Is the Arteon Just As Good As the Stinger?
I had they keys to the VW Arteon for a week. Here are my thoughts.
Volkswagen revealed the Arteon back in 2017 to replace the CC. It is designed to compete with the market of luxury cars that don't hold a candle to manufacturers such as Bentley and Rolls Royce. This market is for those who want the comfort and feel of luxury. When I think of this, I think of the Chrysler 300C instantly. But when I saw what the Arteon is about, I knew it was built to compete with a different breed of luxury. Mid-range styling, performance, and comfort. The car that came to mind was the Kia Stinger. Why? Because the Arteon is technically a hatchback just like the Stinger. But, is the Arteon just as good? Let's find out.
Styling
"...creates a warm and fuzzy..."
The Arteon, at first glance in this color, is quite loud. As time went by, it grew on me. Once I began to really look at it, I noticed plenty of flowing lines that all had the purpose to excite someone should it pass them. The Arteon has a sleek body with curves and edges that just creates a warm and fuzzy feeling inside that builds up as I got closer to it. Then, looking at the headlights and the grille, I notice the seriousness of how Volkswagen want to look in the luxury world. The front fascia kind of looks like someone who is judging others for buying the wrong car. And I could agree with that when it comes to the style. As for the back, it is just as good as the front looks but in a different way. All around, the Kia Stinger didn't have this affect on me.
Interior Design
"...follows with the flow..."
The interior of the Arteon is not only beautifully designed but very spacious. As for the designing, the key note to make is that the vents that run along the dashboard look almost identical to the lines on the grille. The seats are comfortable as ever. Not only are they heated but ventilated as well. The lumbar support that is in the Arteon also acts like a back relaxer. I mean in the sense in where it expands and detracts to flex the lumbar area. The last part I loved about the design of the interior is the ambient lighting at night time. It goes with everything the car was designed on the outside. The green lighting follows with the flow of the Arteon both inside and out. It joins everything. The Kia Stinger only offered beautifully crafted buttons and a well designed interior for the day. As for the interior space, there is plenty of it. So much space, that it can hold four fully-sized adults very comfortably. The Stinger had this same amount of space.
Price and Options
So, how much does this Arteon cost? Just short of $46,000. What does the Arteon comes with? Well, for safety it has; ABS, anti-slip regulation and engine brake assist, electronic brake distribution, hydraulic brake assist, electronic stability control, electronic differential lock, intelligent response system, rear view camera system, overhead 360 degree camera view, parking steering assistant, front and rear sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and advanced airbags. For comfort and convenience, the Arteon comes with a heated telescoping steering wheel, powered front seats, heated rear seats, infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, and satellite navigation. It doesn't seem like much, but it is.
Performance
"...poised and flows through..."
Now, I know there is a big difference between the Stinger and Arteon. But the Arteon gives the Stinger a run for its money in several aspects. The 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder produces a whopping 268 horsepower. This makes it a simply de-tuned Golf R engine that was placed in a sedan hatch with an all-wheel drive system. Steering on the Arteon is light, but becomes tight when put in sport mode. Tires don't necessarily offer much feedback until sport mode is engaged. The suspension and ride comfort is great and keeps everything nice and tidy while going through corners. The Arteon stays poised and flows through the corners with no drama. As for fuel economy, I was able to achieve 26 miles to the gallon with my spirited driving.
Conclusion
So, is the Arteon just as good as the Stinger? I would say yes, it is. Sure it doesn't have the performance that the Stinger has when it comes to power, but it makes up for it elsewhere in design, comfort, and luxury. The Arteon is a sure competitor of the Kia Stinger. No other manufacturer, to my knowledge, has done something like this to keep the flames of competition alive. I must say though, I am stumped by which car I would rather have. Honestly. Which leaves me to one thing: If someone prefers the Arteon over the Stinger, or vice versa, then it is only a matter of preference.
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Comments (15)
My sister was looking at both. I told her “Have you seen the new VW Arteon?” She would reply no, look it up, and so on. She did the same with the Kia. I told her about it, she learned about it and boom. Which did she choose? A Subaru Legacy!
Hahaha. Atleast you know she will be safe. But I did that with the Kona for my sister. She bought a 500X.
Looking forward to that
Indeed.
Good review. I agree. I like the Arteon's styling, but in terms of power and affordability, I'd have the Kia
Indeed.
Honestly the Arteon being an affordable luxury car for it's styling should make it a fairly popular buy in my opinion. I'd be interesting if they ever put a 5 or 6 cylinder engine in it if the time's right. That or a hybrid variant where the electric motor adds to the performance in a version of sport mode.
This is true.
Enjoyed your review. I never thought of comparing the Arteon with the Stinger. I guess because I didn’t realize the Arteon was a hatchback but it now makes more sense. Having owned 4 VW’s over the course of nearly 30 years, my bias is towards the Arteon. I’m sure the Stinger has its charms but I just can’t stand looking at them.
I know. I love the Arteon and that's my benchmark car for a topic like this. What is funny though is that I had the chance to drive a Genesis and I prefer the Stinger over it because the Stinger felt more luxurious.
Wow, I never would’ve predicted that. Just goes to show...