Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Test Drive Review
Car tested: 2011 Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Highline
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 7,10,660/-
Volkswagen offers the Polo with three very different engines in India. Although not tarmac scorching, the motors in the Polo do a good job offering a decent mix of performance and mileage. However the Polo 1.6 is slightly different. It is the car for the enthusiast and boasts of the magic 100bhp figure on its spec sheet. Besides the engine, the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 is exactly the same as its 1.2 sibling, there is no difference whatsoever. We have already tested the Polo Petrol and Polo Diesel , so we will keep this review limited to the performance of the Polo 1.6.The interiors are exactly the same as other Polos. Fantastic build quality along with classic instrumentation are highlights of the Polo’s interiors.
The only differentiating factor between the Polo 1.2 and the Polo 1.6 is the badging on the tail gate.
The Volkswagen Polo 1.6 is powered by a 1598cc, 4-cylinder, petrol engine which also does duty on the Vento. The in-line motor produces 105 PS at 5250 RPM and 153 Nm of torque at 3750 RPM. Torque figures are right between the 1.2 petrol and 1.2 diesel motors which produce 110 Nm and 180 Nm respectively.
Unlike its siblings (which do not revv past the 3000 RPM mark in neutral), the Polo 1.6 freely revvs all the way to 6300 RPM, but only when in neutral.
Start the engine of the Polo and the 1600cc instantly comes to life. NVH levels are very low and you can hardly feel the car is idling. Getting in to gear is very effortless thanks to the light clutch and smooth gearbox. The electric hydraulic power assist steering (the diesel is all electronic), makes it a breeze to park the Polo even in the smallest of spots. The low end response from the engine is decent and you never feel the lack of grunt even in city driving. However, you can’t drive off from second gear and the car just stalls if you try. Shift around 3000 RPM and you will make decent progress. But remember this is a 1.6 liter and you wouldn’t buy one just to cruise around town, so lets get to the highways and open roads.
The Polo is q-u-i-c-k and how! Mash the throttle in any gear and the car makes instant progress, rushing towards the redline. The NVH levels all of a sudden go for a toss and the sporty growl from the engine is instantly vocal. The tyres are really inadequate for the car and keep spinning in glee as you unleash all the horses. Volkswagen claims the 0 – 100 kmph dash is done in in 11.1 seconds which is very quick, making it the fastest hatchback on our roads today. The Polo 1.6 will hit a top whack of 180 kmph with ease and feels quite stable at three digit speeds. However the 1.6 motor only revvs till 5900 RPM, after which the computer just cuts off further acceleration inputs. This is quite disappointing as hot hatches should revv atleast to 6500 RPM if not 7000 RPM.
The Polo is slightly heavier than its 1200cc, 3-cylinder petrol sibling, but it does not show. Brakes are very sharp as well and the ABS system is perfectly calibrated. Handling is razor sharp and the car goes exactly where you point the steering. But again, the Apollo Acelere feel undertyred and give up way before the chassis does. Volkswagen should have slapped on wider rubber on the car, considering it has been positioned towards enthusiasts, who rarely care about fuel efficiency. Talking about fuel efficiency, the Polo 1.6 returns a decent 11 kmpl under mixed driving condition. Expect 10 kmpl in the city and 12 kmpl on the highways.
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 7,10,660/-
Volkswagen offers the Polo with three very different engines in India. Although not tarmac scorching, the motors in the Polo do a good job offering a decent mix of performance and mileage. However the Polo 1.6 is slightly different. It is the car for the enthusiast and boasts of the magic 100bhp figure on its spec sheet. Besides the engine, the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 is exactly the same as its 1.2 sibling, there is no difference whatsoever. We have already tested the Polo Petrol and Polo Diesel , so we will keep this review limited to the performance of the Polo 1.6.The interiors are exactly the same as other Polos. Fantastic build quality along with classic instrumentation are highlights of the Polo’s interiors.
