Volkswagen Arteon - long-term review

Fitness for purpose. It’s one of the most robust tests we can subject a car to. Except when it comes to something like the Arteon. Like the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4-Series GC at which it takes aim, the Arteon feels like a car that exists because its modular MQB platform means it can.

Actually, it’s a phenomenal GT, in a way that more glamorous genre examples aren’t. So while its bulk is a handling buzzkill, you quickly forget about that and revel in its long-haul comfort. Its seats are fabulous, and the swooping roofline doesn’t hurt rear headroom, treating passengers to a quasi-limo experience. Luxury for me isn’t just about material tactility, it’s also about avoiding petrol stations. A 600-mile range on one tank? Lovely.