2021 VW Arteon Shooting Brake Review

[@garymcmahon3981]

It wouldn't be a review without Rebecca's 5ft 4 and a half, its what I wait for in every vlog 😀😀

[@ubroberts5541]

Plus her little head. Girls have small heads...

[@wolvoman1]

@@ubroberts5541 She would still be 5 foot 4 and a half

[@stephenhendricks103]

As an American I appreciate seeing the perspective from the UK about vehicles available on both sides of the Atlantic. I thought some European readers might find an American perspective on the Arteon to be of interest. So... Unfortunately we don't get the Shooting Brake/Estate/Wagon as a result of our national obsession with SUVs. Nevertheless, the 5 door hatch/liftback is very appealing despite the fact that our version differs in some ways from the Euro-spec Arteon. For example, we don't get the DSG available in Europe. Instead, we get a conventional 8 speed automatic. Apparently because VW believes (probably correctly) that Americans remain skeptical about the behavior of dual clutch transmissions. Nor do we have the engine choices available in Europe. The only option is a version of VW's excellent EA888 petrol engine. Here it's tuned between the GTI and the Golf R with 268 hp/258 lb ft torque and lacks the dual injection of the European version. Only three trim levels are available in the US, a base SE version and two "R-Line" models that offer AWD but lack the performance tuning of the European "R" model with its considerably higher output engine. VW invests virtually nothing in advertising the Arteon in America and sales are weak but the entire "midsize" sedan market is soft in the US. Fortunately, VW apparently remains committed to offering the Arteon here. How long that will last is a question mark. On the bright side, though, the US versions of the Arteon hatch are considerably more affordable than the European counterparts. For example, the mid-trim AWD SEL R-Line has an MSRP in the US of $45,000. (about $31,700 pounds based on direct currency conversion.) Even better news is that here in the Seattle, Washington area dealers are offering that model at discounts of $6000 to $7000 off MSRP. The top trim SEL Premium R-Line comes in at $48,000, again with a discount of $6000 to $7000. Those prices put the mid-trim SEL R-Line Arteon transaction price at the same level as a fully loaded top trim Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, neither of which offers AWD. (In each case local excise tax, title and license charges add no more than 8% to the total price.) We Americans may have crumbling highways and bridges and lack the option of long distance affordable rail travel but we pay less than Europeans for our cars. Whether that's a fair exchange is another topic. Finally, the most obvious rival of the Arteon sedan in the US is the KIA "liftback" Stinger with the new 2.5L turbo four cylinder base engine. (As far as I know that engine choice isn't available in the UK but I may be incorrect.) The Arteon and Stinger (GT-Line) are virtually the same length and nearly equal in price. The Stinger is an RWD or RWD-biased AWD design compared to the FWD and FWD-biased AWD of the Arteon. The performance specs on paper favor the GT-LIne Stinger but third party ECU tuning of the Arteon erases the differences in HP and torque. The Arteon's interior is considerably more upscale (though with less engaging eye candy) than the Stinger. And the Arteon outshines the (base trim) Stinger in terms of handling with its DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) and electronically controlled LSD. Finally, though the overall size of the two is nearly identical, the interior passenger and cargo space is considerably greater than the Stinger. For someone who appreciates both the VW and KIA brands (I own a KIA Sorento and a GTI), it's a tough choice but having driven each recently, I'd opt for the Arteon.

[@jitengori9268]

Very well thought out analysis!! 👌

[@stephenhendricks103]

@@jitengori9268 Thanks for the compliment. Much of what I said a year ago in the original comment is no longer true. The Arteon just being sent to the US has a more powerful version of the EA888 engine found in the European spec Arteon and the euro spect DSG dual clutch transmission as well. Unfortunately, we're still not seeing the "shooting brake" version.

[@TG-pd3ft]

25 mpg in that turbo petrol tho - that's gonna hurt if you do mileage

[@alanwayte432]

Or 40mpg on a long run, seems ok

[@christopherprose3881]

You and the crew at Car Gurus do a great job of exposition on the cars you review. Your videos are concise and comprehensive and all your hosts are both professional and pleasant. Keep up the good work!

[@malph9216]

The rear 3/4 view has a look of a big, 4 door Scirocco. Good review!

