap. and sounds as though it is. . The new Audi A3 feels the same. I seems that the group is trying to save money, though the latest Skoda's exude the quality feel that VW's once had.
I would sell my GTI for this shooting break in a heartbeat. Shame it's not available in the United States; the arteon doesn't sell here well anyways. Nobody even knows it really exists.
Always thought these cars looked great but hadly ever see them, can't have sold a lot since they were launched - which is a shame. Ludicrous list price too so I imagine it'll remain very rare!
At least not all 3 series get that fugly chipmonk face but yes Arteon is very graceful and once upon a time people bought BMWs to be different while now it's a default choice for many so Arteon beats pretty much everything for individuality and it's not a bad car, just a bit misunderstood and ridiculously overpriced.
A very feminine looking car, suited very much for a hairdresser or a beta male, surprised it’s not available in baby blue or pink considering it’s girly looks. Way over priced when you think it’s shares a lot of its parts and engine with other VW cars plus the interior looks cheap and scratchy. You would be far better saving a packet and getting one of the VW brands which are virtually identical like the Seat or Skoda, plus they don’t look girly like the Arteon R. Alternatively you could stretch the budget and get a nearly new Mercedes AMG light or BMW M light estate with performance to match, higher end build quality which drive better and you won’t get ribbed for driving a hairdressers car like the Arteon R.
@@volkswizard True. In less than 10 years it will be nearly impossible for the guy in his Arteon to find a gas station, basic spareparts etc... It will literally be worthless.
@@V_Dubya So you do not think an Arteon will last 10 years? Your reaction to A, just shows the entire world that you try to hide under a rock.. Wake up!
You are chatting utter BS. How on earth is this good value. The rs4 starts at 70k. Comes with a v6, 130bhp more and a bigger body. Also weren’t you the guy doesn’t like the golf r? But sing the praises of this which more expensive than the 20yrs, be some margin and slower. Alright mate 😂😂😂😂
@@rohanw1989 hardly notably so. The rs has 9mm shorter wheelbase, 85mm shorter overall, 20mm narrower and 60mm lower roof life. Hardly substantial. You also get a better engine and far more power.
@@rupertm2542 Hold on, aren't YOU the guy who stated the RS4 has a 'bigger body' than the Arteon R which it does not and you have admitted that by posting the measurements. Besides when you actually measure most cars they are substantially bigger than eachother e.g The A7 is 21.7cm longer than the A5 Sportback, has 10.1cm longer wheelbase and is 8.3cm wider, if you measure them side by side Imo that's not a substantial difference but the reality is all of this adds up to better interior space and especially in the case of the the Arteon R Vs RS4 a much larger boot even in the sportback variant. I'm not saying an Arteon R is a better car than an RS4 or Even RS5 sportback but it does in reality offer more space overall and for someone that may actually need the space and may not have the extra 10k comparing starting prices) to spend, then it is a better fit for them. Most comments about the Arteon Rs rivals seem to focus on performance but my point is yes that's true but what If someone needs the additional space, especially boot space compared to cars like the M340i, RS4 etc? That is all.
£70 grand!! 🤣🤣🤣 We’re heading for a crash so these dreaming GREEDY car manufactures will be doing just that ……dreaming 🤣 BCA are £200 million in debt already 🤣
You can't really blame the manfacturers as they've been forced down an EV black hole by the legislator and are having to maximise the profit opportunities when they can (but £60k for that is frankly deluded)
@@volkswizard Yep l get it mate, but in the real world is the majority that have just seen mortgage and household bill payments skyrocket, but the greedy manufacturers still want to make the same profit margin as yesterday! Their bean counters are too stupid and haven’t a clue that yesterdays dead and gone and that Joe Average hasn’t got £68k for a VW estate car. So yeah l keep my point that they’re being greedy as I’ve seen £42k Mercs etc. with crap inferior interiors and no electric seats. So twice the price with half the value 🤔
![[Live] : ONE FIGHT NIGHT 25 วันนี้!! "อเล็กซิส vs รีเกียน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/suVr9a6BM2g/mqdefault.jpg)
Handsome beast. (The Arteon, not you.) I first saw one in a tiny Dutch town and it looked like a spaceship had landed.
