Off the same mould

It’s been a bit of a tough run for what used to be the entry-level sedan. They seem rather yesterday with all the compact sedans doing the rounds and for those who haven’t managed to adapt and create a new sort of car, the going has been incredibly tough. Volkswagen, unfortunately, hasn’t been able to keep pace, given the larger scheme of things that goes around in the world market for them. The Vento, which started off as a crisp, clean, straight laced design was quickly overtaken by a host of smaller Asian compact sedans, and off late by the traditional entry-level sedan too. So, the 2015 version of the Vento is Volkswagen’s attempt at clawing back some ground. But is it enough?

Design You would be hard pressed to find the changes in the new Vento. Frankly, it looks just like the old Vento and it isn’t till you have read the brochures that you start noticing what is different. There is a fair amount of chrome strips which have been used around the car including the air dam and the boot lid and the tail lamps are notably different. The front and rear bumpers have also been treated, with a new fog lamp design, but the difference at the rear is easy to miss.

The turn lights incorporated in the mirrors are also new. There is also an extra slat in the grille and a marginally more prominent bonnet crease. It seems VW may have just managed to overdo the ‘subtlety’ bit.

Inside the cabin the story remains the same. The two-tone dash has a new shade of beige and the information read-out in the instrument cluster is a different colour.

VW has added cruise control to the list of features, but have left out a proper touch-screen entertainment unit for the centre console and a reverse camera to assist with parking, apart from the sensors. Cabin room remains unchanged with clever bits like the ability to adjust the passenger seat from the rear and rear aircon vents with a two-way adjust remain.

Engine, Ride, Handling Volkswagen continues to offer three engine options as before, with two petrol burners and one diesel. All three engines, coincidentally, make the same amount of power at 104bhp, although the torque ratings are quite different. The 1.2-litre turbo-charged petrol makes a 175Nm, which remains available for a broad range in the powerband (1500-4100rpm), while the 1.6-litre petrol makes 153Nm@3800rpm and the 1.5-litre diesel cranks out 250Nm of torque between 1500-2500rpm.

The 1.2-litre TSI is still offered only with the 7-speed DSG automatic, which is also an option on the 1.5-litre diesel, while a five-speed manual gearbox is on offer with the 1.6-litre petrol and the 1.5-litre diesel. While power and torque outputs remain unchanged, VW claim an improvement in fuel efficiency with all three engines.

We drove the 1.2-litre, TSI and don’t be fooled by the engine displacement figure, because it makes a good amount of power and the flat torque curve helps dispense with overtaking manoeuvres with ease, while the 7-speed DSG keeps the flow of power seamless. It’s only when you leave it in ‘D’ that the DSG takes a bit of getting used to while climbing flyovers and the like, as it loses revs considerably before deciding on a downshift.

Ride and handling remain the Vento’s calling cards with the car feeling perfectly stable while cruising at triple digit speeds on the highway, and managing a fairly composed run over bumps and broken tarmac. Cornering ability is pretty predictable too, with reasonable steering feedback and neutral handling. The 185/60 shod 15-inch wheels managed to hang on even on a rain soaked expressway for a fair bit of hard cornering.

Verdict A minor facelift to the Vento may be a case of too little, too late for Volkswagen. Its Japanese rivals have clearly figured out a formula that works much better, and subtle changes are unlikely to work to counteract that. Even an addition of features like a touch screen entertainment system, a reverse parking camera and certainly a nifty set of LED inserts may have worked in their favour.

For now though, Volkswagen can only hope to dent the juggernaut that the Honda City and the Suzuki Ciaz are with prices starting at 7.85 lakh for the 1.6-litre petrol and going up to 11.84 lakh for the 1.5-litre diesel version (prices ex-Delhi).

The one thing that VW does offer is an excellent 7-speed DSG option along with the 1.5-litre diesel, something that its rivals do not. Beyond all that, we keep our fingers crossed for a proper all-new Vento and hope this time around, the Germans will leave the subtlety clause out of their notebooks.

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