VW Arteon Shooting Brake Review: The Sleek Family Car That Secretly Wants to Be a Gran Turismo

You know that moment when you walk through a parking lot and every other car looks the same? Anonymous crossovers. Sensible compact hatchbacks. A sea of gray metal that feels more like compromise than choice. You need space, comfort, and efficiency — but you also secretly want something that makes you glance back when you lock it.

That's the tension so many drivers live in today: your heart wants a grand tourer, your life requires a family car, and your budget demands something that won't punish you at the pump or in the long-term.

This is exactly the gap the VW Arteon Shooting Brake is trying to fill.

VW Arteon Shooting Brake takes the idea of a sensible Volkswagen and stretches it into something far more emotional: a long-roof fastback wagon with a premium-feeling cabin, huge trunk, and the kind of relaxed, long-legged comfort you usually associate with much pricier German brands.

Why the VW Arteon Shooting Brake is the Answer to Boring

Volkswagen positions the Arteon Shooting Brake as its flagship for people who don't want an SUV. On the official VW site, the Arteon is offered primarily as a plug-in hybrid eHybrid and as a sporty R version, with the Shooting Brake body combining a low, coupe-like roofline with a practical, wide-opening tailgate and generous luggage capacity. The design is intentionally dramatic: a broad front grille with integrated LED light strip, a long wheelbase, and a sweeping side profile that makes it look more grand tourer than grocery runner.

Under the skin, current European models focus on electrified efficiency and performance. The Arteon eHybrid Shooting Brake pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor and battery, enabling locally emission-free driving over short distances and significantly reduced fuel consumption on longer trips when used smartly. The R variant tunes the Arteon into a high-performance wagon, with stronger output and a sportier chassis setup aimed at enthusiasts who still need space.

In other words: it's built to solve a modern problem. You want a car that feels special and premium, but it still has to haul kids, gear, and luggage without turning every fuel stop into a guilt trip.

Why this specific model?

The VW Arteon Shooting Brake stands out in a market dominated by SUVs by doing something very simple but very rare: it lets you have your design and use it too.

• Design that actually turns heads: Real owners on forums and Reddit consistently praise the Arteon's styling, calling it "the best-looking VW in decades" and "Audi-level looks without the badge tax." The Shooting Brake body adds an extra layer of drama with that long, elegant roofline and muscular rear.
• Space without the SUV bulk: Thanks to its long wheelbase and wagon rear, the Arteon Shooting Brake offers generous rear legroom and a large, flat cargo area, accessible via the wide tailgate. In daily life, that translates into easier stroller loading, flat-pack furniture runs, or airport trips with multiple suitcases.
• Comfort-first driving experience: Owners often describe the Arteon as a "relaxed cruiser" rather than a hardcore sports car. The suspension and seating are tuned for long-distance comfort, especially on European motorways, making it ideal if you rack up highway miles or frequent road trips.
• Tech that feels modern, not gimmicky: Depending on trim and options, the Arteon Shooting Brake can be outfitted with VW's Digital Cockpit, large central infotainment screen, matrix LED headlights (IQ.LIGHT), adaptive driver assistance systems, and high-end audio. The idea is to give you most of what premium German brands offer, but inside a VW ecosystem.
• Efficiency with the eHybrid: For commuters with predictable routes, the Arteon eHybrid Shooting Brake lets you run day-to-day errands or office trips largely on electric power when charged regularly, then seamlessly rely on the petrol engine for long hauls without range anxiety.

In short, this is the car for someone who wants a bit of emotional theater every time they walk up to it, but doesn't want to sacrifice practicality or sensible running costs.

At a Glance: The Facts

Feature	User Benefit
Shooting Brake body style with long wheelbase	Combines coupe-inspired looks with wagon practicality and generous rear legroom for adults or growing kids.
Wide-opening tailgate and large luggage compartment	Makes loading bulky items, suitcases, or sports gear easy; ideal for family life and road trips.
Available eHybrid plug-in drivetrain (market dependent)	Enables locally emission-free driving on short trips and improved fuel efficiency on mixed journeys when charged regularly.
Optional R performance variant	Offers significantly stronger performance and a sportier driving feel while keeping the practical Shooting Brake layout.
Digital cockpit and large central infotainment display (trim dependent)	Provides a modern, configurable driving interface, seamless navigation, and smartphone integration without feeling overly complicated.
Available advanced driver assistance systems	Helps reduce stress in traffic and on long motorway journeys with semi-automated support and active safety features.
Premium-feeling interior design and materials	Delivers an upscale, executive ambiance that makes long commutes or daily errands feel a notch above mainstream sedans and wagons.