I have a 7.5 r estate, had an arteon as a courtesy car and liked it but the one thing I was surprised about is the rear seats can't be folded down from the boot like in the estate...quite a big plus for the estate
That's a good point
I take it you mean that they don't have the quick release handles in the boot, rather than the rear seats don't fold at all? One is an inconvenience, the other would instantly decide not to buy one at all.
The fact that @ 60k VW charge as an option for the upgraded headlights which are standard on all pre facelift cars regardless of trim is a joke! Even the upgraded screen which @ 9.2inch is smaller than the infotainment screen on most cars these days is also a joke. These two things should be standard at this price point, they are standard on a l&k superb which is much cheaper.
Be fair, VW need to rinse their customers in order to recoup the fine they received for their emissions cheating ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Interesting video Andrew. I currently have a Superb Hatch L&K 280 with a tune to 350bhp.
Test drove an Arteon R and it felt heavy and slightly sluggish compared to the Skoda, and has less toys. But, wow, what a looker! It has the Superb beaten hands down in that regard.
I note that the Arteons for sale very rarely have the Harman Kardon system. Upgraded sounds is important to me and I love the Canton system in the Superb. Of course, the aftermarket (Audison or Focal) can sort that too.
Golf 8R is also in the mix for my next car as I won’t need the larger boot space for much longer. Decisions!!
If you do pick up an Arteon, will be interested to follow your progress.
Keep up the good work! 👏🏻🚗
My Arteon R has the Harmon Kardon
Btw a stock Arteon R is going to feel sluggish compared to a stage 1 superb 280 which is around 100kgs lighter and will have slightly more power and torque. However seeing as the Arteon is more powerful stock Vs stock when u do a stage 1 tune on the Arteon you get around 400bhp or slightly over depending on where u get the car tuned.
@@rohanw1989 agreed. If I could find an Arteon with the spec I want, my preferred tuning specialist is stating 380bhp for a Stage 1. That would be sufficient!
@@duncanwood4313380bhp that's interesting as I was quoted 404BHP & 545nm from MRC and 401BHP & 525nm from DMS Automotive.
Good luck finding a spec u want.
When I got mine last March there were 4 highly specced ones on the market, mine which is lapiz blue, a light grey one, a black one which were at the same dealer and the same spec and a silver one. Mine is a 71reg which I picked up with 5, 000 miles for 41k, the black and the grey were also 71regs and also had around 5000miles but were 48 and 47k respectively and the silver one was 53k which was a 22 reg with 2000 miles (which I thought was quite high considering it was the 24th March so the car wasn't even 1 month old). Now with the interior quality and depreciation the Arteons have I am glad I didn't put the extra money down towards the black grey or silver ones as honestly the only thing I'm missing personally is the 360 camera which the other 3 cars have + they also had the head up display and the climate windscreen but I have the acoustic front windows which the other 3 didn't. I also have the full sized spare wheel.
Sold my Golf R mk7.5 with DCC to get into a 2020 M340i. So far, so disappointed. Golf was a comfy cruiser that could go very quickly. No issues with speed in the M340i but comfort even with adaptive dampers is an issue. Not sure if it’s the switch from cloth seats and a higher seating position to merino leather and a lower seating position but watching the Arteon R vids makes me wonder if this would be a better car for me comfort wise. Life is too short for the back issues the BMW is causing me.
Great review! Interesting you compared it with the Superb 280 TSI at the end as I spent the whole review thinking I’d rather have the Skoda personally (I was really impressed with the one I drove). The Arteon appears to be a relative bargain though!
