We can’t think of someone who hasn’t known the Volkswagen Vento. It has been available in our market every since the 5th generation of the Honda City, and has since, been updated every now-and-then and continues with its USPs, like good driving characteristics and build quality. The German brand has managed to keep the Vento alive, despite the ever-changing segment rivals. This car has probably seen the most updates in our market more than any other model. For 2020, Volkswagen decided to plonk a new 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine under the bonnet, the same unit shared with the updated Skoda Rapid. Gone are the 1.6-litre petrol, 1.2-litre turbo petrol and the 1.5-litre diesel engines and the model is now being sold only with a 1.0-litre unit, paired to 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
Still appeals?
The understated design of the Volkswagen Vento still remains even after all these years of seeing them all over the place. The 2020 Volkswagen Vento gets the same outline, albeit there are some enhancements that give it a fresher persona, like the Polo GTI’s front bumper, the LED headlights, also sporting DRLs and the 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. The car we got our hands on was the TSI Limited Edition, meaning it features a boot spoiler, body graphics, a black roof and wing mirrors. We think Volkswagen Cars have gone a bit overboard with the graphics, but there will be buyers who’ll like it. We noticed that the updated car seems to sit higher and with all the skirting around, it has a sporty stance. But there isn’t any increase in ground clearance; at least Volkswagen Cars haven’t mentioned anything about it.
Built to last
Even the interiors look similar to the previous model; the solid build remains; so do the comfortable seats and top-notch plastic quality. The simplistic design approach and overall layout do appeal to some, but with the current rivalry, the Volkswagen Vento feels a bit too long in the tooth. The touchscreen too looks small but what you do get is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; we think it works better than the Rapid’s infotainment system. There are no USB ports, but there is a slot for the infotainment system, below the screen, which requires a fairly lengthy cable to sync your smartphone to the system but that’s quite old school, if you ask us. There is no room to keep your phone up-front either. The seats at the front and rear are comfortable, but it’s best for four; the fifth passenger has to deal with the big hump in the floor at the back. But this adds to torsional rigidity. Equipment-wise, there are lots of goodies, like a reversing camera, LED headlamps, cruise control, a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rain-sensing wipers, airbags and some exterior add-ons.
Small but powerful
The Vento is powered by a 999cc, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol, making 108bhp and 175Nm of torque, making it that bit more powerful than the previous 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine. The TSI engine also features direct injection and this has resulted in better combustion, further providing improved performance. Don’t mistake the size of the engine for being any less capable than a larger capacity naturally-aspirated engine. Although it takes a while for the engine to get going when off-boost, once you’re past 2000rpm, the engine delivers power smoothly and eventually impresses you with its performance because of its wide spread of torque. The engine spins all the way to 6500rpm. At idle, you do feel the typical 3-cylinder thrum with mild vibrations being felt inside, but get moving at a decent pace, and it slowly begins to fade away. The engine gets a bit loud at higher revs but doesn’t feel particularly stressed. The 6-speed gearbox is great to use, thanks to the short throws and it’s smoother than the Rapid’s gearbox.
The driving dynamics are the same, all because of that taut chassis, making it a good handler. The steering too is precise and because of the weight, it instils confidence in the driver when pushing through corners. The car feels planted at highway speeds and body control is great too. It even takes bumps at low speeds particularly well. By and large, the Vento is a good combination of fun-to-drive dynamics and ride comfort.
