The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon is one modern-looking and stylish car, which attracts many prospective customers and car enthusiasts alike. As an added bonus, it has also recently won a major safety award from a trusted organization, making the 2021 VW Arteon an appealing buy for many. 

Let’s take a closer look at this car’s features and why it won a top safety award in its class. 

An overview of the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon

The first impression that the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon gives from the exterior is nothing short of breathtaking. It looks like a much more expensive car as the swooping, narrow grille gives it a look of style and class not seen in other vehicles of this price. The detailing on its wheels also looks sleek and modern, and the rear makes the car seem sporty and aerodynamic. 

The interior is spacious and roomy, and the seating is comfortable. The interior is made with synthetic and genuine leather with some wood detailing that gives it a feel of luxury, but U.S. News notes that it doesn’t feel quite as upscale as its competition. The interior also comes with an intuitive infotainment system, and the 12.3-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit adds a stunning flair to the driver’s side. 

The 2021 VW Arteon comes standard with an 8-inch infotainment system, as well as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, navigation, HD and satellite radio, Wi-Fi hotspot, and much more. There are several advanced features one can opt to purchase if the standard features just don’t provide what they’re looking for, such as a remote start and a panoramic sunroof. 

U.S. News also noted that the car’s performance is just plain mediocre. It doesn’t accelerate very well, despite its 268-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. This is also the only engine available, so those looking for more power and acceleration may opt for something else entirely. 

The 2021 VW Arteon’s safety features

Perhaps the most notable characteristic of the 2021 VW Arteon is its safety features. Standard safety features on the 2021 Arteon include forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera, and more. This is a commendable list for standard features, but the optional advanced safety features are even more impressive.

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon’s advanced safety features include parallel and perpendicular park assist, traffic sign recognition, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, surround-view parking system, and much more. 

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon won a Top Safety Pick Award

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a well-respected and trusted nonprofit that works to promote motor vehicle safety and reduce the number of vehicular deaths in America. Each year, IIHS releases a list of their picks for their coveted Top Safety Pick award. To be a contender, a vehicle must score highly on several “crashworthiness” evaluations that determine how safe a vehicle can keep individuals inside the car in the event of a crash. 

Additionally, contenders must receive high ratings for crash prevention among vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents. Finally, vehicles worthy of this prize must also have headlights that are deemed at least “acceptable” or higher. 

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon hit – and surpassed – all of these metrics thanks to its new standard front crash prevention system and other modern safety features. This ultimately earned it the title of a Top Safety Pick from IIHS. Unfortunately, this only applies to 2021 VW Arteon models that are equipped with LED projector headlights that come with the SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line trims. The SE trim’s headlights received a poor rating, making it ineligible to win the award. 

Keep this in mind when considering a 2021 VW Arteon, but know that it’s an overall incredible vehicle that will likely be an excellent fit for most people.