Disappointed with the options , No dyno audio or cooling seats or heated rear seats. A superb Land K is a far better option but don't tell anyone
@@tom5001 VW are pretty stingy these days
@@tom5001I have the Harmon Kardon upgrade with mine, there is tri zone air con but u have to control the rear from the front, yet in the golf R u have actual controls in the rear🤔. I am also disappointed at the lack of heated rear seats again available on the Golf R, the cooling seats would be nice aswell but I'm not so fussed about those personally as I only used it once on my previous 2019 superb l&k
@@jon_273They are actually better these days. Tbh I think the Arteon is quite well equipped for a VW, I remember having a 2015 VW Passat GT which was basically naked apart from heated front seats which u didn't get on the r line.
Great in-depth review Andrew! Arteon R is a great looking car and those used prices can't be argued with! Spot on with the wheels, it's really needs to be Estoril
Nice car, nice colour 😘 Hopefully the art of the shooting break doesnt disappear down an SUV shaped plughole 😉
Brake.
Sadly David it looks like it's being discontinued mid 2024, the range will be a much more drab place then :(
Very much tempted by one of these in Manganese. I currently have my trusty old CC GT. I do love it but with another kid on the way one of these makes alot of sense esp early ones which are creeping towards £35k
I liked them from when they came out. Have thought wether it could be a worthy replacement to our GTI pp in a few years. But £60k plus the extra LV tax for 5 years 😣
Whether...
We only get the arteon r line with 206kw here in Australia :(… alas vw are discontinuing both the Passat and arteon here….
The 280 Arteon is pretty good (206 kw?). I've found out since filming Arteon is being discontinued at end of 2024 model year so just six months left. I'd imagine VW potentially lost money on them but at least they were a close spin off from the Passat. I think we'll appreciate the Arteon R SB when it's gone more than when it's been here - VW didn't need to build such an irrational car but so glad they did.
£67K….Ouch! Considering AT has 2022 ones at £34K and new ones with 7K off, you d be nuts to buy new. So agreed with you on a potential bargain….Good review as ever…..
Thanks so much!
I have driven both the Arteon R and the BMW M340i touring, the reason the BMW holds its money better is obvious when you have lived with both cars. The BMW M340i touring is no doubt a level above the Arteon R and that’s before you get into the handling and the wonderful B58 engine. Personally I would pay the extra for the M340i or get a higher mileage model rather than the Arteon.
I've tried to avoid going too old when considering alternatives because you could say "I'd rather have a C7 RS6 Performance' than an M340i' if you go older/high mileage. Look up to a year old and 5k miles when the car will still be very fresh and there's not a lot of competition at £37680 and for most drivers it's fast enough and handles well enough while also being a less obvious choice than the 3 series.
Agreed you could get a 2nd hand Volvo or Subura estate which are of a similar marque to VW and just as rare but that’s stating the obvious and is why I suggested paying the extra for a BMW M340i touring, it’s a class above in every way, holds its value better and it’s not just another 3 series.
@@volkswizardalso if space is required then the M340i isn't a comparison, the Arteon R shooting brake even had a slightly bigger boot than the 5 series touring.
To be honest the Arteon R’s real comparator is the Skoda Octavia VRS estate, with a similar fit and finish, has the same engine as the Arteon, though not tuned plus it’s a lot cheaper than the Arteon if cost and boot size is your only concern, if it’s performance and quality then the extra is well spent on with the M340i touring.
@@GreaterManchester1surely you mean the rival is a Skoda superb 280? As they are very similar sized cars. The Octavia VRS is a smaller car infact more inline with he size of the 3 series and even less powerful than the 280 superb.
But I agree quality and performance etc is ofcourse better on a m340i. I'm just saying if it's space u require and we are talking about m340i Vs Arteon R here then the Arteon R is the better option.
Nice but for realworld driving I'd still go for a used diesel s4 avant..
I love that car but very spec dependent
Have you test drove the s4 diesel?
Just got my hybrid Shooting Brake and love it to bits. Drives like a lady and with GTE on it roars its head.
Very thorough review, Andrew. Thanks.
Also VERY interesting pricing discussion at the end.
Subjective - lovely looking machine although interior, from shoulder height down.... little disappointing IMO.
Noticed Kate's TT in the background, no action there yet then?
