VW ARTEON SHOOTING BRAKE
In a nutshell… Sharp style, capable towing
Price £39,580 Kerbweight 1585kg Towball limit 90kg
ESTATE CARS HAVE long been the frumpy cousin of swisher saloon or hatchback peers.
In the case of the Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake, however, it’s definitely the looker in the line-up, combining sharp coupé styling with the generously square footage of a big estate.
The swooping roofline means it is less voluminous than more slab-sided station wagons, but it still has a vast boot. In fact, Chuck has rarely had as much space to stretch out in on our caravan adventures, with the 590-litre load area being flat, shallow and practical.
The only fly in Chuck’s ointment was the deep sill behind the bumper – we needed to put a shoulder behind the old fella to get him in situ.
Engine options
The Arteon Shooting Brake is available with petrol, diesel and hybrid options, but for the purposes of towing a caravan, clean, modern diesels really do get the job done.
The two-litre 150bhp diesel in our car was mated to the fast-shifting seven-speed DSG gearbox and made for effortless, rapid progress, whether or not there was a tourer hanging on our tail. Our Bailey was a pretty featherweight match, but we were still pleased to see the brim-to-brim towing economy
besting 42mpg. The kerbweight is 1585kg with a maximum tow limit of 2000kg and a noseload limit of 90kg.
Such style does not come at bargain prices, sadly, and the sumptuous Elegance trim of our test car nudges the list price perilously close to the £40,000 mark. For that, you get all the toys, including 18in wheels that will have you parking a foot from any kerb, and in our case, a stunning two-tone leather interior.
The various car-selling websites claim discounts on that price can shave off more than £2000, bringing things a little more down to earth.
The Arteon Sporting Brake is a stunning, spacious and capable tow car. If you want something that can tow a tourer and turn heads equally well, it’s probably time to grab yourself a brochure.