The only differentiating factor between the Polo 1.2 and the Polo 1.6 is the badging on the tail gate.
The Volkswagen Polo 1.6 is powered by a 1598cc, 4-cylinder, petrol engine which also does duty on the Vento. The in-line motor produces 105 PS at 5250 RPM and 153 Nm of torque at 3750 RPM. Torque figures are right between the 1.2 petrol and 1.2 diesel motors which produce 110 Nm and 180 Nm respectively.
Unlike its siblings (which do not revv past the 3000 RPM mark in neutral), the Polo 1.6 freely revvs all the way to 6300 RPM, but only when in neutral.
Start the engine of the Polo and the 1600cc instantly comes to life. NVH levels are very low and you can hardly feel the car is idling. Getting in to gear is very effortless thanks to the light clutch and smooth gearbox. The electric hydraulic power assist steering (the diesel is all electronic), makes it a breeze to park the Polo even in the smallest of spots. The low end response from the engine is decent and you never feel the lack of grunt even in city driving. However, you can’t drive off from second gear and the car just stalls if you try. Shift around 3000 RPM and you will make decent progress. But remember this is a 1.6 liter and you wouldn’t buy one just to cruise around town, so lets get to the highways and open roads.
The Polo is q-u-i-c-k and how! Mash the throttle in any gear and the car makes instant progress, rushing towards the redline. The NVH levels all of a sudden go for a toss and the sporty growl from the engine is instantly vocal. The tyres are really inadequate for the car and keep spinning in glee as you unleash all the horses. Volkswagen claims the 0 – 100 kmph dash is done in in 11.1 seconds which is very quick, making it the fastest hatchback on our roads today. The Polo 1.6 will hit a top whack of 180 kmph with ease and feels quite stable at three digit speeds. However the 1.6 motor only revvs till 5900 RPM, after which the computer just cuts off further acceleration inputs. This is quite disappointing as hot hatches should revv atleast to 6500 RPM if not 7000 RPM.
The Polo is slightly heavier than its 1200cc, 3-cylinder petrol sibling, but it does not show. Brakes are very sharp as well and the ABS system is perfectly calibrated. Handling is razor sharp and the car goes exactly where you point the steering. But again, the Apollo Acelere feel undertyred and give up way before the chassis does. Volkswagen should have slapped on wider rubber on the car, considering it has been positioned towards enthusiasts, who rarely care about fuel efficiency. Talking about fuel efficiency, the Polo 1.6 returns a decent 11 kmpl under mixed driving condition. Expect 10 kmpl in the city and 12 kmpl on the highways.
Volkswagen Beetle Test Drive Review
Car tested: Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 AT
Price OTR Mumbai: 25,51,731/-
It was way back in 1933 when Hitler ordered Dr. Ferdinand Porsche develop a Volkswagen, which quite literally means the ‘peoples car’ in German and immediately work was under way to make a small family car which could accommodate two adults along three children and would hit a speed of 100 kmph. Soon after this, war broke out and the focus shifted entirely to production of military vehicles. It was finally in 1938 when Volkswagen finally came out with a rear engine, rear wheel drive combination economy car for the civilians and called it the Volkswagen Type I which soon came to be known as the Volkswagen Beetle.
The Beetle came out to be the most manufactured car based on the same design platform. At the 1994 North America International Auto Show, VW unveiled the Concept 1, a retro themed car with a huge resemblance to the VW Beetle. A warm public reaction finally led VW to launch a production version in 1998. Based on the VW Golf platform, this car was christened as the VW New Beetle. Over the years the design has undergone minor changes and the VW has already announced that the completely new platform Beetle would be unveiled in 2012. We drive the New Beetle and feel its journey through the decades to the modern car it is today.
