A powerhouse with limited features and comforts...

 

Exterior Good design. A very neatly and perfectly designed boot. Boot is integrated well into the whole body. Great work. The front grill and looks must have been different from the polo. Could have had a different look. Stylish alloy wheels. All around, very good in appearance.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Features: Not many. Disappointing features in the high end variant. They call it Highline, and it does not even have USB connectivity, Steering mounted controls, foldable back seats etc. VW claims electrically adjustbale ORVM, climate control, rear AC vents, air bags etc as high end features. It is high time car manufacturers made few of these items as standard features. I dont know the reason but most of the fittings such as, arm rests (both front and back seat), rear view mirror, parcel tray....all are placed very high. VW say that this car is exclusively designed for the Indian customer, but I could harldy find any feature in detail which supports this claim. Most indian cars have Indicator lever on the right hand side of the steering column and wiper lever on the left. In Vento it is just the opposite. A person who had been using a typical indian car will take time to get adjusted with these kind of annoying changes. In Vento the complete switches and controls for Head lights had been taken off from the steering column. Now is sits on the dash console on the right hand side of the steering column. When they make a car for Indian customers and Indian conditions they have to see it to every detail that they have the complet Indian version. May be because it is for the Indian customers, they have reduced the quality of the plastic as well as its finish. I would say fit and finish is not upto the mark. You can see a lot of flaws in the fit and finish aspect. I believe the Vento is a front wheel drive car, then for what reason the car have a huge bump on the floor in the back cabin. Back seat is comfortable. The back seat incline could have been a few more degrees more. The upholstery is not of high quality. The stitches on the material are worst. If you follow the stitches from where to where it goes, I mean if you keep a scale next to it, it is flowing like a river, with no proper direction. Very poor stitching. Even in the high end they dont have the option for leather seats. I mean leather seats, not leather seat covers. You have to pay almost 10 lacs off road and when on road, in Bangalore it will be close to 12 lacs. When I pay 12 lacs I would surely want features such as i have already mentioned. VW should look into the following areas,

1. Missing features and utility items - USB, Steering mounted controls, foldable back seats etc

2. Arm rest heights - Both in front and back. The front armrest is a flop. A disaster.

3. Rear view mirror on the windshield - This one is so tiny. Gives hardly any view of the rear.

4. Good upholstery - Option for leather in the highend variant

5. Completely foldable rear seats

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Now what do I say about the engine performance. How do i describe the feeling. Amazing, Incredible, Splendid, Superb. Well many more of the similar type of words. Boy you have do it on your own and find out. I felt like i taxied an airplane in the last leg of its take off attempt. It is so poweful. Amazing pick up. Shoots like a rocket. Now I have no idea about the fuel economy. I have only test driven it. Gearbox I think is superior. The gear shift was smooth. I can say anything about the FE and GB only after driving the car for some time. 

Ride Quality & Handling Amazing ride quality and handling. Just amazing. Splendid. I drove it on a paddy field like road. Full of slush, gutter, potholes. Uneven surface. The bottom never hit the ground at any point. I rode very fast on this road. Amazing handling. The cabin was so quite while the car was cruisin on a rough terrain.

 

Final Words A powerhouse with limited features and comforts, Value for money only if missing features are added and areas where attention needed attended to.

 

Areas of improvement Add more features in the high end variant. Use good plastic and good upholstery material. Redesign the arm rests. The driver seat armrest must be redone. Lots of blind spots. Especially when you look over your shoulders to get a rear view. 

 

Power House : Amazing pick up and power, Incredible control, Ultimate performanceLacks so much in comfort and utility zones.