Good spot, TT on sale when wheels back from refurb next week, got to contact a chap who has first dibs. Kate will drive GTD estate in short term as it largely just sits around
The Arteon doesn't have Matrix light. It does have IQ Light and is still able to ignore road users. The difference, however, is that unlike Matrix, for example in the Passat, it does not have LED structures that are switched off, but the high beam bulbs on the left and right can each swivel outwards mechanically. This means that at the moment in the inner area between the two lights, no high beam is on, only to the left and right of the road user. A matrix light would hide a square hole in the light wall. Personally, however, I think that the technology in the Arteon works better, even though it is older.
Great review Andrew.
I have a TDI 4-Motion Arteon Sportback (company car). The best all-rounder I’ve ever had after 20 years of VAG product. Can completely understand how the full R package would be great.
Interestingly how was real world economy?
After driving a mk8 Golf the dash, infotainment and mechanical DSG just seems cheap! I regularly jump between a 72 plate T-Roc and a 22 plate Golf Mk8 and the Golf just seems better in these areas IMO
Good honest review as always. Looks different which is in its favour but price and slightly low rent interior let it down i.m.o
Live it up against the usual price bracket opposition (BMW,Audi,Merc) and just can't see it.
It only really makes sense heavily discounted and then I can forgive the carpets etc. Let’s not ignore its rarity as well, Merc C & BMW 3 are everywhere
@@volkswizard They are but maybe for a reason? The roof line inhibits passenger room somewhat. Strange that VW went all digital in the Mk8 etc but this looks like a part- bin raid to me. Sorry Andrew!
A few nice touch’s incl the hydraulic strut for the bonnet but I have to agree with you about the quality of the carpet (cheap) and the hard rear door cappings. Good looking car though.
Touches...
Great comprehensive review Andrew. A few pointers you mention about the quality is not met with this £60+k - the chrome trim around the windows not lining up and the vw carpet is poor quality. Looks like the car has been build to a price. I can’t see this cars price being what it is for me. How the price of a car over the last few years has increased it’s getting unobtainable for most even in basic trim option. My dad has the climate windscreen in his golf GT 1.5 tsi evo. I wonder how many cars get optioned with this cool feature?
Thanks Darren. I guess all cars are built to a price but Arteon seems to not add up in a lot of ways which is largely unusual for VW. In a way that's its charm and I think in the longer term it will become more appreciated as a product of the (relatively) frivolous times when VW would take punt (much like Phaeton, Lupo GTI, Audi A2, Bugatti Veyron) which are long gone. Possibly the last pre-dieselgate and pre-SUV dominance product, committed to one generation cycle (which came too late) and then rubbed out. Quite a rare thing for a VW model to do just 7 years and then vanish, even Phaeton did double that.
What cements its coolness is the fact the Shooting Brakes were built in the old Karmann factory in Osnabruck along wity my Corrado and my Cayman GT4. Must visit the musuem there one day.
Not sure why this exists. There's the Golf version for practicality and affordability. And the Audi version for luxury. That's just way too much money for a new VW. But like you point out, if you like this one, don't buy it new.
It’s really nice. Really really nice. And a lot bigger than it gives away, thanks to a lovely flowing design. I agree with you on the chrome window surround. Not only do they clash with the Matt chrome mirrors, the drivers door tail edge trim looks like it sits proud (and on the factory pic when you were demonstrating the ride height at 10:30 too). That’s pretty poor, but could be easily detracted from if it were black. I can’t unsee it now.
A few people noticed that and it’s true. Whether it’s a production issue or the result of a repair I can’t say
The difference is the Arteon will depreciate massively
VW have added on an Extra 2.5k to the price of the Adtwon R sportback and shooting brake, rhey are tsking rbe absolute piss. A fully loaded version of each is now 70k and 72k respectively.
I've got the climate windscreen on my mk7.5 and love it on a frosty morning! When I bought the car used from a Renault dealer, I had to stop them swapping the stone chipped original screen for a non heated generic one... Something to watch out for! I only knew it had one from reading the build spec from the VW website
Good info rob. Those screen do look very obvious if you where polarised sunglasses as they have a brown tinge to then from outside, perfectly normal from inside though. Very rare on Golf
More great content 👏. That's a video that's particularly relevant to me, as I've often thought the Arteon R shooting brake is the only car in the current VW range I'd change my 7.5 R estate for.
