Powering the Arteon is a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, sending power to the front wheels via an 8-speed automatic. Despite its smaller displacement, the engine makes a robust 268 horsepower, meaning that the Arteon is one of the faster cars on the road in a straight line. Opt for any trim level above the base one, and the Arteon also gets an all-wheel drive system, making it much more sure-footed in inclement weather and in mountain driving.

Since this is the flagship car in VW's lineup, even the base SE version comes well equipped. Standard interior features on the SE include a 3-zone climate control system, leatherette seating surfaces, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth streaming for audio devices, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, SiriusXM satellite radio, a blind spot monitoring system, an 8-inch color display and a forward warning collision system with autonomous emergency braking assist. Outside, the SE comes standard with rain sensing wipers, heated side mirrors, automatic LED headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels. Optioning the SE with 4MOTION all-wheel drive adds about $2,000 to the base price.

The SEL version comes standard with all-wheel drive, a large panoramic sunroof, power operated side mirrors with a memory function, adaptive LED headlights which can swivel into corners at low speeds, a remote starter function, ambient interior lighting, leather seating surfaces and a navigation system.

The top of the line SEL Premium comes with VW's R-Line styling enhancements which includes a more aggressive front bumper, additional badging and 19-inch alloy wheels. The SEL Premium also gets a hands free hatchback, a parking assist system, VW's digital cockpit system which can display mountains of information in the instrument cluster, as well as heated and vented front seats, a massaging driver seat, heated rear seats, a virtual overhead-view camera, a Dynaudio premium sound system, lane keep assist and a parking-assist system.