With the barrier to entry for luxury vehicles coming with a lower and lower price tag, it’s become harder for companies to justify high prices on subpar build quality. Today, we’ll examine how luxury newcomer—the 2020 Arteon—fares against an established luxury competitor—Infiniti.
Here’s our head-to-head comparison of the 2020 Volkswagen Arteon SEL and the 2020 Infiniti Q50 LUXE. Which is the better value? Take a look.
2020 VW Arteon SEL |
vs |
2020 Infiniti Q50 LUXE |
$41,895 |
MSRP |
$40,850 |
2.0L turbo 4-cyl |
Engine |
3.0L V6 |
268 hp / 258 lb-ft |
Horsepower / Torque |
300 hp / 295 lb-ft |
8-speed auto |
Transmission |
7-speed auto |
AWD |
Drivetrain |
AWD |
20/29/23 |
Fuel Economy |
19/27/22 |
The 2020 Arteon has that simple efficiency present in all Volkswagen vehicles. Take the 8-inch touchscreen, for example. It’s easy to read and responsive. Crisp even. Load times range from quick to non-existent. Menu layout is intuitive and uncluttered. There are thoughtful quality-of-life improvements, such as unused controls hiding themselves when you move your fingers away from the touchscreen.
Now look at the 2020 Q50. It has dual touchscreens. More is better right? Not here, no. Screen resolutions fluctuate all over the place, with pixilation being so bad at some points that it’s hard to navigate or read. Similarly, font sizes and styles are mixed and matched, further hurting legibility. To make matters worse, everything is bogged down by convoluted and overabundant menus. Navigating the 2020 Q50 infotainment system is tedious and stressful.
When you buy a luxury vehicle, you expect the best. High-quality materials, cutting edge tech, and a smooth ride. The Arteon delivers those things. Seating, whether you opt for the leatherette or leather upholstery, is supportive and comfortable. Paired with the adaptive dampers, the ride quality is smooth and well controlled, even on badly maintained roads. The Q50 doesn’t come close. Its comfy seats don’t stop you from feeling every bump on the road. And we’re not being hyperbolic. The suspension transfers every road inconsistency straight to your seat.
Want to learn more about the 2020 Arteon? Give Capistrano Volkswagen a call.