Jump LinksHere's What You're Paying In 20252019 VW Arteon Pricing Key Competitors Also Worth ConsideringThe second-hand marketplace is full of used Volkswagen Arteons with compelling pricing, which should prove especially appealing for shoppers after a luxurious car that flies under the radar, boasts the latest technological must-haves, and is easily serviced at your local VW dealership.The Volkswagen Arteon was a promising, beautiful, high-tech expert when it initially launched. Today, although it's been officially axed, you can still head out and pick up a used one for a smoking deal. This is a very good car with temptingly low pricing in the used market, but why has yet another VW flagship sedan been discontinued? Why are used Arteons so cheap, and most importantly, should you buy one?The answer is a solid yes, but there are a few things to consider before you make the decision, chiefly whether the Arteon's body-style works for you and your lifestyle. If that's the case, then it's worth remembering that the Arteon arrived at an important moment for Volkswagen, arriving in the middle of an all-out technological do-over of the automaker's entire range. Much of the range, including the top-dog Arteon, received new infotainment systems, display systems, a swanky new Digital Cockpit, advanced driver assists, in addition to the latest connectivity and wireless charging technologies. It seems strange then, that the flagship VW from this era is now seen as an easily overlooked and slept-on secondhand bargain. History, Specs And Features Of The VW Arteon VolkswagenThe Volkswagen Arteon hit the road for the 2019 model year, spiritually replacing the Passat CC which came before it. Volkswagen described the Arteon's design as a 'sleek, gran-turismo'. This svelte body is accompanied by an upscale and tech-rich cabin, available all-wheel drive, and a potent-enough 2.0-liter TSI engine. As with so many Volkswagens of this era, the Arteon was built on the award-winning MQB platform, which allowed for its distinct, dynamic proportions and spacious interior.The MQB platform is scalable, allowing it to house multiple models, which saves money and development time, which therefore makes the production of certain low-volume sellers a possibility. This looked like a promising ride, but as of the end of 2024, it had been relegated to the history books with no successor announced.Volkswagen Any model-year of the Arteon is a sleek and sophisticated choice, but updates were made along the way, and so later cars may be seen as more favorable to secondhand shoppers in 2025. For 2021, the Arteon received an updated front end, new standard features, and more available features, not to mention an updated interior with now-standard Digital Cockpit display and 30-color ambient lighting joining the features list.At launch, the engine was a 2.0-liter TSI with 268 horsepower, though a 2022 update brought the Golf R's engine under the hood, good for an even 300 horses. The original powertrain was mated to an eight-speed automatic, while the 2022 update swapped that out for a seven-speed DCT. Front-wheel drive was standard, AWD was available. Here's What You're Paying In 2026 Volkswagen When it originally launched in 2019, the Arteon came in five trim levels with two- or all-wheel drive, and with a price range that generally sat between $35,000 and $45,000. With aggressive updates applied, the 2023 Arteon increased its pricing, starting at $43,000 and maxing out at around $50,000. 2019 VW Arteon Pricing Arteon SE FWD: $34,845 Arteon SE 4Motion: $37,645 Arteon SEL FWD: $39,994 Arteon SEL 4Motion: $41,795 Arteon SEL Premium 4Motion: $44,495 Today, according to data from the CarBuzz Marketplace, shoppers looking to spend $30,000 or less should have no trouble finding a few-year-old Arteon with plenty of remaining warranty, and likely still on its second or third oil change. Earlier units of this generation, with 30,000 to 60,000 miles, are priced around $20,000. If you can stretch your budget to $30,000, you'll have no trouble finding a final-year Arteon with all the bells and whistles, likely still on its factory oil fill. Key Competitors Also Worth Considering The Arteon may have been an unusual model within the Volkswagen range, but it didn't sit within a class of its own. Instead, the Arteon had some fairly fierce competition, and some from brands which are more commonly associated with this level of luxury, such as the Acura TLX and Infiniti Q50. VW weren't the only ones trying to break into this segment at the time though, as Kia too went after the bracket with the powerful Stinger. Interestingly, this experimental model went just as successfully for Kia. In fact, we dubbed the Stinger as "the best used performance sedan bargain in 2025," it too boasting many of the slept-on qualities that the Arteon now possesses. Why Did It Sell so Poorly? Volkswagen There are a few good reasons to buy a used VW Arteon, and a few good reasons not to. Let's start with key reasons to consider it. These include ride comfort and refinement, thanks in no small part to the standard use of electronically controlled dampers and the versatile MQB platform. Drivers after a top-line digital experience for their dollar won't be disappointed either, as the Arteon is running VW's latest infotainment system and Virtual Dash display tech. Safety and connectivity tech are also highly rated by existing owners, who also tend to appreciate the Arteon's low, wide and comfortable driving position and exclusive styling.If you're after the quickest or most spacious way to spend this sort of money, you've got better choices. Many owners and reviewers have wished for a punchier engine to really bring out the Arteon's capabilities, and others wish for more rear seat headroom, as well as cargo space. While high-tech and modern, some owners wanted higher-quality switch gear, with plenty of elements sourced from the VW Jetta of the same year.Volkswagen Let's also not forget that, while this wasn't exactly unknown territory for Volkswagen, (remember the Phaeton?) the luxury-performance-sedan corner was never Volkswagen's area of expertise. So, regardless of how polished the final product was, and we'd argue that it was indeed a very finely polished product, buyers in this segment were still always going to be skeptical of spending BMW and Audi money on something with a Volkswagen emblem adorning the front. You have to turn down an awful lot of prestigious European brands, in addition to home-grown offerings from Cadillac and the like too, before you wind up in a VW dealership writing a check for $50,000.The Arteon sold modestly and was killed off to help VW better focus on volume sellers. Sales peaked in 2021 with 5,537 units sold (versus nearly 110,000 Tiguans for the same period). This was at a time when Volkswagen needed to boost earnings, which is easier with high-volume models like in-demand SUVs. Also, the Arteon was a unique and compelling product likely destined to serve a few niche shoppers, though its relatively high price and non-SUV body style meant it would face two big hurdles straight out of the gate. In a nutshell, shoppers spending this kind of money mostly wanted SUVs, not sedans.Volkswagen Of course, there's also the possibility of cannibalism. Like the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima, the Arteon's sales were strongly subjected to cannibalization. That is, eaten up by the more upscale alternative. In the same way a Maxima shopper might rather spend a few bucks more on an Infiniti Q50, or a Toyota Avalon shopper might prefer to spend a few bucks more on a Lexus ES, the Arteon shopper was in the same pricing universe as several pretty compelling Audis, such as the A5 Sportback, which was basically the same car underneath. Should You Buy One? Volkswagen If the Arteon tickles your fancy, and if you've confirmed its body is sized appropriately and the cabin is of sufficient space for you and your family, then yes, sure thing. Not only will an Arteon see you driving a unique and distinctive face in a sea of me-too SUVs, it's a truly up-to-date experience and world-class drive - all powered up and assisted by the latest versions of signature VW technologies, right down to the AWD system.Best of all, compared to that BMW or Volvo you might be considering for the same money, Volkswagen's widespread dealer network means it'll be easy to find service and repairs for your Arteon as it ages. For $25,000, it'll be tough to find a more compelling and modern high-end sedan on the used market today.