It's a little bit "style over substance" for me (I noticed the huge lip in the boot, not good. The extra length over the golf is useful though (although I think the Mk8 Golf estate is longer than the 7 as well). Nice spec (the seats are a bit tacky, with that blue border - doesn't really suit it - but I bet they're nice to sit in!). You didn't mention if the Harmon Kardon upgraded sound pack is standard or optional though (it should be standard, for that price...). For a GT type car, that sort of thing is important.
To be honest though, it's not quite good enough for me to go for - I'm happy with my golf - it functions well as a GT type car (I've just done over 1700 miles in 8 days). If I was heading into the VW range right now, the Arteon R shooting brake would be my first (& only) choice. But I wouldn't swap my Golf for one.
If only VW would do a Passat R estate! I'd actually prefer that (although basically it's the same car underneath), it's more practical & just as good to look at.
I've fancied a fast BMW touring, but I wouldn't touch them now - the 3 series doesn't even have a proper dashboard any more..
Thanks Andrew 👍👍
@@andrewmcivor42 A M340i is a much better car in every sense then a Golf R estate or Arteon.
Volkswagen has so many engine options. That 4, though powerful-ish, cheapens the feel of that car. I test drove one, not the shooting brake.
Let jist say im so glad i could not buy it. There are so many netter options.
If AMG are fitting a 4 pot in the C class now, you can't really blame VW
Good video as always Andrew but my only concern is it’ll keep depreciating, I’ve still got my Golf R 6 years in next year and the depreciation has been pretty good. I’m not so sure this would be the case but can’t make my mind up on what I want so keep the videos coming!!
Great great in depth video
I'd have the golf r estate personally
I guess I would too. Make it a 7.5 while you are it. That's a car where all the bits are in perfect harmony. I can't tell you how much I dislike cars that have cheap bits where (they think) you won't notice then better bits on top. This has been going on for years but the difference between these bits has grown massively.
another gem we can't get here in the US ..ARRGGGGGGG....COMON VW TAKE YOUR EV AND SCRAM...more of these here
Or get a 1 year old M340i or M340d for £12k less on Cinch :D
I guess with Cinch you get 14 days to return it :)
1 Aren't these cars similar priced to the Arteon? That means they loose so much of their value within a year aswell ?
2. What if someone needs the extra space especially boot space?
The problem I have with this is I need a car like that to transport a decent sized dog and the low roof combined with the sloping back would instantly rule it out. Other people might need an Estate car for putting bulky things and it would seem like it would be no good for them either. So what's the point of it ?
I have never understood the point of a shooting brake, the boot on the passat estate is significantly bigger and the superb estate bigger yet still.
Look at this way - Passat, Superb, Arteon SB - in which of theses cars do you look like a photocopier sales person?
Brilliant in depth review Andrew. Shame the Rev counter from the Mk8 R doesn’t appear or the VR6 or even the 2.3 5 pot from the RS3. Would love to own one but here in Ireland they took it off the price list a year or two ago when at that stage it was hitting around €85k. Wud prob be mid to late 90’s now. M340i is over €100k Guess I’ll stick with my Mk8 R but wud love a fast estate. Octavia vRS is 55k here. Maybe you can review that at some stage ?
Thanks so much Fergal! Thanks also for pointing out that the instrument cluster graphics aren’t as stylised as Golf R’s, I knew there was something amiss. I did review Octavia Vrs in 2021, didn’t really get on with it. Couldn’t fathom why everyone moans about Golf 8 infotainment, Octavia is way worse, no shortcut pad so fewer direct ‘buttons’ , home buttton on wrong side and screen not angled correctly for RHD drivers.
