VW Arteon 2.0 TSI and Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: sporty character

Two beautiful mid-range sedans with a demand for performance

So different yet so similar: the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce meets the Arteon, VW's latest model built using the MQB modular system. Both machines have 280 horsepower, both have dual transmissions and small four-cylinder engines. And are they fun on the road? Yes and no!

We know for sure that you are not reading this test because you are forced to choose only between Alfa Romeo and VW. Anyone who wants to buy an Alfa will just do it. And he won't suddenly decide that Volkswagen will still be the best choice - no matter what the outcome of the match between Arteon and Julia.

Compare Julia and Arteon

Oh yes, Julia... I don't know what associations the word "Julia" usually evokes. All I know is that when you give a model of a car a woman's name, it must match her. This only happens with the Italian brand - can you imagine Volkswagen ever calling the Passat "Francisca" or "Leoni"?

Arteon, unlike the legendary Phaethon, is an artificial name that does not have much meaning. The "Art" part can still be interpreted, but no - compared to the Giulia, every model name seems somewhat cold and technical. In fact, the technical sound would be right for the Arteon, which replaced both the (Passat) CC and the Phaeton, becoming VW's new top-of-the-line sedan - based on a modular system for transversely mounted engines. Only the Touareg is more expensive than the Arteon in VW's portfolio, but it's clear to everyone that, until recently, the Arteon doesn't and can't be a true high-end sedan like the Phaeton. The reason may be that the Phaeton turned into an economic disaster and that the idea for VW to produce a luxury limousine came from the famous Mr. Piech, who today no longer has much influence on the current activities of the concern.

Weaknesses? No one. Symbol? Good…

The most powerful Arteon at the moment (rumored to be a V6 version) generates 280 hp. and 350 Nm of torque. It can be said that it corresponds to the title. The power source is the recently used EA 888 engine with a displacement of two liters, direct injection and forced filling through a turbocharger, used in all model series. All of this is mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission with oil bath clutches. Sounds like something completely normal, and it really is. This continues with the interior, which is, as usual, well done but lacks the nuances that would make the Arteon something special. Only long vents with analog clocks, like in the Phaeton, try to create a nobler atmosphere. It looks good, but at the end of the day, this design idea alone distinguishes the Arteon, which costs at least 35 euros in the basic version, from the much cheaper Golf. The combined digital controller is now available for the Polo. Everything here can be liked, for example, due to the ingeniously simple control of functions - except for commands with gestures, which are sometimes perceived and sometimes not.

The Arteon is a very good car - in almost every way. For those standing outside - a beautiful, unusual view, for those sitting inside - a relaxing routine without surprises. Or not, but there's another one - and that's the lap timer hidden in the Performance submenu, which acts like a bad joke. Also annoying is that when ACC is enabled, the tempo in the combo box is displayed as the symbol of the car, the Golf, and not the Arteon. In turn, the system recognizes the restrictions and, if desired, adjusts the speed in accordance with them. In addition, it slows down before corners and accelerates out of them - in general, autonomous driving for beginners.

None of them are completely sure

If you swim with Arteon in your daily routine, then everything will be fine on the other hand. The chassis rides quietly and smoothly, the engine delivers torque to the drivetrain, the infotainment system works seamlessly, and all displays glow in high resolution, just as beautiful. So this is all multibene?

In principle, yes, if not for the gearbox, which would be quite good if it were not installed in Arteon. It just doesn't fit into a sophisticated comfortable limousine and sometimes chokes on exit, turns off outside of sport mode only after fully depressing the accelerator pedal, and with its sometimes rude demeanor, it robs the Arteon of much of its confidence - an obvious shortcoming in working with off-the-shelf modules. I'll go even further and say that the slow old Phaeton automatic would have done the job more confidently. However, they no longer correspond to the design scheme with a transverse engine and transmission.

And yet - in the evaluation of sports cars, we do not give points for thoughtful and smooth gear shifting. Thus, in a standard sprint to 100 km / h, the VW Arteon wipes the floor with all versions of the Phaeton (including the W12), and thanks to the grip provided by the Haldex clutch, it accelerates in 5,7 seconds - only a tenth slower than the official data.

Julia is slightly behind with 5,8 seconds, but significantly different from the 5,2 seconds promised by the manufacturer. While the Veloce's two-litre engine responds better than the Arteon engine, and on top of that, the ZF automatic transmission has better, i.e. shorter, gears than the DSG and shifts just as quickly. But - and this surprises you even when you get into the car - the tachometer red zone starts shortly after the number 5. Diesel? Not really, although it feels like the engine is almost the same.

