Facelifted Volkswagen flagship including first Shooting Brake finally arrives; Arteon R ruled out for Oz
The facelifted 2022 Volkswagen Arteon has been hit with a price rise as the first examples finally arrive in Australia – two years after Volkswagen’s flagship passenger car was last available here.
Previously due on sale in October, the first updated Arteon vehicles have started filtering into dealerships in time for Christmas with prices $1750 above what was announced when the facelifted four-door was finally confirmed for Australia mid-year.
The upgraded Volkswagen Arteon range was first revealed in Europe in June 2020, when Volkswagen Australia expected the updated sedan to arrive here in early 2021 following an extended hiatus.
At the time, the new Shooting Brake wagon and hot R versions of the upgraded model had not been confirmed for Australia, but the same supply issues that saw the Arteon sedan discontinued locally in late 2019 have prevented the revised line-up arriving until now.
Not that it’s likely to slow interest in a model that promises lashings of luxury with a mainstream badge.
The freshened Arteon features a more upmarket interior that further separates it from the Passat it shares so much with beneath the skin. The revised dashboard now flows through to the doors and there are 30 choices of ambient lighting to highlight the new design.
And the fastback-style Volkswagen Arteon sedan is now available as a wagon – or Shooting Brake – for the first time.
While Volkswagen admits the Arteon will be a ‘niche’ model compared with SUVs that are seemingly taking over the car world, the company is expecting a steady stream of buyers wanting plenty of premium substance – and the wagon adds to its appeal.
“It’s the perfect wagon for people who listen to their heart but also to their head,” says Glenn Reid, Volkswagen Australia product manager of passenger vehicles.
“This is how we are challenging the luxury car-makers without actually becoming one ourselves.”
Pricing for the Arteon sedan now starts at $61,740 plus on-road costs for the new Elegance variant, or $68,740 for the better equipped and sportier looking R-Line.
Those prices are for the fastback four-door ‘coupe’ body style, while the five-door Shooting Brake wagon costs an extra $2000, with prices topping out above $70,000.
Volkswagen Australia considered the more powerful Arteon R but ruled it out and is instead planning a five-model R-car onslaught in 2022 (including the Golf R hatch, Golf R wagon, T-Roc R, Tiguan R and Touareg R), in part because the 33 per cent luxury car tax would have pushed the price way beyond that of the R-Line.
So it’s Elegance or R-Line for now, each in fastback or wagon body styles.
Arteon Elegance models get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 140kW and 320Nm and driving the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG auto.
Despite being the most affordable version, Volkswagen is at pains to point out it “is no entry model”, with 19-inch alloys, tri-zone ventilation, customisable digital instrument cluster, 360-degree camera, Matrix LED headlights, electric tailgate, head-up display, massaging driver’s seat, electric front seats, ambient lighting and Nappa leather seats with heating and ventilation up front.
There’s also a 9.2-inch infotainment screen incorporating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.
Driver assist tech includes IQ.Drive with auto braking, adaptive cruise, rear cross traffic alert and Travel Assist that delivers Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
The R-Line gets unique design touches including 20-inch alloys, black exterior highlights and a revised lower front bumper, plus a multi-function steering wheel, sports seats with integrated head restraints and Carbon Nappa leather trim.
Plus it’s powered by a 206kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine driving all four wheels through a seven-speed DSG auto.
The Arteon sedan and Shooting Brake share their equipment levels with one exception: the wagons miss out on AM radio tuning. But with digital radio tuning and wireless smartphone connectivity, Volkswagen believes it has the talkback set covered.
Metallic paint is now included in the price and there’s the choice of six standard hues, although the triple-layer Oryz White Pearlescent costs another $800.
How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon cost?140TSI Elegance sedan – $61,740140TSI Elegance Shooting Brake – $63,740206TSI R-Line sedan – $68,740206TSI R-Line Shooting Brake – $70,740
* Prices exclude on-road costs
Keyword: Prices up for 2022 Volkswagen Arteon