The RS3 is a 2.5 5 pot
What’s the MPG like on these in the real world? The stats look quite scary
I saw 35 when driven with restraint. Official combined figure is 31.8 and being WLTP test is usually about right. Ignore dash display as testing & filming is not normal use
I average around 25-35mpg with mine.
35 on a very very long motorway drive @ 70mph
31 on a 16 mile 1 way motorway trip to work in the early hours of the morning between 3-5 which takes around 15 mins and around 25-27 on the return journey home around 2-3pm as there is usually more traffic and stopping and starting and that journey takes around 20-25mins.
I have the sportback version not the shooting brake, I also have the 20 inch alloys.
Overall the fuel economy is not great at all.
Value of money? Appart from the performance elements, the equipment and quality of the interior finish appears to be no better than my Seat Tarraco FR, which incidentally has illuminated door sills, door cards, mirror puddle lights, oh and the door arm rest is padded. So 30k extra for the performance. I don't see that as value especially if you're buying new.
To be clear it is VERY POOR value for money new. As for the Tarraco it’s a great car but Seat’s being wound up by VW Group so clearly that level of VFM isn’t sustainable
What a bargain 🙄🥱🤮
Not a fan then 😆
Great insight and factual video 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Imagine paying 60k for a VW with a 4 cylinder. Manufacturers have lost the plot. Now the car prices are correcting themselves we are seeing how hard they’re going to be hit
Invisible in Aus and now discontinued but a real find due to depreciation and to me look great as alternative to Sportback A5 or A6 estate or impossible to get mk8 Golf R estate - great information as always 👍🎯
Thanks Malcolm
Rather a used M car than pay that for 2.0 fart machine
Believe it or not the M car image isn't for everybody
Arteon list price is overdone, no wonder the depreciation!
I'm not sure what VW's logic was there TBH, it's a beautiful design but then it loses practicality, it's got interior materials that are far from premium but it's a premium price. The R isn't that quick but struggles to do 30 mpg. The only thing its really got going for it (aside from on the limit handling) is the looks and I think personally it needs Lapiz blue to work (and that's only on R). BUT it's major plus point is individuality, it's so much rarer than obvious rivals from Audi/BMW/Merc and deserves a bit of a cult following.
@@volkswizardI agree with this summary having owned the car since last February, it definitely could do with some more horse power as it weighs 1774kgs well mine does as it's the sportback, I know it has full leather electric front seats, standard panoramic sunroof and 4wd but it's still too heavy for a car with a 4 cylinder engine tbh, imagine it had the V6! The material quality is less than on my previous car which was a 2019 Skoda superb l&k
Stretan from M539 channel would be happy with you. Keep going please
It’s a stunning looking car but I’d rather have the Passat but great review 👍
Thanks Lee, I don't mind which car you prefer as long as you like the review :)
How many people even if they could would spend 60K on one?
You'd have to be a die hard VW fan, ideally a baby boomer with a triple lock pension, mortgage paid off and be of the 'can't take it with you' mindset and be well and truly in love with the way it looks.
even the new badge looks cheap, its barley 3d and its too big
New badge is easier to reproduce digitially apparently
Wow as a new car proposition hugely expensive and that road tax!
The used prices seem to be bargains.
Love the pop away tow hook.
The scratchy carpet already looks like it wearing in the footwell side.
I see all those £50k and £60k cars for sale and thinking wheres this cost of living crisis?
Glad we agree on the bargain factor and thanks for watching the key bit of the video before commenting. Agreed re the wear on that carpet. It will be interesting to watch these Arteon R prices over next few weeks as there are currently 29 2023 cars for sale, a mix of some ex-VW Fleet cars (KM/KN reg) and dealer demos (reg plate reflects dealer location) and not much is shifting. The big question is, did VW have a MASSIVE profit margin at £60k RRP or are they losing loads of money on these used cars that they still own? Has to be one or the other.
I do enjoy your reviews . Thank you
Glad you like them Robtt, means a lot.
I think the Rs3 5 cylinder engine would have really suited this model, maybe for a limited run special.
The engineers behind the Arteon R said the 5 pot crank was too long inferring this gave it some dynamic deficiency. Agreed it would have been really nice.