Alpha, sound and fans

In the lower rev range, the Veloce rushes powerfully forward and without true Launch Control, with a lot of torque (400 Nm) breaking through the middle zone before the forces begin to leave it a little. And it could piss off anyone who has driven an Alfa with old "real" V6 engines, such as the Busso 3,2 on a GTV (popular name refers to designer Giuseppe Busso). Indeed, at low revs, they did not show anything special, but then the orchestral performance became as loud as if they were about to veer off the road onto the track of a touring championship.

Today the Alpha's 280 horsepower sounds so sluggish and dull during intermediate acceleration that a true fan will be sickened. The question remains why Alfa Romeo does not offer the Quadrifoglio V6 engine in a 300 hp version to bring emotion to a car that can compete with a high-tech model like Arteon in only one discipline: road dynamics. Otherwise, Julia is inferior everywhere. Overall, the infotainment system is okay, but it still looks dated compared to VW.

In fact, the only thing that can really annoy you is navigation, which, even for easy routes, often contains a lot of crazy ideas. And as a result, you prefer your phone to run in parallel. On the other hand, the leather upholstery, which looks fantastic and is superbly made, deserves a lot of praise. The "matter of taste" section includes the switch plates behind the sports steering wheel.

Only one is fun on the road

Ah, how directly the electromechanical power steering responds! You need time to get used to it. Feedback hardly reaches you, but it's good that the chassis can handle the fast steering gear ratio and pulse with almost no delay. The Giulia understeers a little when cornering, which can be corrected by targeted load changes.

Then exit the bend with minimal rewinding effort. Really cool! One problem: the pleasure would be even greater if the ESP could be turned off completely. However, this is not possible. There is not even a button to release the reins, only the sport mode remains.

A similar opportunity exists in the Arteon, but in slalom it has no chance against the more balanced and lighter 65kg Julia, who at times feels like the company forgot to install stabilizers and just put the body on a chassis with a loose connection between them.

Arteon shakes no less, but does it differently. With it, the swings are longer and stronger. However, you can manage it quickly, although it is not configured for any games at all. You work with him in turns - as a mandatory activity, and not because you know how to do it very well.

Neither the pilot nor the machine get real pleasure. The brake pedal softens fairly quickly, the transmission sometimes refuses to follow shift commands, and if Arteon could speak, he would say, "Please leave me alone!" And do it better - because with active driving, but far from the border zone, it is easier for both you and Arteon. For sports driving, it is more appropriate to take the Giulia Veloce, which is more convenient to drive. Or one BMW 340i. With a six-cylinder engine and sound to match. Bavarian is not much more expensive. But it's not Alpha.

Conclusion

Editor Roman Domez: I had a great desire to work with Julia and yes, I like her! She does a lot of things right. Despite the mediocre infotainment system, the interior is well-designed. You sit perfectly in the car and know how to drive it dynamically. However, the Veloce version is not very convincing, primarily because of the motorcycle, which for some reason does not turn you on. Sorry gentlemen from Alpha, but the beautiful Julia has a beautiful voice and also disables ESP. The VW Arteon is not at all embarrassed by the fact that it offers neither great sound nor great dynamics. For him, these would be nice additions, not mandatory attributes. The only annoying factor in VW (as is often the case) is the DSG gearbox. It quickly switches only under heavy load, otherwise it acts indecisively and obviously unsportsmanlike. Plus, the Arteon could be accused of being just an elongated Golf, which would even be true if we were only looking at the interior. However, this is a good car, but not a sporty one.

Text: Roman Domez

Photo: Rosen Gargolov

Evaluation

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 Q4 Fast

I like Julia, you sit perfectly in her and can dynamically control her. The Veloce version is not very convincing, however, and it mostly has to do with the bike. The beauty Julia needs a prettier voice as well as ESP off.

VW Arteon 2.0 TSI 4Motion R Line

The only annoying factor in the VW (as is often the case) is the DSG gearbox. It shifts quickly only under heavy load, otherwise it acts hesitantly and obviously unsportsmanlike. However, the Arteon is a good car, but not a sporty one.

technical details

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 Q4 Fast	VW Arteon 2.0 TSI 4Motion R Line
Working volume	1995 cc	1984 cc
Power	280 k.s. (206 kW) at 5250 rpm	280 k.s. (206 kW) at 5100 rpm
Maximum torque	400 Nm at 2250 rpm	350 Nm at 1700 rpm
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	5,8 with	5,7 with
Braking distances at a speed of 100 km / h	35,6 m	35,3 m
full speed	240 km / h	250 km / h
Average consumption fuel in the test	12,3 l / 100 km	10,0 l / 100 km
Base Price	47 800 EUR (in Germany)	50 675 EUR (in Germany)

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