What Users Are Saying

Dive into Arteon discussions on Reddit and enthusiast forums and you'll find a fairly consistent theme: this is a car people buy with their eyes first, and then grow to appreciate for its comfort and space.

The praise:

• Design: Owners repeatedly call it "underrated" and "a sleeper luxury car". The Shooting Brake, where available, is particularly loved for its distinctive wagon silhouette compared with ubiquitous SUVs.
• Comfort and refinement: Many drivers highlight the quiet cabin and relaxed ride, saying it excels on long-distance trips and feels more like a premium German sedan than a typical mainstream VW.
• Value vs. premium brands: Compared with similarly sized wagons or fastbacks from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes, buyers feel they're getting a lot of design and kit for less money, especially second-hand.

The criticisms:

• Infotainment learning curve: Some users feel VW's newer touch-based interface is less intuitive than older button-heavy setups, with occasional complaints about responsiveness or menu depth.
• Not a pure sports car: Drivers who expect razor-sharp, hot-hatch dynamics sometimes find the Arteon a bit too comfort-biased, even in sportier trims.
• Market availability and engine options: Depending on country and model year, engine choices can be limited, particularly for those who want powerful petrol units outside of the R variant.

Overall, the sentiment skews positive: if you buy the Arteon Shooting Brake as a stylish, comfortable cruiser with real-world usability, it largely delivers on that promise.

Behind the Arteon Shooting Brake sits Volkswagen AG, one of the world's largest automakers, listed under ISIN: DE0007664039, which helps explain the broad dealer network, parts availability, and long-standing engineering know-how baked into the platform.

Alternatives vs. VW Arteon Shooting Brake

The Arteon Shooting Brake plays in an unusual niche, so your alternatives depend heavily on what you prioritize.

• Mid-size SUVs (e.g., VW Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4): These will often give you a higher driving position and sometimes more perceived utility, but they're boxier, less aerodynamic, and rarely as visually striking. If you're tired of driving a tall, upright box, the Arteon's low stance will feel like a breath of fresh air.
• Premium wagons and fastbacks (Audi A5 Sportback, BMW 3 Series Touring, Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake where available): These cars go toe-to-toe on style and often offer more badge prestige. However, they tend to cost more to buy and option up. The Arteon Shooting Brake offers similar practicality and presence for less, though it won't match the sharpest driving dynamics or most luxurious interiors at the very top end.
• Traditional mid-size sedans: If you're considering a conventional sedan, the Arteon Shooting Brake gives you more cargo flexibility and a more distinctive look, without demanding much compromise in comfort.

In many ways, the VW Arteon Shooting Brake is the anti-SUV. If you still love the idea of a car that sits low, looks sleek, and glides down the highway but you can't ignore the realities of family life, it hits a sweet spot few others occupy.

Final Verdict

If you're tired of sensible-but-soulless crossovers, the VW Arteon Shooting Brake is that rare compromise that doesn't feel like one. It solves a very modern dilemma: you want beauty, your life requires practicality, and your conscience demands efficiency.

The Arteon Shooting Brake gives you:

• Head-turning, gran turismo-inspired styling.
• Real-world usability with a huge, flexible cargo area.
• Comfort-first long-distance manners that make every highway trip easier.
• Available plug-in hybrid tech for cleaner, cheaper commutes (where offered).
• A premium-feeling experience backed by Volkswagen's global footprint.

It's not a razor-edged sports car and it's not trying to be. Instead, the VW Arteon Shooting Brake is a stylish, grown-up GT wagon for people who still care how their car looks and feels, even when there's a stroller, a dog, and three suitcases in the back.

If you're shopping for your next family or long-distance car and find yourself yawning at yet another SUV, this is one you should absolutely put on your test-drive list.