Volkswagen Vento long term review final report

It’s tough to bid adieu to such an efficient and economical automatic longtermer.

Published on Aug 15, 2015 08:00:00 AM

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Volkswagen Vento long term review final report

The torquey 1.5-litre diesel has loads of grunt and feels effortless.

Beautiful build, modern interiors and excellent fit and finish.

Wide but not deep, so bottles tend to move around.

Make : Volkswagen

Model : Vento

There is nothing more convenient than using an automatic gearbox-equipped car in day-to-day driving. And when the automatic transmission is coupled with the wallet-friendly diesel fuel, the convenience doesn’t come at much of an extra cost either. Although we had the Vento diesel DSG for a very brief period, it has left a lasting impression on us.

Being an automatic, my daily commutes from Chembur to Parel were very relaxing. The fairly flat torque curve and surge of power that kicks in well below 2000rpm makes the Vento quite effortless to drive and even at a crawl, it ambles along quite easily. Left in D, the gearbox shifts up early and seamlessly in the interest of fuel economy and also adds to the Vento’s relaxed demeanour. While the automatic was a boon in traffic, we did face some issues. To begin with, we missed having paddles on the steering wheel. And then the Vento occasionally tends to jerk a bit at low engine speeds when the turbo lag of the engine coincides with the ‘box executing a shift. Still, when you want lightning-quick upshifts or downshifts, the twin clutch automatic always obliges.

Extremely easy to drive in the city and very efficient too

The Vento, in my hands, did a lot of highway duty too and it’s not hard to understand why. The Vento is a real mile muncher and this we realised on our various trips, be it to Pune or to my farm house or to Mahabaleshwar. On the highway, the high-tech seven-speed twin-clutch transmission comes into its own and the motor has enough grunt to propel the Vento with adequate verve even with a full complement of passengers on board. Apart from an initial bit of hesitation or lack of immediate response that is so typical of a twin-clutch unit, the Vento accelerates in a way that belies its benign character. Flex your right foot, wait as the smooth gearbox pauses slightly to pick the right ratio, and then sit back as the car shoots forward with great rapidity. Even the soft ride adds to its comfortable nature.