Volkswagen Vento 2015

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Volkswagen Vento 2015 Expert Review - The Subtle Choice

The Vento has been the entry-level sedan for the VW brand. This sedan is based on the Polo and has been on sale since 2010.  Since then it has been getting timely updates, be it cosmetic changes, features and even engines. Since its launch, it has got two new engines and even a double-clutch transmission too.

However, the 2015 model year upgrade for the Vento has been a major cosmetic upgrade, especially after the launch of the new 1.5-litre diesel engine and automatic transmission. So, do the cosmetic changes on the Vento justify the upgrade? We lay our hands on the new Vento and tell you more in detail about it.
 

Appearance Exterior

The Vento is a premium sedan from Volkswagen, however it did look a lot similar to the Polo. This has been a let down for several of those car buyers who have been looking to distant themselves from the Polo-kind-of-look as they preferred sometime that is a lot more premium and subtle in styling.

Volkswagen has been listening to the customer feedback and they have introduced the updated version of the Vento. The Vento now has a three-chrome horizontal slat grille that makes it look a lot more premium and stylish. This looks like a bigger and more mature sedan than what the Vento actually looked. The new large-size fog lamps stand out on the new Vento. There is a very subtle thin chrome strip on the car at multiple points.

Germans know how to design a subtle car and the Vento is one of the best examples for this. There is no too much extra chrome but extremely subtle and stylish looking sedan. The Vento looks more like the Jetta than the Polo now, which differentiates it and it does stand out.

Appearance Interior

The interiors of the Vento are extremely premium. The Vento earlier had very basic features when it was launched in 2010 and since then several new additional features have been provided on the Vento. The interiors have evolved and now they are simple, stylish and yet they look premium.

The piano black sections on the steering wheel do feel premium and now the black on white text on all the display panels contributes to the subtleness. It is easy on the eyes and doesn’t look too loud either. The Vento’s three-spoke steering wheel has all the controls neatly located. We were looking for all the minute nick-nacks that we can point out as faulty, but got none expect the armrest which we found a bit out of place, especially while shifting gears. There is now the electrically folding ORVMs, then there is also a cruise control mode. Other changes include a cooled glove box and new interior colour themes of ‘Walnut desert beige’ (in Highline) and ‘Cloud – Titanschwarz’ (in Trendline and Comfortline).

The seats of this premium sedan are large and comfortable. There is sufficient space for tall people and good thigh and back support too. The rear seats too are comfortable and with the centre armrest it feels a lot more relaxed to sit at the back.  The boot of the Vento too is large enough to hold luggage for four people for an entire weekend.

Performance Drive

The Vento comes with three engine options, 1.2-litre turbo petrol with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, second is a 1.6-litre petrol with a five-speed manual transmission and a 1.5-litre diesel engine with a five-speed manual and seven-speed dual clutch transmission. The Vento 1.2-litre is our pick of the petrol engine options. This engine produces 103bhp of power and has good enough grunt to drive with ease in the city. Push the throttle and you can easily overtake in city or even the highway. The dual-clutch transmission is smooth and is very easy to shift.

The same is the case with the diesel engine. This is a torquey with sufficient grunt to drive with ease in city or even the highway. This diesel engine is one of the most powerful when it comes to real world (of course in its segment), especially the spool that the turbo produces makes it exciting. The Vento diesel is highly fuel-efficient and one of the most powerful diesel cars that are sold today. The automatic version of the Vento should be your pick of the lot as it makes driving stress free and you do not even miss out the quick shifts one can achieve with a manual transmission. The gearbox is seamless and very easy to use. For those who want the manual transmission, the clutch now is lighter and this makes it easier to clutch and de-clutch as well.

The ride quality of the Vento is phenomenal and it is a tad softer at the rear to make it a lot more comfortable and convenient for those who are chauffeur driven. The Vento has been designed for both kind of audience, one who likes to drive and those who like to be driven. The handling of the Vento is precise. The alacrity of the chassis on winding roads is far superior to most of the competition and the tyres offer a good grip. The electronic steering wheel is light and easy to drive in the city or even the highway. It feels well connected on most of the occasions despite being light. The Vento’s driving dynamics is one of its strong USPs.

Tech Specs

Features

Competition All Specs

Conclusion

At this premium mid-size sedan party, the Volkswagen Vento has dressed up in a Tuxedo. This one is subtle, catchy and worth a second glance. The Germans know how to make a car and how they know what the Indian car market needs. The Vento now is tailored to what the Indian consumers want and is ideally the best one can pick in the market.

It is built like tank, fun to drive and fuel-efficient too. It doesn’t come with the features that some of the competition offers, but for the price it is an ideal pick. One downside to the Vento is the cost of ownership and resale value, where the Japanese competitors have an edge.
 

Volkswagen Vento ₹ N/A Onwards

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