DecodedCars2021 Volkswagen Arteon
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2021 models.
- Class
- Large Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 25 combined · 22 city / 32 hwy
- Length
- 191.3 in
- Curb weight
- 3,618 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Few owner complaints14 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 69 for similar models.
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 21 similar 2021 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon is a large car offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 191 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,618 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 25 MPG combined (22 city / 32 highway), 4% better than the 2021 large car average of 24.1 MPG, for an estimated $3,300 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the forward collision avoidance.
What changed for 2021
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2020 Arteon — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2020; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2020 Arteon →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan | 191.3 in | 73.6 in | 57.1 in | 111.8 in | 62.6 / 62.6 in | 3,618 lb | 57/43 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arteon | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 32 / 25 | +4% | $3,300 | 347 |
| Arteon 4motion | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 31 / 24 | 0% | $3,400 | 370 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2021 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon.
Similar 2021 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Volkswagen Arteon (this car) | 25 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2021 Toyota Corolla | 52 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Honda Accord | 48 MPG | ★★★★★ | 4 |
| 2021 Toyota Camry | 52 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Nissan GT-R | 18 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2021 Subaru Impreza | 32 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2021 Hyundai Elantra | 54 MPG | ★★★★★ | 7 |
Recalls (4)
Equipment › Electrical › Infotainment › Software · Jul 20, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V514000 · 43,091 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Critical Fasteners · Sep 8, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V695000 · 99 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Arteon vehicles. The pressure input rod connection on the brake booster may be loose and could detach.
- Risk
- A detached pressure input rod will cause the brake pedal to fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will tighten the pressure input rod connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47R3.
Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems · Apr 21, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V274000 · 149 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Arteon vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors were incorrectly calibrated and may not detect the position of a wheel sensor after tire rotation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
- Risk
- The TPMS may misidentify a tire with low air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheel electronics and tire valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44R2.
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera · Nov 18, 2020
NHTSA campaign 20V716000 · 32,048 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
Not every 2021 Volkswagen Arteon is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2021 Volkswagen Arteon buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 4 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
- Tires › Sidewall — 2 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 6,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Arteon years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Arteon | 25 | 191.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 Arteon | 28 | 191.3 in | Not rated | 1 | 14 |
| 2022 Arteon | 28 | 191.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 Arteon | 25 | 191.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 Arteon | 25 | 191.3 in | Not rated | 1 | 8 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volkswagen. How we calculate this →