[@spivvo]

The wheel spokes point backwards on one side and forward on the other side. That messes with my OCD, shame because otherwise I would buy one! Good reveiw though.

[@joebloggs4191]

40 to 50K for one of these? unless you are getting it as a company car you've got to be nuts to spend that on a VW, for the same amount you will get a very nice hardly used BMW Mercedes Audi or other premium brand.

[@martincolin6445]

Love it and bought one in March...looks fantastic and turns heads...much more than a 3 series estate...ride is ok but not sophisticated and with narrow rear vision they really are being mean in not including a rear view camera as standard on any of the models

[@jrs9264]

you don't see this type of car in north america anymore. almost everybody buys trucks and suvs now.

[@HCChen86]

really like Rebecca reviews~ such a nice review and full of information!

[@marvinsamuels1237]

Another great review Rebecca. I really like the look of the Shooting Brake version over the 5dr coupe/hatch version. I’d have to have it in GTE spec using the PHEV ability to further enhance the cars duality.

[@tomraymond9795]

I'm probably a bit of a boring to say so but but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would take a Superb estate over this, mostly same mechanicals and more space/practicality for less money. Spec a sportline model and it still looks decent too...

[@devilgames2217]

Cla amg shooting brake > all

[@imanroyal1780]

I like the new camera angles!

[@edm5166]

I am sure the Volvo V90 and V90 Cross-country are also fair competitors

[@andrewmarsden1970]

Keyless entry mentioned. Are any cars now without that? Audi badge over VW, not much in it for me. £47k for that one is high.

[@jpkeyes]

VW calls it a Shooting Brake. But it's really a station wagon or an estate car. A shooting brake is a station wagon with two doors. That's sort part of its charm (and complete lack of practicality!) But a long history going back to horse drawn carriages and old time shooting parties hence the name. Marketers come up with these terms and TV/KZbin presenters repeat the nonsense without challenging it.

[@-DC-]

Nearly 50k lolol

[@jonathansmith5850]

We are VW fans and love the shape of the Arteon but it’s never really made sense outside of its looks and drive esp as it’s a Passat equivalent (Just better looking one)

[@pigeonpoo1823]

We'll know Boris' goalpost moving has gone too far when Rebecca anmounces 'im 5ft 7'

[@scotstubbie]

Was loving everything about this car till I heard the price way out of my league but a beautiful car none the less. If I could afford it I would go for the shooting brake it is far more aesthetically pleasing to me.

[@wolvoman1]

Always the ending ''we'd love to know if you agree with our verdict tell us in the comments down below'' But never a reply. Do they read them ?

[@CarGurusUK]

We do read them, yes.

[@muffindell]

Nice to see Rebecca back again, honestly when you're only 5'3"the additional half inch is not going to make a difference, would rather you say that you're petite, or short, or vertically challenged, or even small! Anyway, it's the content that matters and you always do a fine job of describing cars good and bad points in an accurate but somewhat laid back unenthusiastic way

[@richgl31]

Nice critique… really…err… insightful.For someone who obviously agonises over detail - she said she is 5’4”😂

[@harleyrobertson73]

What we need is the Passat to be the size of the superb and the Jetta comes to the UK

[@gregsullivan7408]

As a chauffeur, I want an Audi badged Superb sedan(lift-back).

[@25myma]

..one thing I find annoying about car specs is we still mostly talk in LITERS of boot space; real people in real life dont inflate baloons or stack up suitcases to the ceiling of their cars. A much better measure of luggage capacoty is plain trunk area, because there are lots of cars that have their 'class-leading' capacity up in the air, courtesy of a 2cm taller roof and are not really that practical. If we compare volume, we got to look in the 100s of liters of difference, not 10-20, it really is missleading.

[@menifo4334]

Wow factor? For the interior?

[@chitpaul]

Too expensive for a people’s car. Half way to a Passat hatchback.. they did used to make a hatch back many years ago in the late 70’ - early 80’s as my dad had one.

[@garydavis1528]

The silly price is taking the Schumacher, Michael. Money and a fool are soon parted.

[@DougsCars]

Looks great in red!

[@25myma]

The Renault Megane mk.3 estate looked a lot like this (the back looked even better), and that was back in 2010...instead taking this direction though, estates got more boxy and volvoy and boring the last 10 years. Good to see someone thinks different once in a while.