Exteriors –The Beetle is a head turner and if you want to keep a low profile, this is certainly not the car for you. It will attract many eyes and expressions from the crowd. The new Beetle is a retro styled modern car and is similar to the old Beetle in many respects. It carries similar design cues such as separate wings, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps and large round tail lights along with a high rounded roofline which runs directly from above the rear bumper.
Whats Cool
* Stunning looks
* Ride & handling
* Overall quality
Whats Not So Cool
* No Audio controls on steering wheel
* Pricing
* Mileage
Volkswagen Beetle Specifications : -
* Engine: 1984cc, 4 cylinder Petrol engine
* Power: 116PS @ 5400rpm
* Torque: 172Nm @ 3200rpm
* Transmission: 6 speed automatic tiptronic
* Top Speed: 162kmph
* 0-100kmph: 14.50 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 8.5 kmpl (City), 11 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Tires: 195/65/15 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: All 4 Discs, ABS, ESP, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Dual SRS Front Airbags, Immobilizer
Volkswagen Beetle Dimensions : -
* Overall length x width x height: 4129mm X 1721mm X 1498mm
* Wheelbase: 2,502mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1515/1495 mm
* Ground clearance: 120mm
* Turning Radius – 5.5m
* Boot Volume: 214 liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Price OTR Mumbai: 25,51,731/-
It was way back in 1933 when Hitler ordered Dr. Ferdinand Porsche develop a Volkswagen, which quite literally means the ‘peoples car’ in German and immediately work was under way to make a small family car which could accommodate two adults along three children and would hit a speed of 100 kmph. Soon after this, war broke out and the focus shifted entirely to production of military vehicles. It was finally in 1938 when Volkswagen finally came out with a rear engine, rear wheel drive combination economy car for the civilians and called it the Volkswagen Type I which soon came to be known as the Volkswagen Beetle.
The Beetle came out to be the most manufactured car based on the same design platform. At the 1994 North America International Auto Show, VW unveiled the Concept 1, a retro themed car with a huge resemblance to the VW Beetle. A warm public reaction finally led VW to launch a production version in 1998. Based on the VW Golf platform, this car was christened as the VW New Beetle. Over the years the design has undergone minor changes and the VW has already announced that the completely new platform Beetle would be unveiled in 2012. We drive the New Beetle and feel its journey through the decades to the modern car it is today.
Exteriors –The Beetle is a head turner and if you want to keep a low profile, this is certainly not the car for you. It will attract many eyes and expressions from the crowd. The new Beetle is a retro styled modern car and is similar to the old Beetle in many respects. It carries similar design cues such as separate wings, vestigial running boards, sloping headlamps and large round tail lights along with a high rounded roofline which runs directly from above the rear bumper.
Whats Cool
* Stunning looks
* Ride & handling
* Overall quality
Whats Not So Cool
* No Audio controls on steering wheel
* Pricing
* Mileage
Volkswagen Beetle Specifications : -
* Engine: 1984cc, 4 cylinder Petrol engine
* Power: 116PS @ 5400rpm
* Torque: 172Nm @ 3200rpm
* Transmission: 6 speed automatic tiptronic
* Top Speed: 162kmph
* 0-100kmph: 14.50 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 8.5 kmpl (City), 11 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Tires: 195/65/15 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: All 4 Discs, ABS, ESP, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Dual SRS Front Airbags, Immobilizer
Volkswagen Beetle Dimensions : -
* Overall length x width x height: 4129mm X 1721mm X 1498mm
* Wheelbase: 2,502mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1515/1495 mm
* Ground clearance: 120mm
* Turning Radius – 5.5m
* Boot Volume: 214 liters
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
Volkswagen Vento Petrol AT Highline
Car tested: 2010 Volkswagen Vento Petrol AT Highline
Price OTR Mumbai: 10,81,078/-
Volkswagen have been on a roll with the success of the Polo and the German manufacturer has shown, yet again, that the Germans are pioneers of automotive engineering. Yes, we are talking about the sedan avatar of the Polo, the all new VW Vento. The mid size sedan segment has been ruled by the Honda City since more than a few years and the Vento poses a serious threat to the competition. Available in both petrol and diesel (Honda City is only available in petrol), the Vento boasts of top German quality and is priced competitively to eat the competition. We burn some rubber in the Volkswagen Vento 1.6 Automatic and find out if it has the teeth to chew the competition.
