“It's a fun, larger sedan, with great pickup, and a luxurious cabin feel. It has enough room for 4 adults, and more than enough room for 2 adults and 2 kiddos. And the boot is huge.”
2022 Volkswagen Arteon: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 13, 2026
The biggest change for the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon is its revised turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Volkswagen also streamlined the trim lineup and made R-Line styling, wireless phone charging, and parking sensors standard across the range.
About the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon
1st generation Arteon sold in the U.S. (2019-2023), second year after the 2021 refresh.
Volkswagen positioned the Arteon as its sleek, upscale fastback sedan: a car with coupe-like styling, midsize passenger room, and a large rear hatch for real everyday usefulness. The pitch was to give shoppers premium design, a stronger turbo powertrain, and a richer cabin than a typical mainstream sedan without stepping into a luxury-brand badge. Its standout difference was that it looked special but still offered adult-sized rear seating and hatchback cargo flexibility.
The 2022 Arteon lineup starts with the sporty-looking SE R-Line, which has a digital instrument display, built-in navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and heated power front seats. The SEL R-Line adds all-wheel drive, Nappa leather, a panoramic sunroof, and a fuller driver-assistance suite, while the SEL Premium R-Line brings ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, premium audio, a hands-free hatch, and a 360-degree camera.
What changed, by category
Powertrain
Every trim gets a revised turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. On the continuing all-wheel-drive SEL trims, output rises from 268 to 300 horsepower and from 258 to 295 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive becomes standard on the SEL R-Line rather than optional.
Styling
The former SE is renamed SE R-Line and gains the R-Line exterior and interior treatment, making R-Line styling standard across the entire 2022 lineup.
Safety
Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking during low-speed maneuvers become standard on every trim.
Tech
Wireless phone charging becomes standard across the lineup.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter | 4-Cyl, Turbo, 2.0 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 7-Spd DSG w/Tiptronic | Automatic, 7-Spd DSG w/Tiptronic | Automatic, 7-Spd DSG w/Tiptronic |
| Drivetrain | FWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 24 mpg | 22 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | 30 mpg |
| Horsepower | 300 hp | 300 hp | 300 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 2000 lb | 2000 lb | 2000 lb |
| Trunk/Cargo | 27.2 cu-ft | 27.2 cu-ft | 27.2 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 40.2 in | 40.2 in | 40.2 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||
| Adaptive Headlights | |||
| Alarm System | |||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |||
| Automatic High Beams | |||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||
| Cruise Control | |||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||
| Park Assist | |||
| Rear View Camera | |||
| 360 Camera | |||
| Alloy Wheels | |||
| Fog Lights | |||
| LED Headlights | |||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | |||
| Power Folding Exterior Mirrors | |||
| Rear Spoiler | |||
| Remote Control Liftgate/Trunk Release | |||
| Navigation System | |||
| Premium Audio | |||
| Smartphone Interface | |||
| Subwoofer | |||
| Heated Front Seats | |||
| Heated Rear Seats | |||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | |||
| Leather Seats | |||
| Massage Front Seat | |||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||
| Remote Start | |||
| Ventilated Front Seats | |||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon?
The biggest change is a revised turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. The continuing all-wheel-drive SEL trims rise from 268 to 300 horsepower and from 258 to 295 lb-ft of torque.
Is the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon significantly different from the 2021 model?
Yes, the 2022 Arteon has meaningful mechanical and lineup changes rather than being a simple carryover. It gets a revised engine, a different automatic transmission, standard R-Line styling, standard wireless phone charging, and standard front and rear parking sensors.
Which trims make up the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon lineup?
The 2022 Arteon lineup consists of the SE R-Line, SEL R-Line 4Motion, and SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion. The former SE is renamed SE R-Line, while the front-wheel-drive SEL R-Line is dropped as the range is streamlined to three trims.
Does every 2022 Volkswagen Arteon have all-wheel drive?
No. The SE R-Line is the front-wheel-drive starting trim, while the SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line use Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. For 2022, all-wheel drive becomes standard on the SEL R-Line instead of optional.
What equipment became standard on every 2022 Volkswagen Arteon?
Every 2022 Arteon has R-Line styling, wireless phone charging, and front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking during low-speed maneuvers. These additions apply across the streamlined three-trim lineup.
2022 Volkswagen Arteon Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon.
4.1
2022 Volkswagen Arteon
(30 reviews)
“The VW Arteon is an exceptional sports sedan that provides all the attributes of an Audi in a much more cost-effective vehicle.”
“As long as you can tolerate the ever-glitchy infotainment system along with the horrible tactile steering wheel controls, you will absolutely love everything else about this vehicle.”