[@victorgrasscourt3382]

The Renault Talisman Grand Tour is better looking. Pity Renault never made it in RHD

[@modmod392]

Looks particularly wonderful from the rear.

[@spivvo]

Indeed and car is also quite nice as well.

[@DaraM73]

R line same price as an ID3 or 4, which are thinly featured by comparison. It’s hard to go electric.

[@gordonfreeman6305]

Love the reviews, the "5 things you need to know" is crap though. Positive summary and ?summary seems more grown up.

[@UltraJaff]

The cars rivals are probably the Kia Proceed and Mercedes CLA, you could probably say that the new Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is one too

[@jonathansmith5850]

The only way I’d spend 40k on a car is with a Tesla. Cheap running costs by far compared to anything else that price

[@athollmcnicoll256]

Long wheel base cars make turning difficult and as a camper-car the lack of headroom and the failure for the back seats to fold flat is another no go area for a comfortable nights sleep. My estimation - over priced and not worth buying. Cheers Rebecca.

[@adamrice617]

Rebecca could review a 70’s avocado lavatory bowl and still retain my interest..

[@akhilambuj]

Isn't Merc CLA shooting brake its direct rival? Its a beautiful looking machine 😍

[@becauseiwasinverted7971]

I think when she mentioned the boot only being 2 litres bigger than the hatch version that is pretty common. I believe its because the official measure is to the parcel shelf so no big change over hatch or saloon but the big gain is all the room above above shelf with the rear net in place and extra loading practicality of the estate opening boot

[@gregoryuk]

Worthy and most desirable? Yes but let's concentrate on the car review.

[@jethrobanzouzi1884]

Could be easily compared to a Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake!

[@Grandinfotainment]

❤ love this VW in red colour and stunning 😍review by Rebecca.

[@jamiep61]

I enjoyed watching the Video Review. Smarter looking than the Passat

[@cglphotographyni4826]

Please give all video reviews to Vicky Parrott. She never mentions her height

[@balikhwan6611]

hope the VW will selling this model shooting brake in malaysia soon

[@MultiDecimation]

isnt the jaguar xf shooting brake its direct rival?

[@jvcex]

thanx for review Rebecca, keepit up

[@Firemarioflower]

What a color!!! If only most buyers would go for this kind of red!

[@Rukyr99]

I have…👍👍

[@Firemarioflower]

@@Rukyr99 Good choice mate. I hope you're enjoying your ride! How long do you have it?

[@Rukyr99]

⁠@@Firemariofloweri have it 3 weeks now. I drove the sedan version before this and that was the best car I ever owned. So expecting a lot from this one. 👍

[@Firemarioflower]

@@Rukyr99 So awesome! What color was the sedan? And what did you like about the car so much?

[@Rukyr99]

@@Firemarioflower my former Arteon was a black one. Terrific color but it made the car look small, which it is far from. The car drove smooth and it had just enough features too make it drive on it self. I used the adaptive cruise control all the time, even in busy traffic. The area to sit in the backseat is very spacious. That also is the case with the booth. I drove more than 100.000km in 5 years and it never once let me down. Only one thing became a bit of a problem and that was the oil use, something that Volkswagen is known for. But besides that it drove like a dream. And I had a white interior, something my wife loved a lot.

[@gsscotland]

Jaguar Sportbrake is similar.

[@harleyrobertson73]

The shooting brake is beautiful, shame the interior looks like a 6 year old Passat......is dog shit awful. Needs a severe update

[@jbearmcdougall1646]

For £47 k I want 300 bhp....

[@edwardstewart298]

Great review, lovely looking motor 👍

[@Trip-Play]

Looks like a modern looking herst lol

[@ahmedalshamsi8144]

The most elegant car reviewer

[@standingbyhim2011]

It looks like a hearse.

[@oopscanada]

Beautiful

[@norbertmayer7005]

I'd choose this over an A4 in a heartbeat, but the A6 is in a different league.

[@ivanvasilj7787]

Aha,agree,deferent legue when you go to service it too.

[@vsboy2577]

VW makes cars that make no sense

[@SDK2006b]

Love Arteon Shooting Brake - the R version (coming soon) is effectively a cheaper Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo