When you think of luxury cars produced by German marques, your first thoughts are likely to be in the direction of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Alpina, AMG, Maybach, Porsche, and Audi. They have consistently produced some of the best luxury vehicles the market can offer for decades, and they are often used as a benchmark for comparing luxury vehicles from around the world. But, there is a Volkswagen model that quietly brings everything you could ask for from a luxury sedan, but without the Mercedes-esque price tag.
In a segment where six-figure price tags and three-pointed stars or roundels are often seen as the entry ticket to true luxury, the Volkswagen Arteon slipped under the radar with a proposition that was almost too good to be true: Audi-level refinement, BMW-rivaling dynamics, and Mercedes-like grand-touring comfort, all wrapped in a stunning fastback body that turned heads wherever it went—yet it wore a humble VW badge and carried a price tag tens of thousands of dollars lower than its corporate cousins. For the buyer who values substance over status, driving experience over dealership prestige, and genuine driving pleasure over badge snobbery, the Arteon wasn’t just an alternative; it was the smartest choice on the market. Sadly, American buyers largely overlooked it, making this elegant, powerful sedan one of the best-kept secrets in the used luxury car world today.
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
7-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
300 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
- Fuel Economy
-
25/33 MPG
- Make
-
Volkswagen
- Model
-
Arteon
- Segment
-
Midsize Sedan
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 are the German sedan lineup you may not have thought of when you think about a sedan that can outclass the likes of Mercedes and BMW.
Fairly priced, a selection of powerful engines under the hood, and sprint times you wouldn’t expect from a VW give it a unique character that’s hard to ignore. Plus, an abundance of luxury and comfortable features are included, as is a sleeper sedan style that is hard to kick out of fashion. Imagine what the Arteon could have been if more people in the U.S.A. had bought it during its original run.
The Arteon Proves Volkswagen Can Do Stunning, Too
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 surprise 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, which is exactly what you’d want in a refined grand tourer that doesn’t sacrifice function for form.
The Unexpected Challenger To German Prestige Brands
When the Arteon hit the showrooms back in the U.S.A., it surprised many who knew VW as the German brand that gives you a little bit of luxury in their sedans, but were more about practicality. Think of the Jetta and the Passat. Here is a sleek, fastback-style four-door sedan that looks and feels like something you’d expect to buy from BMW or Audi, not VW. Thanks to its upscale design and spacious interior, the Arteon didn’t just square up to the more “prestigious” Germans, but was fully gunning for them.
Price-wise, in 2019, the Arteon was way cheaper than some of its rivals when it was released, like the Audi A5 Sportback (MSRP of $49,700), the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé (MSRP of $50,600), and the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe ($59,550). Despite its relative bargain value by comparison, it still boasts a heck of an engine, a lot of sporty features, great versatility, and that European luxury styling that goes a long way on our roads.
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The Arteon’s Style Evolution Made VW Look Like A Luxury Leader
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 2019 R-Line delivered with bold bumpers, exclusive badging, and your 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 base models carried a premium, sporty attitude. Sure, Mercedes and BMW can match the aesthetic—but expect to pay significantly more to get it.
Performance Ability That Allows It To Compete With Its Countrymen
The VW Arteon wouldn’t be much of a competition to its German counterparts without being able to perform, but considering its sensible pricing and VW badge, it can shift. 2019–2021 models are equipped with a relatively powerful turbo-four, which can kick out a square amount of horsepower and torque, and can send the 3,665- to 3,854-pound Arteon to 60 MPH in just under 6.5 seconds.
Volkswagen Arteon Performance Specifications
|
2019-2021 Volkswagen Arteon |
2022-2023 Volkswagen Arteon |
|
|
Engine |
2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four |
2.0-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four |
|
Transmission |
Eight-Speed Automatic |
Seven-Speed Automated Manual |
|
Horsepower |
268 Horsepower |
300 Horsepower |
|
Torque |
258 LB-FT |
295 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive |
Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.4 Seconds |
4.6 Seconds – 5 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
128 MPH (Limited) |
128 MPH (Limited) |
That isn’t bad, but it is the final model years that take luxury sedan performance credentials right into the face of its rivals. With the AWD models boasting a claimed rest-to-60 time of 4.6 seconds, that makes them faster 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 (five seconds), while it also makes it as fast to 60 MPH as the manual 2019 Porsche 718 Boxster.
The Go-Fast Features That Make It A Luxury Sleeper
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 impressive 0–60 mph times and a sharp, responsive feel as you shift through the gears. And with available 4MOTION all-wheel drive, it keeps all that power planted with confidence.
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 secret gem in plain sight.
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High-End Comfort Features, Thoughtful Design, And….
To top it off that the Arteon was built to take on Mercedes-Benz, the interior takes a leaf from their design book. It is slick, comfortable, spacious, and it boasts luxurious features. Up front, you get 41.2 inches of legroom; in the back, your passengers get a very generous 40.2 inches of legroom, and if you fold down the rear seats, 56.2 cubic feet of storage room is opened up.
