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Volkswagen Arteon

Arteon R: a 563-liter trunk and an optional 270 km/h top speed.1

Researched October 30, 2026 from 26 sources

Also called

  • posh PassatA dig at its Passat roots, despite the extra equipment, richer cabin and added practicality.2

At a glance

0200400
148–316 hpPower
0510
4.9–9.4 s0–100 km/h
0150300
204–270 km/hTop speed
0250500
250–500 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,625–1,830 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.13610

Engine
1.5/2.0 L gas I4; 2.0 L diesel I4; eHybrid: 1.4 L I4 + electric motor3
Layout
Front-engine, FWD or AWD; MQB, related to Passat B83
Gearbox
6-speed manual; 7-speed DSG; eHybrid: 6-speed DSG; US 2019–2021: 8-speed auto3
Built at
Emden/Osnabrück (wagon), Germany; FAW-VW Changchun, China; HICOM Pekan, Malaysia3

The story

Built as a more upmarket CC successor, Volkswagen's flagship fastback sat above the Passat with a 563-liter trunk at launch. Its name pairs 'Art' for its lines with 'eon' for its premium positioning.345

2019: US deliveries finally begin in April20192020: Facelift adds the Shooting Brake20202021: UK eHybrid joins the lineup · R models gain rear-axle torque vectoring · Malaysia's CKD R-Line facelift20212022: US power jumps to 300 hp and DSG20222024: Shooting Brake production ends early20242025: Malaysia gets a Wolfsburg Edition2025 Volkswagen Passat (B6): 2005–2010B6Volkswagen Passat CC / CC: 2008–2016Volkswagen Passat CC / CCVolkswagen Sport Coupé Concept GTE: 2015Volkswagen Arteon (3H7): 2017–present (China since 2019)3H7 200420062008201020122014201620182020202220242026
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones3192021
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
2005–2010Volkswagen Passat (B6)
2008–2016Volkswagen Passat CC / CC
2015Volkswagen Sport Coupé Concept GTE
2017–present (China since 2019)Volkswagen Arteon (3H7)
2019US deliveries finally begin in April
2020Facelift adds the Shooting Brake
2021UK eHybrid joins the lineup
2021R models gain rear-axle torque vectoring
2021Malaysia's CKD R-Line facelift
2022US power jumps to 300 hp and DSG
2024Shooting Brake production ends early
2025Malaysia gets a Wolfsburg Edition
  1. 2019

    US deliveries finally begin in April

    US deliveries began in April after emissions-test delays, with a 268 hp 2.0-liter turbo and an eight-speed automatic.3

  2. 2020

    Facelift adds the Shooting Brake

    The facelift introduced the Shooting Brake wagon alongside the liftback, broadening the family to two body styles.3

  3. 2021

    UK eHybrid joins the lineup

    January brought the UK plug-in hybrid. The Shooting Brake eHybrid R-Line paired a 13 kWh battery with 61 km WLTP electric range and up to 3.7 kW AC charging.26

  4. 2021

    R models gain rear-axle torque vectoring

    Both R body styles arrived in spring with rear-axle torque vectoring, standard DCC adaptive dampers and a blue steering-wheel button for Race mode.17

  5. 2021

    Malaysia's CKD R-Line facelift

    The July facelift arrived with local CKD assembly, a 276 hp 2.0 TSI and 4Motion, less than a year after Malaysia's August 2020 debut.3

  6. 2022

    US power jumps to 300 hp and DSG

    US output rose from 268 to 300 hp, while a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG replaced the eight-speed automatic.38

  7. 2024

    Shooting Brake production ends early

    The German Shooting Brake stopped at the end of 2024 instead of 2026; the liftback had ended in 2023. China's CC continued.3

  8. 2025

    Malaysia gets a Wolfsburg Edition

    The locally assembled liftback honored Volkswagen's home city with B-pillar Wolfsburg crests, retaining its 276 hp 2.0-liter turbo and 4Motion.9

Every generation

  • Volkswagen Passat
    B62005–2010
  • Volkswagen Passat CC / CC
    Volkswagen Passat CC / CC2008–2016
  • Volkswagen Sport Coupé Concept GTE
    Volkswagen Sport Coupé Concept GTE2015
  • Volkswagen Arteon
    3H72017–present (China since 2019)
  • Volkswagen ID.7
    Volkswagen ID.7

Power over the years

From 148 hp to 316 hp in 4 years.

