[Taboleo] Don't Be Satisfied with the Surface, the Inside Is Even Stronger: 'Ateon'

First Introduced in the Domestic Market in 2018
Making a Comeback with a Facelift Model in January This Year
The Most Beautiful Sedan in Volkswagen's History

Volkswagen New Arteon Exterior
Photo by Volkswagen

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] There are various factors to consider when buying a car. Price, performance, and appearance are representative examples. In that sense, Volkswagen's mid-size sedan Arteon can be considered a truly beautiful vehicle in terms of appearance. After first debuting in Korea in 2018, it returned this January as a facelifted model. After driving it for a short time, I felt that it is a car that can satisfy consumers not only in looks but also in performance in many ways.

- How are the exterior and interior of the Arteon?

▲ The Arteon is praised as "the most beautiful sedan in Volkswagen's history." I would give its appearance a higher score than other vehicles in the same class. This facelifted model features a sleeker front design. The radiator grille is chrome-trimmed and connected to the headlamps, creating an effect that makes it look larger. The lower part of the grille has also been changed. Large air intakes on both sides of the new bumper add a more dynamic feel.

Maintaining the fastback design (a body style where the roof slopes smoothly down to the rear end) was also a highlight. Additionally, the sharp undercut at the rear makes the body appear lower. The Volkswagen logo and Arteon lettering on the tailgate, combined with the LED rear combination lamps, complete a voluminous rear end.

The interior is clean and neat. The dashboard and doors are wrapped in aluminum material. The ambient lighting creates an overall luxurious atmosphere inside the vehicle. For reference, there are as many as 30 ambient light colors available. You can apply your preferred colors to the door panels, dashboard, and decor. The digital instrument cluster is also customizable. When passing through tunnels, the subtle interior lighting creates a very pleasant ambiance.

The new Arteon is equipped with a 9.2-inch ‘MIB3 Discover Pro’ infotainment system. Drivers can operate desired functions using proximity sensors, gesture control, touch, and voice recognition. Notably, it includes a Korean navigation system developed by Volkswagen headquarters, wireless app connect supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. These features show careful attention to detail.

- How about the driving performance?

▲ It uses the next-generation ‘EA288 evo 2.0 TDI’ engine. It reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by about 80% compared to the previous generation engine. It meets the latest European emission standards, Euro 6d. It also produces a maximum output of 200 horsepower, which is 10 horsepower higher than the previous model. Maximum torque is 40.8 kg·m between 1750 and 3500 rpm. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. The top speed is 237 km/h.

Interior View of the New Volkswagen Arteon
Photo by Volkswagen

The biggest drawbacks of diesel engines are noise and vibration. However, the Arteon is somewhat better in this regard. There is some noise, but it is quieter than expected. The strengths of the Arteon unfold while driving. When pressing the accelerator pedal, the response is somewhat slow initially but accelerates quickly after a certain point. The smooth acceleration seems to be influenced by the 7-speed DCT transmission applied. The new Arteon offers driving modes such as Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual. In Sport mode, the steering wheel feels heavier, and the suspension becomes firmer.

Since most of the driving was on highways, I couldn't test it extensively, but driving it was quite enjoyable. Notably, the adaptive chassis control (DCC) allows the suspension dampers to be adjusted in 15 stages. The ability for the driver to customize settings is a big advantage.

Additionally, the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), which is common in modern vehicles, was satisfying. Volkswagen calls it ‘IQ.Drive.’ It integrates cruise control, lane-keeping assist, side assist, and other driving assistance systems by utilizing the vehicle’s front camera, radar, and ultrasonic sensors.

Volkswagen New Arteon Exterior
Photo by Volkswagen

- Fuel efficiency is a strong point, right?

▲ Another advantage of the Arteon is its fuel efficiency. Even though electric vehicles are becoming mainstream, issues like charging station availability and high fuel costs remain concerns, so fuel efficiency is an important factor that can attract consumers. The official combined fuel efficiency of the Arteon is 15.5 km per liter. This is an improvement over the 2020 model, which had 15.2 km/l. In actual driving, it performed even better. The price of the new Arteon 2.0 TDI Prestige model is 54,908,000 KRW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.