HomeCar ReviewsVolkswagen Vento Review: DSG and Manual variants

Volkswagen Vento Review: DSG and Manual variants

Introduction

First launched in 2010, Vento (meaning wind in Italian) is a made-for-India sedan. It was the first car which VW engineered for their customers in India. In doing so, Vento became a symbol to highlight VW’s commitment to India.

Apart from selling the Vento in the domestic market, Volkswagen also began exporting the Vento to neighbouring markets including Russia, Mexico, Thailand, South Africa and Malaysia. Last fiscal, Volkswagen exported 56,064 units of Vento; making it the third most exported car from India.

Sadly, sales performance of Vento have not been as impressive in the domestic market as the company would have liked. Here, Vento stands fourth in the pecking order in its segment. First is Honda City (62,702), followed by Maruti Ciaz (42,023), Hyundia Verna (20,786), Volkswagen Vento (9,659) and Skoda Rapid (9,103). [Figures in the bracket are respective unit sold in the period from September 2014 to May 2015].

Of the five, Vento is the only one which has not received a facelift. To keep up with the competition, Volkswagen has finally updated their Vento. Will these new updates help them get more customers to the brand, lets find out in the 2015 Volkswagen Vento Review below.

Exteriors

The changes made to the exterior of new Vento are seen in the form of new front grille with three chrome slats and a VW logo in the centre. The new design accentuates the VW badge, and an overall premium feel to the car.

Apart from this, VW has re-profiled the bonnet with deeper creases. According to the designers, this has been done to give the car a sportier look (it does look sportier and beefier than before). You also have chrome strip in the revised front airdam, and new front fog lamps with integrated cornering lights.

Moving on to the side of the car, you will notice new 15 inch alloys, electric ORVMs with LED turn indicators, and chrome lined door handle bars. At the rear, you have restyled taillights with revised internals (giving effect like LED, but they are not LED), chrome lining on the boot lid, revised bumper with chrome inserts and safety reflectors, new chrome lined exhaust tip, and a new soft-touch release for the boot-lid.

Interiors

Just like the exteriors, the basic layout remains unchanged even on the inside. The dashboard gets a dual tone finish, with new sportier flat bottom steering wheel. The remaining equipment like the instrument panel and centre console with controls to Air Con and music, remains unchanged. This means that you don’t have the touchscreen or navigation infotainment system; which is offered by both Maruti Ciaz and Honda City (top two selling cars in the segment).

What is new inside the Vento are the two new colour options – Walnut Desert Beige for Highline trim; and Cloud Titanschwarz for Comfortline and Trendline trim. Feature update includes Cruise control and cooled glovebox. There is also a dead pedal.

Overall, the interiors ooze premium touch and feel; easily setting a benchmark in the segment. The cabin gets cooled within minutes, even on a hot summer day; thanks to rear AC vents. Music system’s speaker quality too is impressive.

Engine, Transmission and Mileage

Engine options on offer with the Vento facelift remains unchanged, except for increase in the fuel efficiency. Volkswagen has retuned the engines to deliver upto 7% more mileage (diesel) and upto 2% more mileage (petrol); without affecting the power or torque figures.

A total of three engines are on offer, two in petrol and one in diesel. Base petrol variant gets 1.6l MPI four cylinder engine with a 5 speed manual transmission. This one delivers 105 PS power at 5250 rpm and 153 Nm torque at 3800 rpm. VW claims the mileage of this variant is 16.09 kmpl.

The other option in petrol is the four cylinder 1.2l TSI. This one delivers 105 PS at 5000 rpm and 175 Nm torque at 1500-4100 rpm. Offered only with an automatic 7 speed DSG gearbox, this one claims to deliver 18.19 kmpl.

The diesel engine option is in the form of 1.5l four cylinder TDI. It delivers 105 PS at 4400 rpm and 250 Nm torque at 1500-2500 rpm. Offered in both 5 speed manual and 7 speed DSG transmission opion; VW claims the manual delivers 20.64 kmpl and the DSG delivers 21.50 kmpl.

