• P11D Value, £40,570 (as tested)
• 5-door, Fastback
• Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo
• Power/torque: 272ps/350Nm
• Economy/CO2: 31.4mpg/161g/km
• Performance: 0-62/mph, 5.6 secs/155mph

What is it?

In short, it’s kind of a sporty Passat, moving away from the former Passat CC into a more Gran Tourismo, fastback style.

It’s pitched against the likes of sister brand Audi’s A5 and the Kia Stinger. So what does it offer busy SME drivers and user choosers?

Plenty of space for one thing. VW has not compromised on what the Passat offers for the sake of style.

The Arteon is not just a different name, it has the style too. VW has done a great job in making this car look good, another point in its favour against those competitors.

There are two trim levels, Elegance and R-Line which adds some sporty detail and features less chrome for a slightly more menacing look.

The Arteon comes with a choice of two, 2-litre engines, a 280hp petrol and a 240hp diesel.

Both those engine choices come mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission, while VW’s 4Motion, all-wheel-drive is also a feature.

Why would you want a VW Arteon?

• Great looks
• Bags of space inside for this style of car
• Plenty of power on tap from the 280hp petrol
• Smooth running
• Massive boot for this class of car
• Lots of equipment as standard

What might put you off a VW Arteon?

• Light steering could give a bit more feedback
• Residual values may not be as high as you would like given this car may only appeal to small numbers of buyers – but a great second hand buy.
• Not quite the ‘drivers’ car that you may expect from BMW or Audi
• It has the looks but not the badge

Our verdict on the VW Arteon

The petrol engine we tried is silky smooth and very dignified for the cruise around town. Press the loud pedal and you can induce a raspy exhaust note and plenty of power for acceleration when needed.

It rides nicely on its 20-inch wheels as well while the suspension offers adjustment through the usual settings including Comfort, Normal and Sport, On normal driving you are unlikely to experience much difference between them – normal it is then.

In this mode, the Arteon handles perfectly acceptably, corners sweetly and it’s just one of those cars that you know can ‘do it’ – but you don’t feel the need to.

If you start to throw the car around in sporty settings you are kind of missing the whole Gran Tourismo point. A wide track and the 4Motion system keep things nicely in line and in comfort.

The Arteon is a very satisfying long distance cruiser and if you want more excitement during your drive you’re probably better off with something like a BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe

Inside, like the Passat, there’s plenty of space for four adults while five-up things are not too much of a squeeze and equipment levels are high giving the VW the edge in the value proposition against its German rivals.

Seats are comfortable, and the driving position good while rear view is surprisingly good given the tapered roofine at the back. Add to this a large boot and a huge hatchback and you really are all set for some long distance touring.

Standard equipment on our model included keyless entry and start, courtesy lighting, Discover Navigation and infotainment system, 8-inch colour touchscreen, puddle lights and a host of driver and safety aids.

Additional on our model was rear view camera (£800), Sound insulating acoustics pack (£550), Tyre pressure monitoring system (£140), side assist and rear traffic alert (£525), Park assist (£660), 14-way adjustable drivers seat (£1,000) and various climate and seat heating additional at around another £600. Then there was a audio sound pack (£1010).

The Arteon is certainly a bold move by VW and it you look at the likes of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, Audi A5 and Kia Stinger, there is a market out there for such cars. The size of that market is another thing.

If you are not too worried about the badge you will certainly get more bang for your buck with the VW over its German premium rivals.

.