@@volkswizardthat's interesting, however as they shunned the idea of a V6 and used a 4 cylinder there is so much empty space under the bonnet.
And we just spoke in another video about this car 😅 thank you
Great video. Comes across as a strange car though... very low headroom in the back (for a big car) and cheap interior would annoy me quite a lot for a car at that price.
I'm not too worried about the headroom but the carpets and plastic put me off even at £37k and final nail in coffin is mpg, doesn't want to top 30 mpg even driven pretty sedately (done more 'normal' (non-test) miles since video was shot). RS6 C7 with its cylinder deactivation wouldn't be much worse.
Cheap interior? Define cheap interior because if you ever set your butt inside one of these is far from being cheap.
Love it! Rare to see on the roads
Glad you liked it!
Love this,.must more special than a golf, and not a pretentious as most SUVs
Nice one jonny, glad you get it too
Best estate for 5k ? Cheap tax. Mpg and boot space needed
Audi a4 Avant sport 1.9tdi
Can't go wrong with a Passat or Octavia TDI, don't let high motorway miles put you off
@@volkswizard thankyou both will look
Great video and very nice car
Thank you Lou! 👍
The one I would choose out of the R line up
Me too Andrew!
Ridiculous price when new and unsurprisingly 50% depreciated in 2 years. Car industry wouldn't be getting away with such crazy pricing if not for company car drivers or folks with no financial savvy buying on lease / PCP.
All these list prices increases have done is line the government coffers with luxury car tax
Good review. Sorry to be negative, but keyless entry and go rule it out. Have you seen what's happening to Range-Rover insurance because of it. A friend who works for Land-Rover, told me it is a concern for them. They know the solution, but don't want to be the first to move 'backwards' to having a key and barrel. Oh and of course the touch screen as well. And cheap carpets and interior for £60,000. No thanks.
I know full well about JLR's security issues as I live near Gaydon and see staff cars of very high value on drives with Halford's steering locks on them which frankly is not a good look. I've not heard of many VW or Audi stolen via relay theft though. All the key needs to do is go to sleep until its moved, not rocket science.
With regards to cheapness of Arteon, the point of the video is to show it's available nearly new for a lot less at a price point that is actually very attractive even considering its flaws. It doesn't have the touchscreen of the Golf 8 so it's quite traditional in that respect with a separate climate control panel.
@@volkswizard .the interior still looks cheap. and sounds as though it is. . The new Audi A3 feels the same. I seems that the group is trying to save money, though the latest Skoda's exude the quality feel that VW's once had.
67k 😂😂😂
Shame it didn’t get thar turbo VR6, with the 4pot it’s simply bland.
The alignment of the chrome trim on the drivers door to the rear door is terrible for a car of this price 9:57
Agreed. I wouldn’t assume factory finish as car may have been painted, have a look in earlier review videos and see if it’s same
Arteon has excellent and finish
I would sell my GTI for this shooting break in a heartbeat. Shame it's not available in the United States; the arteon doesn't sell here well anyways. Nobody even knows it really exists.
Brake!
Always thought these cars looked great but hadly ever see them, can't have sold a lot since they were launched - which is a shame. Ludicrous list price too so I imagine it'll remain very rare!
It’s definitely going to be one of those appreciated long after production is suspended
Better off with a BMW M340i Touring for that money. A better car by far
can you blur your fly
Sounds painful
There here in Australia but I’ve never seen one on the road there just to expensive over $80,000 😅
Be a nice car for Aus, shame nobody agrees but pricing is crucial.
God the modern 3 Series is ugly. Arteon is much nicer.
At least not all 3 series get that fugly chipmonk face but yes Arteon is very graceful and once upon a time people bought BMWs to be different while now it's a default choice for many so Arteon beats pretty much everything for individuality and it's not a bad car, just a bit misunderstood and ridiculously overpriced.
Joe Achilles was clear about this car.
He didn't say you can a nearly new one for £37,000.