In real life driving conditions, we managed to squeeze out 15 kmpl from the manual diesel and 16 kmpl from the DSG diesel Vento. As we only had the two diesel options during our test drive, we cannot comment on the real-life mileage of new Vento petrol variants.

Engine Sound

Volkswagen Vento Specs

Features

Like every Volkswagen car, this one too is offered in three trims – Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The MT variants are offered in all three trims, while the DSG variants are not offered with the base Trendline trim.

Below is the complete set of feature list on offer with the new Vento in India.

Features – Exteriors and Interiors

Features – Functional

Safety Features

Claiming to be the safest in the segment, Volkswagen Vento facelift gets dual front airbags as standard. Apart from this, other safety equipment on offer are front disc brakes, ABS, ESP and Hill hold control. See the table below for variant wise safety features on offer with the Vento.

How is it to Drive

There is not much change in the driving dynamics of the new Vento, as compared to the old one. Just like the previous one, this one too picks up speed effortlessly, and is best when driven in the mid-range of 1500-2500 rpm.

Inside the city, at relatively lower speeds, the car easily gobbles up all the potholes and bumps. But, increase the speed, and drive on the same roads; the ride quality stiffens; just like some other European cars in the segment; or the segment above.

Tyre grip is fantastic, which will make you push the car on the curvy sections of the roads. Body roll is negligible; also for the rear seat passengers. Steering feedback is sharp, and it weighs in well with increase in speeds.

Though you can notice the gear shifts in DSG, they are not annoying. The touch and feel of the manual gear stick is better than that of the DSG stick. Gear shifts are smooth, even in manual transmission.

The above discussed points were more or less sorted. But, what we expected VW to have worked on the refinement of their diesel mill. Sadly, they have not. The clutter is still audible inside the cabin of new Vento as well. And it gets louder with increase in rpm.

Verdict

There is no doubt that the Vento is among the best cars in the segment today. Where it lacks is the poor after sales and slightly higher cost of spares. If Volkswagen India can look into these two, they will definitely attract even more buyers to the brand.

Pros

– Touch and feel, very European
– Build quality
– Drivability
– DSG

Cons

– Price
– Touchscreen, Navigation

Rivals

The Volkswagen Vento has a long list of rivals. Starting from – Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Ciaz, Skoda Rapid, Ford Fiesta, Fiat Linea, Renault Scala, and Nissan Sunny.

Volkswagen Vento Colour Options

Price of Vento

Ex-showroom, Delhi

Vento 1.6 MPI MT TL – Rs 7.85 lakhs
Vento 1.6 MPI MT CL – Rs 8.67 lakhs
Vento 1.6 MPI MT HL – Rs 9.42 lakhs

Vento 1.2 TSI DSG CL – Rs 9.87 lakhs
Vento 1.2 TSI DSG HL – 10.62 lakhs

Vento 1.5 TDI MT TL – Rs 9.10 lakhs
Vento 1.5 TDI MT CL – Rs 9.92 lakhs
Vento 1.5 TDI MT HL – Rs 10.67 lakhs

Vento 1.5 TDI DSG CL – Rs 11.12 lakhs
Vento 1.5 TDI DSG HL – Rs 11.87 lakhs

Ex-showroom, Mumbai.

Vento 1.6 MPI MT TL – Rs 7.70 lakhs
Vento 1.6 MPI MT CL – Rs 8.51 lakhs
Vento 1.6 MPI MT HL – Rs 9.24 lakhs

Vento 1.2 TSI DSG CL – Rs 9.68 lakhs
Vento 1.2 TSI DSG HL – 10.42 lakhs

Vento 1.5 TDI MT TL – Rs 8.93 lakhs
Vento 1.5 TDI MT CL – Rs 9.73 lakhs
Vento 1.5 TDI MT HL – Rs 10.47 lakhs

Vento 1.5 TDI DSG CL – Rs 10.91 lakhs
Vento 1.5 TDI DSG HL – Rs 11.64 lakhs

2015 Volkswagen Vento – TVC

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