Volkswagen Arteon matches pose with poise

What was once known as the Passat CC has been replaced by Volkswagen with the Arteon, a car that has a striking pose and one that they hope will take on some of the more illustrious brands in the premium segment of coupe-styled cars.

Here’s a real head turner, especially in its Turmeric Yellow colour of the test car that I had out last week. Putting the bazaar colouring aside, the shape and the kerb appeal of the Arteon offers a handsome presence where the slender lines are beautifully integrated with the grille, the windows and the lights culminating in a real triumph for the designers.

Inside, too, engineers have taken trusted VW furnishings and given them an Audi-styled makeover. The result is a super-modern cabin with all the essentials are there in their proper place. Long horizontal lines from one side of the dash to the other add to the feeling of space and with clever ambient lighting along some of the edges, it is an even better place to sit at night than it is by day.

There are three trim levels for Arteon in Ireland: Arteon, Arteon Elegance and Arteon R-Line. The test car was the top-rated R-Line, which is more sporty than the other and comes with the standard package plus an R-Line steering wheel and seats, scuff plates and exterior badging and bumpers, 19” ‘Montevideo’ alloy wheels, running rear indicators, dynamic headlight range control with dynamic cornering light, voice control and adaptive chassis control.

On the road, the Arteon in this R-Line specification may just be trying a little too hard to be all things to all drivers. As the sportier version of the car you would expect the sharpness and the feedback of a sports coupe. However, it still leans to the more fluid, luxurious side of the car.

In some situations, such as on the motorway and about town, the ride and handling hits the spot and is super swish and very smooth. However, on the bumpier twisty stuff the car lacks that edge you want from a sporty coupe. It may only be a mild boatiness you get but you are never quite sure if either end is connected and that tends to lessen the confidence in the corners that you get from some of its rivals in the premium coupe league.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.