Exteriors – As we all know, the Vento is the Polo with the boot but mind you the job has been esthetically done. The boot does not look as if it has been mechanically attached like what we see in the Swift Dzire and the design will almost pass as if it has been drawn from scratch. From the side profile, the boot looks well integrated with the rest of the body and 15 inch alloy wheels come standard on the Highline variant. Easy to notice longer wheelbase as compared to the Polo. (The Vento is available in only 2 variants, the Trendline and the Highline. A middle Comfortline would only boost the sales as the Trendline offers very basic equipment levels. Engine options include the 1.6 Petrol Interiors – German built quality is renowned and the Vento portrays this well with top quality interiors. Plastics look and feel upmarket and the dash is well put together. Inconsistent Panel gaps! What are they? None to be seen and Volkswagen engineers have paid much attention to detail. Only 2 pedals for the Automatic version. No dead pedal. Why? Its all the more necessary to have one in an AT.Manual and Auto and the 1.6 TDI)
The rear is simple and subtle. The only thing which looks out of place is the keyring, which is awkwardly placed in in the right corner and easily visible. It should have been placed more towards the number plate for cosmetic value.
The front is identical to the Polo except for the shape of the fog lamps and the grill between the fog lights. We have mentioned the top level paint quality in the Volkswagen Polo Review and the Vento is the same as far as paint quality goes. As with the Polo, VW offers 6 yrs anti corrosion warranty on the paint.
The front passenger seat can be moved forward and behind from the rear seat, thanks to a clever lever placed behind it, a very convenient feature for the chauffeur driven who wish to adjust legroom on the move. The regular adjustment lever (in front) also works.
Audio system only supports Audio and Mp3 CD’s. No AUX or USB support is shocking. Its advisable to swap the music system for one which offers Aux/USB support. We don’t even remember the last time we burned a CD. Sound quality is average and audio controls on steering wheels have been omitted. Cost cutting maybe.
Seating is comfortable and offers good back support. Even after driving non stop for 4 hours, ones back is in one piece. Rear seats offer similar comfort and legroom is much above expectations. Front seats offer high travel range and the Vento is roomy for 6 and above footers. The floor at the rear houses a unusually large hump which steals legroom for the middle passenger and it can get quite uncomfortable over large distances. Rear seat cannot be folded.
Automatic Climate Control chills the cabin effortlessly and even at idle the AC is effective. The Vento is the only car (in the segment) after the Fiat Linea to offer adjustable AC vents for the rear passengers.Typical high quality German switches.
Rear visibility is not great with the small size rear view mirror but the ORVM’s provide a decent view of whats happening behind you. Reversing is an issue since the rear parcel tray slopes upwards blocking the view. Fitting in some parking sensors can overcome this problem.
The boot is decently large but at 480 ltrs, its a tad bit smaller than the Honda City and the Fiat Linea. Under the boot is housed the space saver (spare wheel). No alloy for the 5th wheel and some amount of cost cutting seen as the spare wheel is of 175/70/14 configuration as opposed to the 185/60/15 tyres fitted on the alloys (tyre diameter remains the same).
Lighting at night is great and the headlamps throw more than enough light for a comfortable night drive.
Hooks are provided at the B Pillars to hang extra shopping bags. Notice that the seat belt height can be adjusted based on the height of the person wearing it.
Built Quality – Top notch (We say it again). Volkswagen is known for quality globally and their Indian cars follow suit. The Vento offers one of the best paint quality and fit and finish is one of the better ones amongst the competition. Fabrics and plastics feel upmarket and there is no hint of any rattling. Volkswagen has set the ground clearance in accordance to Indian conditions and the Vento does not scrape most humps. VW have done a good job with the damping and barring road noise, the Vento hardly transmits any sound inside the cabin.