0100200300400 2016201820202022 hp 2017 · 148 hp · 2.0 TDI2017 · 148 hp · 1.5 TSI2017 · 187 hp · 2.0 TSI / 2.0 TDI2017 · 237 hp · 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion2017 · 276 hp · 2.0 TSI 4Motion2018 · 268 hp · UK 2.0 TSI DSG2019 · 268 hp · US 2.0 TSI, 8-speed automatic2020 · 197 hp · 2.0 TDI 4Motion2020 · 215 hp · eHybrid system2021 · 316 hp · R and R Shooting Brake2022 · 300 hp · US 2.0 TSI, 7-speed DSG 316 hp R and R Shooting Brake 148 hp 2.0 TDI
123
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
20171482.0 TDI
20171481.5 TSI
20171872.0 TSI / 2.0 TDI
20172372.0 BiTDI 4Motion
20172762.0 TSI 4Motion
2018268UK 2.0 TSI DSG
2019268US 2.0 TSI, 8-speed automatic
20201972.0 TDI 4Motion
2020215eHybrid system
2021316R and R Shooting Brake
2022300US 2.0 TSI, 7-speed DSG

Versions

8 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    SE / SE Nav (UK)

  • Elegance (UK)

    Standard

    Elegance (UK)

  • R-Line (UK)

    Standard

    R-Line (UK)

  • CC Shooting Brake / Travel Edition (China)

    Standard

    CC Shooting Brake / Travel Edition (China)

  • Standard

    R-Line 4Motion (Malaysia)

    276 hp
  • Arteon R / Arteon R Shooting Brake

    Performance

    Arteon R / Arteon R Shooting Brake

    316 hp

  • Special

    Wolfsburg Edition (Malaysia)

    2025

    276 hp

  • Limited

    R-Line Edition

How to spot one

Look for

  • Headlight accents merge into the grille's horizontal bars.1415
  • The fastback has a low, sweeping roofline.16
  • The large clamshell hood traces the upper edges of the front wheel arches.15
  • A horizontal body crease runs back from the hood edge above the headlights.15

Year by year

  1. 2020 facelift

    The Shooting Brake joins the range, adding a wagon roofline alongside the fastback.17

  2. 2021 (US facelift)

    Digital gauges replace analog dials, and the analog clock disappears from the center of the dashboard.1418

  3. 2021 (R models)

    R models add a glowing grille crossbar, gloss-black bumper bars and optional 20-inch Estoril wheels.17

  4. 2022 (US)

    All trims adopt R-Line styling; capacitive touch controls operate steering-wheel and climate functions.1418

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Volkswagen Arteon
    Arteon
    Photo of a Audi A7
    Audi A7

    Audi A7

    A similar fastback silhouette; look for the VW badge and headlight accents woven into horizontal grille bars.114

  • Volkswagen CC / Passat CC

    The earlier CC is a sedan with a trunk; the Arteon has a large hatchback opening.21419

Against its rivals

  • Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI

    Arteon vs Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI

    0–97 km/h lower is better

    Arteon6.1 s
    Audi A5 Sportback 3.0 TDI6.3 s
    11

  • Arteon vs Kia Stinger GT Line (2022)

