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The poor Volkswagen Arteon never stood a chance. And not from the traditional players in the compact executive sedan segment, but from within its own stable in the form of the the Tiguan.
Locally, Volkswagen's best-selling models are the Polo Vivo, Polo and its Tiguan SUV.
Thing is, motoring journalists sometimes adore cars that aren't popular enough to maintain a presence in the market.
The Arteon is one of those cars. Just have a look at several tweets from hacks bemoaning the large sedan's exit from Mzansi.
I'm too am gutted the Arteon will no longer be on sale any longer, because it made sense. It looks outstanding, has a humongous 563-litre boot, a cavernous back seat, business-like legroom and a smooth 2.0-litre turbo diesel mill.
In fact, VW had already culled the diesel-powered models last year with only the 206kW 2.0 TSI model remaining.
Do you think VW should keep the Arteon in the local line-up? Or, what are your thoughts about this car? Please email us here.
Image: Geraldine Parker
I was behind the wheel of VW's flagship sedan for a one-day road trip from Cape Town to Williston in the Northern Cape in search of the best Karoo lamb.
It never put a wheel wrong, proving to be the consummate cruiser despite being packed with people and a large cooler box to put the lamb in.
As it was the flagship, the Arteon was fitted with massage seats for the driver, a heads-up display with critical information and a six-speed DSG smoother than Adele's transition from chubby to slim.
Gallery: The 2018 Volkswagen Arteon captured before sunrise
The Arteon's 130kW and 350Nm provided the perfect balance between lowdown grunt and frugality, displaying 5.3-litres/100km on that trip between two provinces.
And so, exactly two years since it was launched the Arteon steps into the shadows and joins the Jetta which the public had no appetite for any longer.
What a pity, because in my opinion it had character. And that's rare for a large German saloon car.
