2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line

It isn’t too often that we get to introduce a totally new car on these pages, but welcome to our first Arteon. The Arteon is the follow-up to the unusually successful Passat CC; essentially, a Passat that Volkswagen attempted to make look like a cross between a Chrysler LHS and a Mercedes-Benz CLS. They were always a bit oddly proportioned in my eyes, though they had some pretty exciting features – you could, for example, get an all-wheel-drive one hooked to the VR6. Still, the design was dated by the end of the twentyteens, and in 2019 they apparently sold just 59 CCs in the US.

The replacement arrived just in time for COVID, but it was a lot more appealing. The Arteon ditched the trunk and went for a budget-Audi A7 look, with a hatch, fresh styling, and a decidedly upscale interior. Unfortunately, that also meant an upscale pricetag. The Arteon starts today at just over $40,000 – which doesn’t sound horrible until you see the broadly similar Passat retailing in the low 20s – or it did, at least, until the Passat died an untimely death in the US market this year, which leaves us with just the Arteon.

It’s available in three configurations, ranging from the front-drive SE R-Line to what we see here – the range-topping SEL Premium R-Line, which is all-wheel drive and with a spec sheet rivaling the best cars out there. Run to a dealer and you’re looking at $50,000 for one. But if you accept a few miles, you can knock a bunch off that price:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: Link to 2021 Volkswagen Arteon SEL Premium R-Line on eBay

Year: 2021
Model: Arteon SEL Premium R-Line
VIN: WVWTR7AN1ME002189
Engine: 2.0 liter turbocharged inline-4
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Mileage: 14,700 mi
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Price: $41,312 Buy It Now

2021 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line Oryx White Pearl

Clean CARFAX.
PUSH BUTTON START,
HEATED/COOLED SEATS,
BLIND SPOT -CROSS – PATH DETECTION,
LEATHER SEATS
** PREMIUM ALLOY WHEELS **
REMOTE START
BACKUP CAMERA
NAVIGATION
APPLE ANDROID CARPLAY
KEYLESS ENTRY
MOONROOF
ORYX WHITE PEARL EXTERIOR $395
COMBINATION ASSISTANCE KIT $99
BUMPERDILLO PROTECTION PLATE $150
RUBBER MATS KIT $235
LUGGAGE NET $100
ORIGNAL SHIPPING $1195
WHEELS 20″ 2 TONE MACHINE ALLOY
2 LCD MONITOR’S
360 CAMERA VIEW

All prices plus tax, tag, dealer installed equipment, and fees. 3k off restrictions apply. See dealer for details. Important recall information: so you know, any used vehicle you may be considering may have unrepaired manufacturer’s safety recalls. To check the recall status (repaired or unrepaired) of the specific used vehicle you’re interested in purchasing visit Thanks for shopping with us.

The SEL comes with a bunch of upgrades from the SE – 4MOTION all-wheel drive, a panoramic sunroof, remote start, 19″ alloy wheels, fog lights, leather upholstery, and adaptive cruise control. Jump to the Premium, and you’ve now got a Harman Kardon premium sound system, and overhead-view camera, 20″ alloys, a power liftgate, Park Assist, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a massaging driver’s seat. Plus, it looks good! The 20″ wheels are not my favorite design but they do look purposeful, and here they contrast the white exterior well. The 2.0 is good for 276 horsepower, so it’s no slouch on the highway. Condition on this example looks good, and you’re saving $10k by getting into a used one. Competition? Well, for a bit more you can grab a 2020 F36 BMW 430i Gran Coupe, but if anything I think the VW looks better and it’s more powerful. I’m guessing these will also be slow sellers, but they do seem like a potential deal for a premium offering with an understated badge.

-Carter