Motoring

F i r s t D R I V E

Volkswagen VW Arteon

Volkswagen’s Arteon is a roomy coupe that chucks in some style to boost the VW Passat’s family-friendly formula.

The Arteon’s large grille makes sure it sticks out from other coupes, but the well-built cabin isn’t quite as striking. The digital instruments are cool, but most of the interior has been appropriated from the more conservative, and cheaper, Passat. The space inside the VW Arteon is fantastic though, and the seats very comfortable. The car will seat a family-of-five – with rear seat passengers getting masses of legroom. The boot is enormous, too. Everyone’s luggage will fit in there – no problem. One of the best powertrains for the model is the 2.0-litre 150ps diesel mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. It packs enough punch and is economical – achieving up to 50.4mpg. On the road, the German coupe soaks up potholes well, particularly when you move the optional adaptable suspension into ‘comfort’ setting. There is also a stack of technology to keep you out of harm’s way. For instance, the car comes with adaptive cruise control; there’s also gadgetry that will automatically pull over and stop the Arteon if it senses you’ve dropped off at the wheel. No surprise then that this Volkswagen achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating during crash testing. So, not only is the Volkswagen Arteon a goodlooking and practical coupe, but it is also a car well matched to family motoring.

Fast FACTS

VW Arteon Elegance TDI 2.0 150PS DSG Pros ‘n’ Cons

Great looks  Safety Kit  Ride Room  Dull Cabin 

Max speed: 137 mph 0-62 mph: 9.1 seconds Combined mpg: 51.4 Engine layout: 1968cc diesel turbo Max. power (PS): 150 CO2: 118 g/km

Price: £35,440