Should you buy one?

This is an interesting case of heart overruling the head – and on that basis, we’d thoroughly recommend an Arteon. This is a stylish, spacious take on the five-door coupe market and is so much more desirable than the Passat it’s based upon.

If you were being completely rational, the Passat it’s based on is roomier and cheaper, so you should buy one of those – yet we’d take an Arteon over its oh-so sensible sister car in a heartbeat.

The sterner opposition comes from the Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, and compared with that pairing, the Arteon performs admirably well. It’s more comfortable than the former and quieter than the latter, even if it’s not quite as much fun on twisty roads as either. Against the more stylish Peugeot 508 Fastback, the Arteon is a better all-rounder with a more appropriate range of engines, even if the French car drives better.

What we like

The Arteon’s strongest point is its ability to cover huge distances quickly, quietly and with the least amount of stress for the driver. The engines are powerful, standard equipment is generous and the Arteon is both easy and comfortable to drive.

It also offers more passenger room than its immediate rivals, plus the exterior is wonderfully proportioned.

What we don’t like

The interior is such a huge contrast with the exterior. Inside it’s well-made and plush, but it feels nowhere near as special as an Audi A5 or BMW 4 Series.