On the Move – Crank the ignition and the Vento immediately settles into a silent idle and its hard to tell if the car is actually on or off. Press the brake and move out of P and into D and its not difficult to notice that the car accelerates with ease. No seat belt warning, however please remember to fasten your seat belts when you take off. The 6 speed tiptronic gearbox is smooth but the lag between shifts can get to you sometimes, just a matter of time before you get used to it and if that’s the case then one can manually shift and red-line this beast. Manual shift id more fun to drive as you can hit the rev limiter and the lag time between shifts is minimum.
The gearbox has a slot shift mechanism. To drive in manual one must just flick the lever to the left (in D position) and go up or down the gears by nudging the lever forward and backward respectively. The MID on the instrument cluster indicates when one must shift up or down a gear to derive the best out of the car. (The same is also seen on the Polo). Driving position is comfortable and the drivers seat is equipped with a height adjuster.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The Vento rides on 185/60/15 Apollo rubber which does a commendable job. The Vento’s suspension is set up for Indian roads and is slightly on the stiffer side. The steering is extremely light at low speeds and adds to easy maneuverability in the usual city traffic. However, even at high speeds the steering feels very light, which can be scary at times. The Vento feels planted at 3 digit speeds and the suspension does well to soak most of the bumps. Throwing the car into corners can be fun as the Vento is extremely nippy when taking fast corners but don’t expect much feedback from the steering. The Vento’s braking left us impressed. ABS and EBD do well to stop the car and the Vento braked tremendously well on all types of surfaces. Considering that the Apollo’s are not the best rubber in the business, VW have got the Vento’s braking characteristics spot on.
Performance – Our Vento was powered by a 1.6 litre petrol DOHC powerplant which produces 105 PS @ 5250 RPM and 158 Nm of Torque @ 3800 RPM. Engine refinement is one of the best at low RPM and is extremely silent too as mentioned earlier. As with most petrol cars, low end response is not something to talk about but floor it and the Vento delivers with gusto. Demand for automatic transmission cars is on the rise and the Indian consumer is very specific when it comes to mileage. The Vento AT should comfortably deliver 10 – 12 kmpl (city and highway). The Vento hits 0 – 100 in about 13.7 seconds and we hit a top speed of 170 kmph. The car touches 150 easily and then seems to struggle to the top but that’s pardonable.
Well laid out instrument cluster with easy to read dials. MID shows real time fuel consumption, distance to empty and the usual parameters.
Conclusion – The Vento is a powered packed vehicle with the ability to kick butt and with such competitive pricing (60% localization of parts) is sure to find many homes. VW had to compromise on various ends to get to this pricing and omission of essentials such as Aux/USB support is unpardonable but top quality, roomy interiors and its looks are a good enough reason to go for the Vento. Volkswagen seems to have got it right with the Vento and the option of a diesel will only boost the sales. Overall it simply Ventastic.
Whats Kool
Volkswagen Vento Petrol Specifications : -
Price OTR Mumbai: 10,81,078/-
Volkswagen have been on a roll with the success of the Polo and the German manufacturer has shown, yet again, that the Germans are pioneers of automotive engineering. Yes, we are talking about the sedan avatar of the Polo, the all new VW Vento. The mid size sedan segment has been ruled by the Honda City since more than a few years and the Vento poses a serious threat to the competition. Available in both petrol and diesel (Honda City is only available in petrol), the Vento boasts of top German quality and is priced competitively to eat the competition. We burn some rubber in the Volkswagen Vento 1.6 Automatic and find out if it has the teeth to chew the competition.