Ridiculous cost for such a boring car nobody would look twice at it on the road, put a few more quid in and get an M3
M3 is quite bit more than £37k at under 1 year old/under 5k miles isn't it? I'd guess double
The Arteon actually gets alot of attention.
Did you need the toilet in the last part of this video?
A very feminine looking car, suited very much for a hairdresser or a beta male, surprised it’s not available in baby blue or pink considering it’s girly looks.
Way over priced when you think it’s shares a lot of its parts and engine with other VW cars plus the interior looks cheap and scratchy.
You would be far better saving a packet and getting one of the VW brands which are virtually identical like the Seat or Skoda, plus they don’t look girly like the Arteon R.
Alternatively you could stretch the budget and get a nearly new Mercedes AMG light or BMW M light estate with performance to match, higher end build quality which drive better and you won’t get ribbed for driving a hairdressers car like the Arteon R.
How did you leave a comment from 1991?
🤡
Nearly 70k for a VW 😂😂😂
You can buy a Mercedes EQS for the same price..
You cant beat EVs for depreciation
@@volkswizard True. In less than 10 years it will be nearly impossible for the guy in his Arteon to find a gas station, basic spareparts etc... It will literally be worthless.
A) Bollocks
B) who is keeping it for 10 years?
@@V_Dubya So you do not think an Arteon will last 10 years? Your reaction to A, just shows the entire world that you try to hide under a rock.. Wake up!
You are chatting utter BS. How on earth is this good value. The rs4 starts at 70k. Comes with a v6, 130bhp more and a bigger body. Also weren’t you the guy doesn’t like the golf r? But sing the praises of this which more expensive than the 20yrs, be some margin and slower. Alright mate 😂😂😂😂
You might want to try watching the video
The RS4 is not bigger than the Arteon R in any measure.
@@rohanw1989 hardly notably so. The rs has 9mm shorter wheelbase, 85mm shorter overall, 20mm narrower and 60mm lower roof life. Hardly substantial.
You also get a better engine and far more power.
@@volkswizard see you’ve retitled the video. You lost me when you stated the car on test retails at 77k.
@@rupertm2542 Hold on, aren't YOU the guy who stated the RS4 has a 'bigger body' than the Arteon R which it does not and you have admitted that by posting the measurements. Besides when you actually measure most cars they are substantially bigger than eachother e.g The A7 is 21.7cm longer than the A5 Sportback, has 10.1cm longer wheelbase and is 8.3cm wider, if you measure them side by side Imo that's not a substantial difference but the reality is all of this adds up to better interior space and especially in the case of the the Arteon R Vs RS4 a much larger boot even in the sportback variant.
I'm not saying an Arteon R is a better car than an RS4 or Even RS5 sportback but it does in reality offer more space overall and for someone that may actually need the space and may not have the extra 10k comparing starting prices) to spend, then it is a better fit for them.
Most comments about the Arteon Rs rivals seem to focus on performance but my point is yes that's true but what If someone needs the additional space, especially boot space compared to cars like the M340i, RS4 etc?
That is all.
Time is over for VW, the only decent ones in the group are Skoda & Porsche. VW are way over priced and quality is poor, Audi are going the same way.
If this had a 6 or even a 5 pot I’d be all over it to be honest
Only plus side is agility
£70 grand!! 🤣🤣🤣 We’re heading for a crash so these dreaming GREEDY car manufactures will be doing just that ……dreaming 🤣
BCA are £200 million in debt already 🤣
You can't really blame the manfacturers as they've been forced down an EV black hole by the legislator and are having to maximise the profit opportunities when they can (but £60k for that is frankly deluded)
@@volkswizard Yep l get it mate, but in the real world is the majority that have just seen mortgage and household bill payments skyrocket, but the greedy manufacturers still want to make the same profit margin as yesterday!
Their bean counters are too stupid and haven’t a clue that yesterdays dead and gone and that Joe Average hasn’t got £68k for a VW estate car. So yeah l keep my point that they’re being greedy as I’ve seen £42k Mercs etc. with crap inferior interiors and no electric seats. So twice the price with half the value 🤔