CAR WARS! Family Feud — All-new Audi A5 Sportback Takes On Volkswagen Arteon

When it comes to four-door coupes, there's now a slew of options to choose from. But if you're a fan of all things Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG or VWAG), then you may have a more difficult decision to make.

That's because Volkswagen has brought along the all-new Arteon. 

More or less it's a follow up to the Passat CC, or CC, as it was known in its later life. When I drove that car I was mightily impressed. It felt every bit of an Audi, and wouldn't you know it, the CC cost nearly as much too!

This must have gotten our friends at Auto Express thinking. That's because the publication put the all-new A5 Sportback up against the Arteon. 

While they're family members, there's a clear difference in execution. This can make all the difference. That said, see below the verdict delivered by the Auto Express team. 

To see the full review, click "Read Article," below.

Verdict

First place: Volkswagen Arteon

VW's Arteon four-door coupe is a bit noisier and more costly to run than the A5 Sportback, but it’s got more kit as standard, looks great, is more comfortable and better to drive than its rival. It’s close enough behind the Audi on running costs, while beating it in those other areas, to narrowly take the victory here.

Read Article

MDarringer - 10/1/2017 9:53:45 AM

0 Boost

Europe might swallow the BS of the Arteon, but the similarity in price to an Audi of the same size would make it a terrible seller here. 10 years ago, VW could have cleaned up with an "Avalon" but they are incapable of reading a market and responding in a timely manner. If they could price the Arteon exactly the same as the Passat, it would make a brilliant American Passat replacement.

Agent00R - 10/1/2017 10:12:29 AM

+1 Boost

I've always said, and wondered, "Why is VW so SLOW to act in the US?"

TomM - 10/1/2017 11:42:17 AM

+1 Boost

The problem is the mindset in German companies - and even for a time - FORD - where they do not want to produce different cars for different markets.

IT is not that VW is slow to the market in the USA - it is that their initial start in the USA was for an OLD car - the Beetle - that while not as reliable as people claim to remember - were easy and CHEAP to fix.

Today - the VW dealer gets the same hourly rate as the AUDI dealer -and the price of OEM Parts are in the Stratosphere. IN addition - few people have access to the computers in VW's as well - the adaptors are available - but they are expensive - and constantly in need of updates. Today - a major repair will likely be more than your 5 year old car is worth.

MDarringer - 10/1/2017 12:04:31 PM

-2 Boost

@00R

Jack Daniels aside, having been behind the scenes at a VW/Audi/Porsche enterprise, I found an incredible arrogance with a kind top-down thinking from corporate that just isn't the same as at Hyundai-Kia where they are always listening and wanting insight.

It's a cultural thing. Germans have a cultural superiority complex that the Japanese obliterated decades ago, but still the Germans soldier on. Of the Germans, Mercedes is the one that is most open to hearing what the market wants and responding to it. The worst is VAG.

@TomM...VW most decidedly IS slow to market and it has NOTHING to do with having begun their sales presence here with the Beetle.

VW abandoned the values of the Beetle LONG ago.

MDarringer - 10/1/2017 2:47:08 PM

-1 Boost

The problem is that the VW--the bargain brand--costs as much as the Audi--the premium brand--for all intents and purposes.

cidflekken - 10/1/2017 4:04:04 PM

+1 Boost

The Arteon would be priced at over $50k in the US. For a 4-cylinder diesel VW. Let that sink in.

MDarringer - 10/1/2017 4:22:45 PM

-1 Boost

@cidflekken VW floated the idea of a $42K base price to dealers and couldn't understand why the dealers didn't want it. In VW's world, the Arteon is an amazing value. That's how out of touch they are.

TomM - 10/2/2017 7:24:05 AM

0 Boost

Sorry Matt - but while VW may have tried to Abandon its BEETLE heritage long ago - the market has not recognized the effort. VW remains the company's ENTRY LEVEL BRAND - and the mistake VW has made is that their mindset is the same one Denysschen has espoused at Cadillac - that their vision is what they will offer - and the buyers will just have to adapt.

However - especially in the USA - the market has clearly resisted the attempt to take VW upmarket. SInce VW is not the only game in town - people simply AVOID them. Their reputation for poor reliability is well earned - and lots of people will not even consider looking at them. THAT they are being priced with near Luxury competitors does them no favors either.

TomM - 10/2/2017 7:17:06 AM

+1 Boost

The problem with your Comment is that VW IS an entry level competitor and always was. THeir actual competition IS Toyota and Honda - and Opel - and Chevy and Ford and even FIAT. While the company has tried to take the division higher - in virtually ALL of the markets it competes in - it is the entry level VW brand - BUT the pricing has gone way up - often close to AUDI which is near premium level. The Arteon - and the Phaeton do not belong in the VW portfolio at the prices they are asking.

VW - however - has the cost of being a german company built in - making their cars more expensive to produce. (opel has the same problem)