Reviews of the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake

The Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake is a large family car with premium features. It's full of the latest technology and is spacious for passengers inside, but its boot isn't the most practical for a big estate.

Rivals to the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake include the Skoda Superb Estate, Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, BMW 5 Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant, and Volvo V90.

Our Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake review covers:

• Striking exterior design with a wide radiator grille and sleek roof line
• Spacious interior with high levels of luxurious comfort
• 565 litres boot, which expands to 1,632 litres with all rear seats down
• Range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines
• Two trim levels, including R Line and Elegance

Pros:

• Practical
• Striking exterior design 
• Strong engine range and grippy, surefooted dynamics

Cons:

• Slightly firm ride
• Unengaging to drive
• More expensive and less practical than some rivals

The Volkswagen Arteon is a large family car with premium aspirations and is a better-looking alternative to the Volkswagen Passat Estate. It has a wide radiator grille longer, flatter roof than the regular Arteon and a kink in the rear window, which sets it apart from the Passat Estate and makes it stand out within its class.

Inside the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake, there's plenty of room for all passengers to ride comfortably. However, in terms of size, there are only just two litres in the size difference between the Shooting Brake and regular Arteon. The main difference between the two cars is that passengers get more headroom in the back and a stylish Sportback design on the Shooting Brake.

As for boot space, the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake offers 565 litres of room, similar to what you'll find in the BMW 5 Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant, and Volvo V90. The Arteon Shooting Brake boot space can also be extended to 1,632 litres if you fold the rear seats down.

The Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake interior is beautifully built and has a modern, classy design. High-class materials are used throughout the interior, with soft fabrics, elegant brushed-metal trims, and the plastics are suitably squishy.

The Arteon Shooting Brake infotainment system is also great with sharp graphics and quick touch reaction times, which is easy to work and navigate. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and both work wirelessly and seamlessly.

The central screen is also linked to the standard digital driver's display on every Arteon. The display is bright, clear, and you can configure it just the way you want with the steering wheel-mounted controls.

Two trim levels are available, including R Line and Elegance.

R Line models come with R-Line styling bodykit, rear privacy glass and 19-inch alloy wheels, part-leather upholstery and a large sunroof to brighten the cabin.

Elegance models add a rearview camera, blindspot assists, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats and a leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel. It also adds an adaptive chassis allowing you to drive the car just as you like.

Volkswagen offers the Arteon Shooting Brake with a range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines.

If you prefer petrol, the 1.5-litre 150hp is the best option. However, if you do a lot of miles, there are a few 2.0-litre diesel engines with 150 and 200hp outputs. The latter has four-wheel drive as an optional feature.

Volkswagen also offers an Arteon Plug-in Hybrid in the range. The hybrid uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce 218hp. Fully charge its 13kWh battery, and you can drive for around 39 miles in electric-only mode.

The Arteon Shooting Brake is great to drive with little wrong handling wise, and grip levels and overall body control are also good. However, there's some bodyroll under hard cornering, but most drivers won't find anything other than safe and grippy.

Compared to the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake, the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake has a less low-slung, sporty feel from the driver's seat as it has a slightly higger driving position, but it's still a great driving stance.

Overall, the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake is good to drive, especially when travelling long distances in comfort, but it's not as engaging as a BMW 5 Series Touring.

Prices for the new Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake start from £40,000.00 OTR* or to lease from £396.56 per month.

Do you have questions about leasing a Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the leading car leasing providers in the UK. All of our car leasing deals consist of a manufacturer's warranty, inclusive road tax, breakdown insurance and free delivery to the UK's mainland (exclusions apply).

Additionally, leasing a Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake may be less expensive than purchasing one outright due to fixed monthly payments, variable mileage, a low initial rental, and adjustable contract periods.

*'On the road' price is correct at the time of publication and includes one year's road fund licence, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change. Always check with your nearest retailer.