The sedan has never been so uncertain as it is these days when SUVs and crossovers are taking over the market by storm. SUVs and crossovers are so popular that most automakers these days are ready to discontinue their longest-standing models in other to invest that money into a new city/family/luxury crossover and SUV.
Volkswagen is no different because they decided to ditch the VW Passat sedan which has been around for a better part of half a century. Be that as it may, Volkswagen is one of those brands that still somewhat believe in sedans and that is why they are going to continue offering the Jetta and the stylish Arteon coupe sedan.
However, since VW focused most of its efforts on decarbonizing its entire lineup, it also came out with the brand-new VW ID. Aero which is the third sedan for the 2023 VW sedan lineup. The Arteon is the flagship sedan with the most space, the best technology, and the most powerful engines while the Jetta is the entry-level sedan.
The ID. Aero opens a new chapter in the book of VW sedans as it is the first fully electric sedan wearing the VW badge, but we are certain that it isn’t going to be the last. As such, we are going to tell you all about 2023 VW sedan models, why you should consider them, and how they stack up against each other.
2023 VW Arteon
The VW Arteon costs $40,000 at the very least while higher-spec models can go a lot higher than that. The 2023 Arteon is going to be available in SE R-Line, SEL R-Line, and the SEL Premium R-Line trim. The 2021 Arteon saw a new 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that raised the power up to 300hp and 295lb-ft of torque and the 7-speed DSG transmission.
The Arteon kicks off with FWD, but AWD is available as an option. Design-wise, the Arteon is the best-looking VW sedan by quite some margin while also being the most spacious and most comfortable. The Passat is no more for the 2023 model year, but that is not too hard to swallow because the 2023 Arteon is a really good car.
2023 VW Jetta
If you see yourself driving a VW sedan, but can’t be bothered to pay more than $21,000, the VW Jetta is the car for you. The Jetta is available in S, Sport, SE, and SEL trims while the Jetta GTI comes in GTI trim exclusively. The 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder is the engine of choice for all Jetta models except for the GTI as it offers 158hp and 184lb-ft of torque compared to the 2.0L 4-cylinder in the GTI with 228hp and 258lb-ft of torque.
FWD and a six-speed manual are the standards, but you can upgrade to the 7-speed DSG if you want. Design-wise, the Jetta looks fairly docile in its normal trim and quite fruity in its GTI trim. It is also a relatively comfortable sedan, but it can’t match the Arteon when it comes to space, desirability, luxury, comfort, or technology.
2023 VW ID. Aero
The VW ID. Aero is likely going to start somewhere between $40,000 and $50,000 which will make it quite competitive with the Arteon. However, the ID. Aero is a completely different beast as it is a fully electric VW family sedan. You will be able to get the ID. Aero with either FWD or AWD depending on the model, but it is said that it is going to feature the familiar 77kWh battery found in other ID. models.
VW says that the ID. Aero is going to be able to do 385 miles on a single charge which does make it quite competitive at this price. The ID. Aero also looks really futuristic and is sure to draw more attention than even the coupe Arteon. VW is also probably going to offer it in some performance trim eventually which is going to make it the fastest VW sedan, possibly even the all-time fastest VW sedan.
FAQ Section
Which 2023 VW sedan is the best?
We are not 100% familiar with how the ID. Aero is going to cope when it reaches customers which is why we are going to crown the 2023 VW Arteon as the best 2023 sedan out of the VWs lineup. The reasons why we choose the Arteon are because it looks the best, it has the best technology, has the most space, is the most desirable, safest, and by far the most comfortable.
The only aspect where the Arteon falls short compared to the Jetta is that it does not get a true GTI model and that it costs almost double the money. However, that is to be expected as the Arteon is in a much higher segment than the Jetta.
Why did VW discontinue the 2023 Passat sedan?
The reason why VW got rid of the new Passat sedan is that there simply is no room for it anymore. For starters, the Arteon is a much cooler-looking and more eye-catching version of the Passat sedan which is why decided to keep it over the Passat. Secondly, the Passat wagon is a more popular car than the Passat sedan in many markets which is why it made sense to keep the wagon but discontinue the sedan.
Thirdly, VW is focusing on SUVs, crossovers, and EVs which is why they had to let go of some models so they can invest in newer models. Even though many people do mourn the fact that there will be no 2023 Passat sedan, it’s a sign of the times, and VW knows that.
Are VW sedans good?
In Europe, VW sedans have long been the bridge between BMW, Audi, and Mercedes sedans and some cheaper economy brands such as Skoda, Peugeot, and Renault. However, the B8 Passat was so good when it first came out that many people preferred it over the likes of BMW, Audi, and Mercedes sedans.
As such, VW sedans are indeed really good, and they often seem too good because they can rival some much more expensive sedans on the market.