Exteriors – As we all know, the Vento is the Polo with the boot but mind you the job has been esthetically done. The boot does not look as if it has been mechanically attached like what we see in the Swift Dzire and the design will almost pass as if it has been drawn from scratch. From the side profile, the boot looks well integrated with the rest of the body and 15 inch alloy wheels come standard on the Highline variant. Easy to notice longer wheelbase as compared to the Polo. (The Vento is available in only 2 variants, the Trendline and the Highline. A middle Comfortline would only boost the sales as the Trendline offers very basic equipment levels. Engine options include the 1.6 Petrol Interiors – German built quality is renowned and the Vento portrays this well with top quality interiors. Plastics look and feel upmarket and the dash is well put together. Inconsistent Panel gaps! What are they? None to be seen and Volkswagen engineers have paid much attention to detail. Only 2 pedals for the Automatic version. No dead pedal. Why? Its all the more necessary to have one in an AT.Manual and Auto and the 1.6 TDI)
The rear is simple and subtle. The only thing which looks out of place is the keyring, which is awkwardly placed in in the right corner and easily visible. It should have been placed more towards the number plate for cosmetic value.
The front is identical to the Polo except for the shape of the fog lamps and the grill between the fog lights. We have mentioned the top level paint quality in the Volkswagen Polo Review and the Vento is the same as far as paint quality goes. As with the Polo, VW offers 6 yrs anti corrosion warranty on the paint.
The front passenger seat can be moved forward and behind from the rear seat, thanks to a clever lever placed behind it, a very convenient feature for the chauffeur driven who wish to adjust legroom on the move. The regular adjustment lever (in front) also works.
Audio system only supports Audio and Mp3 CD’s. No AUX or USB support is shocking. Its advisable to swap the music system for one which offers Aux/USB support. We don’t even remember the last time we burned a CD. Sound quality is average and audio controls on steering wheels have been omitted. Cost cutting maybe.
Seating is comfortable and offers good back support. Even after driving non stop for 4 hours, ones back is in one piece. Rear seats offer similar comfort and legroom is much above expectations. Front seats offer high travel range and the Vento is roomy for 6 and above footers. The floor at the rear houses a unusually large hump which steals legroom for the middle passenger and it can get quite uncomfortable over large distances. Rear seat cannot be folded.
Automatic Climate Control chills the cabin effortlessly and even at idle the AC is effective. The Vento is the only car (in the segment) after the Fiat Linea to offer adjustable AC vents for the rear passengers.Typical high quality German switches.
Rear visibility is not great with the small size rear view mirror but the ORVM’s provide a decent view of whats happening behind you. Reversing is an issue since the rear parcel tray slopes upwards blocking the view. Fitting in some parking sensors can overcome this problem.
The boot is decently large but at 480 ltrs, its a tad bit smaller than the Honda City and the Fiat Linea. Under the boot is housed the space saver (spare wheel). No alloy for the 5th wheel and some amount of cost cutting seen as the spare wheel is of 175/70/14 configuration as opposed to the 185/60/15 tyres fitted on the alloys (tyre diameter remains the same).
Lighting at night is great and the headlamps throw more than enough light for a comfortable night drive.
Hooks are provided at the B Pillars to hang extra shopping bags. Notice that the seat belt height can be adjusted based on the height of the person wearing it.
Built Quality – Top notch (We say it again). Volkswagen is known for quality globally and their Indian cars follow suit. The Vento offers one of the best paint quality and fit and finish is one of the better ones amongst the competition. Fabrics and plastics feel upmarket and there is no hint of any rattling. Volkswagen has set the ground clearance in accordance to Indian conditions and the Vento does not scrape most humps. VW have done a good job with the damping and barring road noise, the Vento hardly transmits any sound inside the cabin.