Standard features are impressive and include heated front seats, Climatronic tri-zone auto climate control, and V-Tex leather upholstery. The cabin is highlighted tastefully with ambient lighting, contrast stitching, and aluminum or Black Carbon trim, depending on what trim you go for, while upper trims like the SEL Premium R-Line give you a lot more in the way of luxury, with features including:
- Ventilated front seats
- A massaging driver’s seat
- A heated steering wheel
- A panoramic sunroof
Advanced Technology Throughout The Cabin
Every Arteon comes standard with Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a fully customizable display that allows drivers to tailor navigation, speed, and assist systems to their liking—familiar territory for recent VW owners. While earlier models offered an optional 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, it’s worth checking the used market if you’re after that feature. 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 far beyond what you’d expect from a typical Volkswagen sedan.
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Owning A Volkswagen Arteon Today
It may not have the Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi badging, but the VW Arteon delivers a huge amount in the luxury segment, and one of the best things about it is, it has never cost a fortune. When it was initially released in the U.S.A. back in 2019, starting prices were “only” around the $37,000 mark. Fast-forward to its final MY in 2023, and starting prices rose to just north of $44,000.
Today, average used prices for a Volkswagen Arteon (across all MYs) range from just under $18,000 to just over $32,000 for the newest top-range Arteon you can get your hands on. While we see luxury cars lose their value quicker than a lot of other markets, in this case, it isn’t necessarily because they are worthless, they’re no good, or they are unreliable, but because they just don’t have the same pull to them as other German badges, and no one wanted them when they were released.
Volkswagen Arteon Average Used Values
|
Model |
Lowest Average Used Price |
Highest Average Used Price |
Average Price (All Trims) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2019 Volkswagen Arteon |
$14,000–$16,000 |
$23,000–$25,000 |
$19,500–$21,000 |
|
2020 Volkswagen Arteon |
$16,000–$18,000 |
$25,000–$28,000 |
$20,000–$22,000 |
|
2021 Volkswagen Arteon |
$18,000–$20,000 |
$27,000–$30,000 |
$21,500–$23,500 |
|
2022 Volkswagen Arteon |
$22,000–$24,000 |
$30,000–$33,000 |
$25,000–$27,000 |
|
2023 Volkswagen Arteon |
$24,000–$26,000 |
$32,000–$35,000 |
$29,000–$32,000 |
Running Costs And Things To Know About The VW Arteon
According to Car Edge, the VW Arteon model years have an overall cost-to-own rating of “C-,” so not the best, but certainly not the worst. Depreciation does take its toll, with a reported value loss of 46 percent over five years, but again, this is not far from the norm in the luxury segment, while fuel costs can be expensive as well.
The good thing about the Arteon, though, is that over five years, maintenance costs only contribute to 4 percent of costs, with an average five-year maintenance bill of $2,152 (average of $430 a year).
Because there was an engine change for the 2022 MY, fuel economy stats depend on what model year you take a look at. If you buy a 2019-2021 Arteon, you can expect it to be able to muster a combined MPG rating of 25 MPG (22 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway), costing you, on average, $2,500 a year for gas. If you go for a 2022-2023 Arteon, you get that extra power plus the same MPG rating from the 4MOTION AWD model, and a slightly better fuel return for the FWD model.
Volkswagen Arteon EPA Figures
|
Spec |
2022-2023 Volkswagen Arteon |
|
|
FWD/AWD Model |
FWD Model |
4MOTION AWD Model |
|
Combined MPG Rating |
28 MPG |
25 MPG |
|
City MPH/Highway MPG |
24 MPG/34 MPG |
22 MPG/30 MPG |
|
Average Annual Fuel Cost |
$2,200 |
$2,500 |
The Arteon is by no means the cheapest luxury car to run, but if you can look past the running costs, you’ll have yourself a well-priced luxury sleeper sedan that combines grace, speed, comfort, and a lot of kudos from previous owners. According to reviews left on Kelley Blue Book, 95 percent of owners would recommend the Arteon, giving it an overall score of 5 out of 5.
This car is a unicorn in the sedan class. Aesthetics are incredibly elegant. The materials are upscaled to an Audi sibling. Comfortable and fun to drive. The functionality checked all the right boxes…
-2023 Volkswagen Arteon owner via KBB
Other Hidden Luxury Sedans
It may be a shame for many a fan of ICE sedans that the VW Arteon was discontinued for the 2024 MY, but Volkswagen did introduce the ID.7 as an EV successor to this luxury beast the same year, which offers a lot of luxury features and a slick style, just with electric motors over an engine. But, the Arteon is by far not the only luxury sedan with the might to take on the German stalwart models in a more undercover, generally cheaper, and “less shouty” manner.
Sleeper Sedans’ Performance And Price
|
Model |
Engine |
Horsepower/Torque |
Average Used Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2024 Lexus IS500 F SPORT PERFORMANCE |
5.0-Liter V8 |
472 Horsepower/395 LB-FT |
$64,000–$69,000 |
|
2024 Cadillac CT5-V |
3.0-Liter Bi-Turbo V6 |
360 Horsepower/405 LB-FT |
$58,000–$68,000 |
|
2020 Genesis G70 3.3T |
3.3-Liter Turbocharged V6 |
252 Horsepower/260 LB-FT |
$23,000–$26,000 |
|
2024 Mazda 3 Sedan 2.5 Turbo |
2.5-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four |
250 Horsepower/320 LB-FT |
$28,000–$32,000 |
Source: J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, Car Edge, and Fuel Economy.gov.