2024 Volkswagen Arteon SEL R-Line 2.0L ($47,180) - Interior, Exterior and Drive(American SUV)

2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line First Test: Noticeable, But Notable? More power, more torque, and a new transmission transform VW’s gorgeous midsize sportback. It&easy to be cynical about the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon. This is a full-size sedan in an era when the general public favors SUVs, and VW hasn&put a lot of marketing muscle behind its flagship four-door. So you might be surprised to hear Arteon sales have increased annually in the three years since its introduction, with VW moving more than 5,500 examples in 2021. Sure, those are still tiny sales by industry standards, but Volkswagen has worked to make the Arteon better and better. The company has refreshed the flagship twice since it made its debut, first for 2021 with stunning new exterior styling and tech equipment, then again for 2022. VW collapsed the model&trim structures to just three choices, all of which now wear sporty-looking R-Line styling. VW also overhauled the drivetrain, adding power and an upgraded transmission. Things finally look promising for the once ill-fated four-door. We put a 2022 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line through our testing protocols to gauge the improvements. How Does It Drive? Dynamic Chassis Control is standard, so we began our test by sampling the Arteon&various drive modes. Tapping the button next to the shifter allows the driver to pick profiles. Comfort, for example, softens up the steering, drivetrain responsiveness, and suspension. It gives the...