    Figure-eight lap lower is better

    Arteon26.9 s
    Kia Stinger GT Line (2022)26.7 s
    18
  • BMW M340i

    Arteon vs BMW M340i

    Base price lower is better

    Arteon56,600 £
    BMW M340i56,455 £
    22
  • Audi S4 TDI

    Arteon vs Audi S4 TDI

    Base price lower is better

    Arteon56,600 £
    Audi S4 TDI49,370 £
    22

Prices

Price when new
$0$25K$50K$75K$100K 2018202020222024 2019 · $47,205 · US SEL Premium R-Line, as tested2021 · $57,133 · Irish 150 TDI Elegance; €≈$1.132021 · $61,427 · Irish 150 TDI R-Line; €≈$1.132021 · $67,410 · Irish 200 TDI R-Line; €≈$1.132021 · $60,297 · Irish eHybrid Elegance; €≈$1.132021 · $62,314 · Irish eHybrid R-Line; €≈$1.132021 · $94,462 · Irish R; €≈$1.132021 · $97,717 · Irish R Shooting Brake; €≈$1.132022 · $41,190 · US SE R-Line, incl. destination2022 · $45,810 · US SEL R-Line base
381626
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2019Price when new$47,205US SEL Premium R-Line, as tested
2021Price when new$57,133Irish 150 TDI Elegance; €≈$1.13
2021Price when new$61,427Irish 150 TDI R-Line; €≈$1.13
2021Price when new$67,410Irish 200 TDI R-Line; €≈$1.13
2021Price when new$60,297Irish eHybrid Elegance; €≈$1.13
2021Price when new$62,314Irish eHybrid R-Line; €≈$1.13
2021Price when new$94,462Irish R; €≈$1.13
2021Price when new$97,717Irish R Shooting Brake; €≈$1.13
2022Price when new$41,190US SE R-Line, incl. destination
2022Price when new$45,810US SEL R-Line base

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 8 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “2:06.20 around Hockenheim GP”
    • “Apprentices built a 483 hp ART3on”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 26 sources
  1. Summary | Volkswagen Newsroom volkswagen-newsroom.com
  2. Used Volkswagen Arteon review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  3. Volkswagen Arteon - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. The New Arteon is now available in German Volkswagen dealer showrooms | Volkswagen Newsroom volkswagen-newsroom.com
  5. Makings of a Masterpiece volkswagen.com.my
  6. VW Arteon: Der Kombi Shooting Brake im Test adac.de
  7. Arteon and Arteon R Shooting Brake: presales of the new performance models now underway | Volkswagen Newsroom volkswagen-newsroom.com
  8. 2022 Volkswagen Arteon gets a big power boost and adds the DSG - Autoblog autoblog.com
  9. 2025 Volkswagen Arteon Wolfsburg Edition at MAS – special design touches, kit; better VAP; from RM265k - paultan.org paultan.org
  10. VW Arteon R specs, 0-60, quarter mile, lap times - FastestLaps.com fastestlaps.com
  11. Volkswagen Arteon vs Audi A5 Sportback | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  12. VW CC Travel Edition, Or How The Arteon Was Turned Into A Sexy Shooting Brake In China | Carscoops carscoops.com
  13. The VW Arteon R-Line Edition (Almost) Makes Up For The VR6 That Never Happened | CarThrottle carthrottle.com
  14. Tested: 2022 Volkswagen Arteon Is the Right Sedan at the Wrong Time caranddriver.com
  15. Design Development: Volkswagen Arteon | Article | Car Design News cardesignnews.com
  16. 2019 Volkswagen Arteon First Test Review: Teutonic Spice motortrend.com
  17. Used Volkswagen Arteon review - ReDriven redriven.com
  18. 2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line First Test Review: Noticeable, But Notable? motortrend.com
  19. Volkswagen CC - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Volkswagen Passat (B6) - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  21. Volkswagen Sport Coupé Concept GTE — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  22. Volkswagen Arteon R 2022 review – is it as appealing as the BMW M340i? | evo evo.co.uk
  23. Volkswagen creates world's fastest Arteon - carsales.com.au carsales.com.au
  24. Why VW Pulled The Plug On A 400bhp VR6 Arteon R | CarThrottle carthrottle.com
  25. Volkswagen | Pete Eckert peteeckert.com
  26. Volkswagen Arteon eHybrid (2021) review | CompleteCar.ie completecar.ie
  • volkswagen-newsroom.com
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • volkswagen.com.my
  • adac.de
  • autoblog.com
  • paultan.org
  • fastestlaps.com
  • carscoops.com
  • carthrottle.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • cardesignnews.com
  • motortrend.com
  • redriven.com

Photo credits

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