2021 Volkswagen Arteon Does Not Qualify For IIHS’ Top Safety Pick+ Award

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon was put to the test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It performed admirably in all six crashworthiness evaluations, and was awarded with the Top Safety Pick rating.

However, the poor-rated headlights on the SE trim level prevented it from scoring the Top Safety Pick+ award, as, according to the IIHS, they “don’t illuminate the roadway adequately on straightaways or curves on the high beam setting. On the low beam setting, they provide inadequate light where the road curves to the left.”

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The LED projector headlamps equipping the SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line models nabbed a ‘good’ overall rating. “On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve”, the IIHS added. “The low beams never exceeded glare limits” and the “high-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle’s low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.”

Volkswagen is offering the 2021 Arteon in SE, SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line specifications, with MSRPs of $36,995, $41,595 and $46,995 respectively, excluding the $1,195 destination charge. The base SE gets standard LED headlights, blind spot monitor and digital instrument cluster. The SEL R-Line adds a panoramic sunroof, travel assist and park distance control, and the range-topping SEL Premium R-Line comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, 4Motion all-wheel drive system and a Harman Kardon premium audio.