On the Move – Crank the ignition and the Vento immediately settles into a silent idle and its hard to tell if the car is actually on or off. Press the brake and move out of P and into D and its not difficult to notice that the car accelerates with ease. No seat belt warning, however please remember to fasten your seat belts when you take off. The 6 speed tiptronic gearbox is smooth but the lag between shifts can get to you sometimes, just a matter of time before you get used to it and if that’s the case then one can manually shift and red-line this beast. Manual shift id more fun to drive as you can hit the rev limiter and the lag time between shifts is minimum.
The gearbox has a slot shift mechanism. To drive in manual one must just flick the lever to the left (in D position) and go up or down the gears by nudging the lever forward and backward respectively. The MID on the instrument cluster indicates when one must shift up or down a gear to derive the best out of the car. (The same is also seen on the Polo). Driving position is comfortable and the drivers seat is equipped with a height adjuster.
Ride, Handling and Braking – The Vento rides on 185/60/15 Apollo rubber which does a commendable job. The Vento’s suspension is set up for Indian roads and is slightly on the stiffer side. The steering is extremely light at low speeds and adds to easy maneuverability in the usual city traffic. However, even at high speeds the steering feels very light, which can be scary at times. The Vento feels planted at 3 digit speeds and the suspension does well to soak most of the bumps. Throwing the car into corners can be fun as the Vento is extremely nippy when taking fast corners but don’t expect much feedback from the steering. The Vento’s braking left us impressed. ABS and EBD do well to stop the car and the Vento braked tremendously well on all types of surfaces. Considering that the Apollo’s are not the best rubber in the business, VW have got the Vento’s braking characteristics spot on.
Performance – Our Vento was powered by a 1.6 litre petrol DOHC powerplant which produces 105 PS @ 5250 RPM and 158 Nm of Torque @ 3800 RPM. Engine refinement is one of the best at low RPM and is extremely silent too as mentioned earlier. As with most petrol cars, low end response is not something to talk about but floor it and the Vento delivers with gusto. Demand for automatic transmission cars is on the rise and the Indian consumer is very specific when it comes to mileage. The Vento AT should comfortably deliver 10 – 12 kmpl (city and highway). The Vento hits 0 – 100 in about 13.7 seconds and we hit a top speed of 170 kmph. The car touches 150 easily and then seems to struggle to the top but that’s pardonable.
Well laid out instrument cluster with easy to read dials. MID shows real time fuel consumption, distance to empty and the usual parameters.
Conclusion – The Vento is a powered packed vehicle with the ability to kick butt and with such competitive pricing (60% localization of parts) is sure to find many homes. VW had to compromise on various ends to get to this pricing and omission of essentials such as Aux/USB support is unpardonable but top quality, roomy interiors and its looks are a good enough reason to go for the Vento. Volkswagen seems to have got it right with the Vento and the option of a diesel will only boost the sales. Overall it simply Ventastic.
Whats Kool
- Interior Quality
- Braking
- Styling
- Balanced Ride and Handling
- No Aux/USB support for the Audio System
- No Audio controls on steering wheel
- Extra light steering
- Long term ownership cost unknown
- Service backup not as strong
Volkswagen Vento Petrol Specifications : -
- Engine: 1598cc, DOHC
- Power: 105PS @ 5250rpm
- Torque: 158Nm @ 3800rpm
- Transmission: 6-speed auto with tiptronic
- Top Speed: 185kmph
- 0-100kmph: 13.50 seconds
- Fuel Consumption: 10-11 kmpl (City), 12-13 kmpl (highway)
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Suspension:McPherson strut with stabiliser bar (Front), Semi-independent trailing arm (Rear)
- Tires: 185/60 R15 Tubeless Radials
- Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Drums ( Rear), ABS, EBD
- Safety: ABS, EBD, Dual SRS Front Airbags, Electronic Anti-theft Immobilizer
- Overall length x width x height: 4384mm X 1699mm X 1466mm
- Wheelbase: 2552mm
- Ground clearance: 168mm
- Turning Radius – 5.4m
- Boot Volume: 500 liters
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 55 litres
- Kerb Weight: 1180kgs
