Volkswagen Arteon Elegance 1.5 EVO 2018 UK first drive

Volkswagen’s flagship five-seat fastback has arrived in new entry-level guise.

When it first appeared last summer, the Volkswagen Arteon had a limited choice of 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. Each came at a price that put it in direct competition with established executive saloons such as the BMW 4 series Gran Coupé, Jaguar XE and Audi A5, along with newcomers including the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Kia Stinger.

This 1.5-litre TSI, borrowed from the latest Volkswagen Golf, brings the list price (and benefit-in-kind tax) down to a more fleet-friendly level. It produces a Golf-matching 147bhp and 184lb ft of torque, yet still manages to propel the considerably heavier Arteon from 0-62mph in 8.3sec and on to a 138mph top speed.

As well as losing out on performance to its range mates, it sends drive to the front wheels only instead of all four, and comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

Having previously only experienced entry-level Elegance trim on European roads, this was also an opportunity to test the stock suspension, without the Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers on R-line models, in the UK.

Largely on a par with the entry-level diesel Arteon, which is similarly turbocharged and produces the same amount of power from its 2.0 TDI engine. That power is delivered much more smoothly here, though, and with less noise than the diesel.

Things aren’t whisper quiet, with some slight chatter at idle and a small but noticeable drone once you reach cruising speed on a motorway. Even so, it’s definitely more refined than the oil-burning alternative. Wind and road noise haven’t ever been major concerns for the Arteon, so you can comfortably eat up long distances without needing earplugs.

It might not better the diesel for fuel economy, but we achieved a respectable 51mpg during long-distance touring — close to VW's official figure of 54.3mpg.

The engine is tasked with propelling the Arteon’s not insignificant mass, however. When it comes to overtaking, you’ve got to really work the engine before it truly builds speed, and it has far less pull in the low and mid-range than the diesel.

At least the manual transmission is smooth and light, with a reasonably precise action when shifting through the gears. But, at any speed, there’s no escaping the fact that the Arteon is a sizeable car.