Volkswagen Arteon review

It’s big inside, the Arteon hugely accommodating for four adults, and decently comfortable for five. It’s all very Volkswagen inside, which is to say neatly designed and easy to operate, the centre dash dominated by a large touch screen containing plentiful info and entertainment options. The Arteon’s facelift has seen most dashboard buttons replaced by touch-sensitive gloss black surfacing. Which may irk some, but at least – unlike the Mk8 Golf – the air con controls are permanently below the touchscreen rather than being buried in a menu inside of it.

There’s a digital display in place of conventional instruments, configurable to show nav or entertainment choices as well as digitally described instrumentation. The seats are comfortable, the driving position excellent, and the view out surprisingly good despite that tapering roofline.

It’s in the back seats that the Arteon surprises the most. There’s loads of space back there, leg and foot room good, though if you’re taller than six foot you might start to feel a bit limited on headroom. The pillarless doors add a bit of class, and also ease access, while the small window in the C-pillar extends behind the shoulders of rear seat passengers, increasing the airy, light feel to the cabin back there.

Add a sizeable boot – 563 litres seats up, 1,557 with them flipped down – which is accessed by a huge hatchback and the Arteon might be billed as a desirable, aspirational and indulgent purchase, but it’s not at the expense of practicality.

Especially now there’s a Shooting Brake with even more room. It too comes in 316bhp R form. Peak family wagon?