German warrior Vento

Put a boot on her hatch and turn her into a sedan; It has been a successful formula that has been used by many car manufacturers in India. The German car giant, Volkswagen, also fell for it and delivered a starter-equipped version of the Polo under the Vento name. It wasn’t the first time we’d seen a sedan evolve from a hatchback, as the concept was pioneered much earlier by Tata Motors with their Indigo CS, which was soon followed by Maruti Suzuki with the boot version of the Swift, namely the Swift Dzire. The concept might have been the same for the Vento, but what really set it apart from such sedans was that it was not an entry-level sedan, rather it was India’s first premium midsize car that was an extended version of its hatchback.

Volkswagen Vento debuted with two 1.6L engine options in India, one petrol and one diesel. The Vento’s gasoline unit is a four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve engine. It produces a maximum power of 105 hp at 5,250 rpm and generates a torque of 153 Nm at 3,800 rpm. This engine is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and is also available with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Volkswagen Vento’s 1.6L diesel engine generates an output of 105PS with a maximum torque of 250Nm at 1,500rpm. This TDI engine is equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox.

Now Volkswagen has recently added another 1.2L turbocharged gasoline engine to the lineup. This engine has a power output of 105bhp which is similar to the 1.6L engine but gets a significant increase in its torque output and makes a massive 175Nm of torque which is available from 1500rpm. This engine is only available with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

In its segment, the Vento’s cabin quality is often ranked as the best in many Volkswagen Vento reviews. The quality of the plastics, fit and finish inside the Vento make you feel like you’re sitting in a sedan that’s a cut above its segment. The car comes equipped with many features such as driver’s seat height adjustment, tilt and telescopic steering, automatic climate control with rear air vents. There are also front and rear center armrests on Vento with cup holders for the rear seat. The Volkswagen Vento Highline variant is also equipped with vital safety features like ABS and dual-stage front airbags.

The price range of the Volkswagen Vento is between INR 7.32 lakhs and INR 9.99 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Volkswagen offers a decent package at a justified price and that is why the Vento became the first car in India to dethrone the Honda City from the top position in its segment.