The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon receives a substantial refresh for its third year on the market. The exterior wears a revised grille complemented by an available LED light bar. Interiors receive a refinished dashboard with touch-sensitive climate controls, an updated infotainment interface, and newly standard configurable digital gauges. The SE gains aluminum trim inside, while SEL models get translucent appliques. A semi-autonomous driving system called Travel Assist is available for the first time.
The monthly payment is based on the price of this vehicle assuming it is financed. If you choose to lease, you can also use the payment calculator to determine your lease terms. Default values for financing include: Term of months, APR of , and Sales Tax of . Default values for leasing include: Term of months, Money Factor of , Residual Value of , and Sales Tax of .
2021 Volkswagen Arteon
Expert Rating
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2-Star: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.
1-Star: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.
The monthly payment is based on the price of this vehicle assuming it is financed. If you choose to lease, you can also use the payment calculator to determine your lease terms. Default values for financing include: Term of months, APR of , and Sales Tax of . Default values for leasing include: Term of months, Money Factor of , Residual Value of , and Sales Tax of .
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2021 Volkswagen Arteon Overview

What's New
Choosing your Volkswagen Arteon
The Arteon is available in three trim levels: SE, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line. Pricing starts at $38,190 including destination and tops out at $48,190 for the SEL Premium R-Line.
Engine Choices
Every trim is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 260 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission does the shifting. The front-drive SE and SEL R-Line are EPA-rated at 22 miles per gallon city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 combined.
The SEL Premium R-Line comes exclusively with VW's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. Estimates for this model ease to 20/29/23 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The Arteon is surprisingly spacious inside, and five can get comfortable with no problem. While it looks like a proper sedan, the Arteon is actually a hatchback with 27.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat. With the seats folded, the Arteon can handle up to 55 cubic feet of stuff — on par with many compact crossovers.
Safety Features
The Arteon starts out with blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and front collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking.
Stepping up to the SEL R-Line brings adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and front and rear parking sensors. The new Travel Assist feature can integrate the underlying technology into a semi-autonomous driving experience. SEL Premium R-Line tops things off with a surround-view camera.
Connectivity
The standard infotainment system for the Arteon covers all the bases. Buyers get an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, eight-speakers, two USB ports, HD and satellite radio, wi-fi capability, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The SEL trims also get wireless device charging and a rear USB port. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system is exclusive to the SEL Premium R-Line.
The SE features a leatherette interior with heated 12-way power front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, aluminum trim, push-button start, and VW's Digital Cockpit.
Other perks include an adaptive suspension, automatic wipers, proximity key access, and heated power side mirrors with driver auto-dimming. The SE rolls on 18-inch alloy wheels.
The SEL R-Line goes upmarket with Nappa leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, remote start, and ambient interior lighting pared with translucent trim. The exterior gets 19-inch wheels and adaptive headlights connected by an LED accent strip.
Along with AWD, the SEL R-Line Premium offers ventilated front seats with driver massage, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. A hands-free power liftgate and 20-inch wheels are also part of the deal.
Compare Arteon Trims Side-By-Side
The SE carries a nice set of features, but there are no options to spice things up. The SEL R-Line provides enough extras — like Nappa leather and the panoramic sunroof — to fully justify its higher price. The SEL R-Line Premium gets our recommendation only if your travels require AWD.
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