VW Vento 1.2 TSI DSG Review: A Cut Above

Does it go like a German car should around the bends?

To those who are used to the supreme poise of the bigger, more premium German cars, or even the big Skodas, the Vento would come as slightly lacking in terms of handling prowess. However, compare it to its immediate Korean or Japanese rivals, and it scores highly. The steering is light at low speeds for easy maneuvering and tightens up with speed, though it doesn’t ever become as heavy as some other bigger cars from the family. The Vento remains unflustered at high speeds in a straight line and inspires a lot of confidence.

Around corners, the Vento is predictable and good fun, but not quite the unshakeable roller coaster that the more premium compatriot cars are. The softer suspension translates into easily evident body roll, and it doesn’t take much to get the tyres squealing either. The Vento can be fun around hills in its own way – its predictable and poised, provided you acknowledge that it’s an everyday family sedan, with the basic underpinnings of a hatchback.

What about comfort and ride quality?

We found the ride to get better as the car attained medium to high speeds. At slower speeds, the dampers feel a tad too eager to get back in their natural, expanded position, recoiling back sharply. On sharper edges, like those of joints on flyovers, the suspension gets noisy as the dampers push back rather urgently.

We didn’t have any qualms about the ride quality or the ride quality, though the occasional noise from the sharper ridges didn’t sound too pleasing at times. The ride gets better with speed, and once you are past 50-60 km/h, the Vento takes even rough roads in its stride with aplomb.

Are there any visual or feature related differences on the Vento TSI as compared to the regular model?

By and large the Vento TSI looks almost exactly like the model it has now replaced. A few subtle hints are there for sure though, for those with an eye for detail to tell the more advanced Vento from the lesser variants. The alloys on the car are different, and look quite nice. There is additional chrome around the fog lamp inserts and on the boot lid.

In terms of features, you get two very useful additions in the form of an Electronic Stability Program for better active safety and Hill Hold Assist, for easy take offs from a standstill on steeper slopes. The TSI is available in only one trim, with all the bells and whistles. The interior is pretty well equipped, with leatherette upholstery, parking sensors, twin airbags, climate control, a neat sounding audio with all the connectivity features and quite a few other goodies. In a nutshell, the Vento TSI is the best looking, and most richly equipped Vento variant out there

Kitna deti hai?

With a light foot the Vento TSI delivered a figure of 10.5 kmpl within the city. On the highway, the count went up to 13.5 kmpl with moderate driving. The ARAI figure for the car is 16.8 kmpl though.

Is it fairly priced?

At the time of the test, at Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom the Vento TSI’s OTR price comes to about Rs 11.5 lakh in Mumbai. For a fully decked C-segment sedan with an advanced automatic transmission, it doesn’t get any fairer than that. Its well equipped, spacious, good to drive, handsome looking, and above all, equipped with technology which is a cut above its competition. The Vento TSI makes a compelling case for itself at that price, especially for those who value authentic engineering more than gimmicky features. One must give the Vento a very good thought if he’s willing to buy a 10 + lakh sedan with a petrol engine option.

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