If you’re looking for a cushioned ride that’s also practical and lively, the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon might be the sedan for you. The Arteon incorporates both luxury and efficiency, making it an attractive buy. This sedan’s acceleration and driving dynamics helped it earn the title as the best luxury sedan for road tripping according to Consumer Reports. 

What makes the Arteon ideal for road trips

CR gave the Arteon high marks because of its performance capability and comfort levels. Car critics love how quickly the Arteon can accelerate to higher speeds as well as how it handles rough spots on the road. It’s also uniquely trendy, given its hatchback functionality paired with its coupe body style.

In addition to its sharp handling and sportiness, the Arteon is generally very comfortable to ride in. The standard faux leather upholstery is attractive and durable, plus the seats are contoured just right. Head- and legroom are also pretty generous. Heated front seats come standard. Interior upgrades include genuine leather, a massaging driver’s seat, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. 

Power and fuel-efficiency 

The Arteon gets its power from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes a 268 horsepower. This turbocharged engine is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission which contributes to its sportiness and smoothness. Although depending on who you are as a driver, you might find the Arteon’s engine gets to be too loud when you hit the gas pedal.

Another thing to consider is the Arteon’s fuel economy rating. It’s not really bad or anything‐ it’s just average. The Arteon gets up to a combined 25 mpg which is a bit of a disappointment compared to others in its class. If you choose to upgrade to all-wheel drive, the fuel economy is even lower. 

Infotainment 

Infotainment-wise, the Arteon is pretty great. Standard infotainment features include an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a wifi hotspot. You also have the choice to upgrade from the 8-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker one and add on navigation. Volkswagen’s “Digital Cockpit” is also available and ousts the standard instrument panel for a 12.3-inch display screen.

Not only are the infotainment features on the Arteon ideal, but they are also very easy to use, even while driving. The controls are well-finished and simple. The system’s menus are easy to maneuver too. 

Safety and reliability 

At this time, the Volkswagen Arteon has not been completely evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On the contrary, the sedan has been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS gave the Arteon good test scores overall.

Advanced safety features are also a benefit of the Arteon. Standard features include forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and pedestrian detection. There are additional features available such as lane-keep assist, parking sensors, and a surround-view parking camera. 

Since the Arteon was only officially introduced in 2019, CR doesn’t have that much detailed data on the sedan’s predicted reliability. J.D. Power on the other hand has given the Arteon an average predicted reliability rating.