Volkswagen is cutting bait, and unfortunately, the Arteon is going to end up on the cutting room floor after 2024. Still, the short-lived nameplate showed that VW can churn out stylish sedans. Joining VW dealerships in 2019, the Arteon sat atop the VW hierarchy despite sedans losing ground to luxe crossovers and SUVs. However, after slowing sales, Volkswagen formally announced in 2023 that it would be exiting the portfolio. This 2023 VW Arteon packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 under the hood that sends 300 hp and 295 through a seven-speed automatic transmission and into either the front wheels or the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 VW Arteon and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Arteon and highlights some of his favorite and least favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to those thoughts, Wren chats with Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy about the Arteon. The pair talk about why VW is discontinuing the Arteon, the car’s sales performance, and the future of sedans in the marketplace. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the Arteon special.