Luxury is often associated with premium badges, but the badge itself doesn’t always guarantee the best ownership experience.In the used market especially, some overlooked mainstream models deliver the same refinement, comfort, and road presence as traditional luxury cars, often for far less money.One German liftback proves that stepping outside the usual premium brands can be a surprisingly smart move.
This particular Volkswagen combines elegant styling, a richly finished cabin, and the kind of smooth, composed driving character buyers usually expect from far more expensive sedans.Built by Volkswagen, it offers premium materials, strong highway comfort, and understated sophistication without relying on a luxury badge to justify its appeal.For buyers shopping used, that value proposition is hard to ignore.
It shows that you don’t always need a Mercedes-Benz or Audi emblem to get a genuinely upscale experience.Sometimes the better luxury buy is the one most people overlook.In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites, including the EPA.
Related Thinking of a Toyota Crown? This top trim Honda offers similar luxury for less Similar refinement, smarter price — that’s the real appeal here.Posts 1 By Tyler Dupont A three-year-old Arteon can be had for $30,000 A genuine luxury sedan at a mainstream price Every once in a while, a mainstream brand takes a shot at building a premium sedan.An obvious example of this in 2026 is the Toyota Crown.
Just as the Crown entered the market, though, we lost one of the most impressive mid-size sedans on the market, the Volkswagen Areteon.It's sleek styling and impressive driving dynamics pulled buyers away from legacy luxury brands.Three years after it was discontinued, you can pick one up for an impressively low price.
2023 Volkswagen Arteon trims and pricing Model Average list price SE R-Line $25,846 SEL R-Line $31,143 SEL Premium R-Line $32,891 Back when it was new, a 2023 Arteon would have set you back between $44,305 and $51,470, depending on which trim level you went for.This means that by buying a used 2023 model, you're saving yourself over $15,000.With an average list price of around $30,000, you're getting a mid-size luxury sedan that competes with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class for the price of a Honda Accord.
The base SE model has a much lower average list price than the other trim levels, but this is largely because there are only a handful of models up for sale, which obviously skews the data.With such a small price difference between the SEL and SEL Premium, we'd definitely spring for the latter.It comes with plenty of upscale features, including massaging front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a premium sound system, and a bevy of other features which we will dive into below.
Related Forget the BMW 5 Series—this Japanese sedan is more fun to drive The 2024 Acura TLX shakes up the luxury sedan crowd by bringing real driving fun to a class built around comfort.Posts 2 By Adam Gray Volkswagen's Areton practical and loaded with plush features Tons of luxury you wouldn't expect from a mainstream brand Volkswagen has always defined itself through simple, yet attractive design.They don't skimp on features, but they often aren't as flashy as some of their rivals.
The Arteon is the perfect example of this.The sedan is kitted with more than enough features to take on the likes of BMW and Audi, but keeps things more low-key, which we appreciate from a sedan like this.Interior dimensions and comfort Front row headroom 37.9 inches Front row legroom 41.2 inches Second row headroom 37.1 inches Second row legroom 40.2 inches Cargo capacity 27 cubic feet The Arteon is impressively practical, with an interior suited to daily driving.
Headroom might be on the low side of the segment, particularly in the back, but even taller passengers should find the environs comfortable enough.This Volkswagen is also technically a hatchback, with a large trunk that surpasses just about every other comparable rival.Volkswagen was pretty conservative with the interior design of the Arteon, which is pretty on-brand for the automaker.
That being said, nice materials have been used throughout and the build quality is excellent.It also comes packed with plush features, with every model featuring heated seats and a power-opening trunk.The top trim model kicks things up a notch, with seat ventilation up front, heated rear seats, a massage function for the driver, a panoramic sunroof, and a 30-color ambient interior lighting system.
Infotainment and technology The Areton's screen setup is a little old school, but its eight-inch infotainment screen definitely gets the job done.The 2023 model doesn't have the volume knobs that older ones do, instead relying fully on touch inputs.Those that aren't a fan of touch controls also won't be thrilled with the touch-sensitive climate controls or steering wheel buttons.
All that being said, the system is easy to navigate and responds quickly to inputs.You get two USB-C ports standard, as well as a wireless smartphone charging pad.Wireless smartphone mirroring is also standard on every model.
Top trims also get features like built-in navigation, a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, and a 360-degree camera.Related You don't need a BMW 3-Series—This $20K Japanese sedan is just as plush It may wear a mainstream badge, but it feels like a luxury sports sedan.Posts By Tyler Dupont As well as being luxurious, the Arteon delivers an engaging driving experience Powerful and impressively engaging An important factor for any luxury sedan is performance.
This is something you don't get by opting for a Toyota Crown.Volkswagen, however, got things right with the Arteon.Not only does it come with a punchy turbocharged engine under the hood, but the German automaker has dialed things in to deliver a fantastically well-balanced ride.
Volkswagen Areton performance and efficiency Volkswagen Arteon Like Sedan 2023 Base: $43,010 Base Trim Engine 2.0L Turbo Inline-4 Gas Base Trim Transmission 7-Speed Automatic Base Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel Drive Base Trim Horsepower 300 hp Base Trim Torque 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm Fuel Economy 25/33 MPG Make Volkswagen Model Arteon Segment Midsize Sedan Powered by Expand Collapse Under the hood of every 2023 Arteon sits a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a whopping 300 horsepower.The base model sends this power to the front-wheels only, but every other trim is all-wheel drive.You also get Volkswagen's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is widely considered to be one of the best DCTs out there.
The Arteon comes standard with adaptive dampers, allowing you to dial in the suspension at will.Regardless of which drive mode you're in, the sedan's ride is well-balanced and never feels too harsh.We're also really impressed with its steering, which feels very sharp and well weighted.
This VW will get off the line and up to 60 miles per hour in as little as 4.6 seconds, which is pretty damn quick for a $30,000 car.Volkswagen's Arteon challenges legacy luxury brands with ease Even with the steep depreciation of some traditional luxury options, it's really hard to pass up the Arteon.It matches the refinement you get from automakers like BMW or Mercedes-Benz, and does so without the steep up-front or long-term costs.
While it isn't the flashiest, it offers great curb appeal, a practical and comfortable cabin, and a sharp driving experience, all for $30k.What more could you want?
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