Buy it as a second car

Exterior

Simple yet classy looks. The looks are a sure headturner. The headlamp and tail lamp design is really impressive  

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Comfortable for 4 adults. 5th adult will be a problem due to the rear hump.

Great features with safety at the top of the list. Certain features are missing in comparison to its competitors.

Features like a rear parking camera, LCD touch screen, Cruise control etc. could be added.

However, all the main features are present. Bluetooth, Great audio system, Powerful AC and a well equipped on-board trip computer. 

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

The 1.2L TSI is brilliant. The engine is a real gem on highways, powerful and smooth, resulting in a really fun to drive car. The DSG perfectly complements the engine. There have been questions about the reliability, but no problems as yet with the gearbox (Too early to comment)

But even the polo has 1.2L TSI. A 1.4L TSI would have been a cherry on the top. Nevertheless, it is a great engine with enough torque to satisfy a thrill-seeker.

 

Ride Quality & Handling

VW has always been known for making well built cars which are solid performers at high speeds. The Vento does not disappoint. The car comes with a good quality ride.

The steering is precise. The new flat bottom steering wheel is a real beauty and adds to the interior aesthetics. 

The suspension is on the softer side and makes rides really smooth. However, when driving the car without any rear passengers, there is a thud sound at high speeds over uneven roads. The only way to avoid this is to go slower over uneven patches.

Also at low speeds, sometimes the car gives jerks when the accelerator is suddenly let off. Probably an issue due to the automatic gearbox downshifting. Again with sufficient driving this can be avoided by adjusting your driving style.

 

Final Words

Overall the car is a pleasure to drive. But wait... coming to my main point.

The after sales service is not great. Once the car is into the workshop, forget it for the next 5-10 days. Service costs are high and will definitely burn a hole in your pocket if the car is outside the warranty period.

Three months after the car was delivered, there was an engine related issue. Some throttle body part had malfunctioned. The service centre informed us that it is a manufacturing defect and will be covered under warranty. The overall process took 25 days.

The service professionals at VW Thane are courteous, but the spare parts are not easily available. It took almost 20 days for the part to arrive from Chakan manufacturing plant in Pune. Also the particular part costs Rs. 60000/- (Saved by the warranty).

So if this is your only car, be ready to face some annoying service issues and costs. It would make much more sense to go with Maruti Suzuki or Hyundai. 

However, credit needs to be given where due. The car is well engineered. Truly VW - Simple yet elegant.  Probably the best choice in the segment as your second car. As in my case i am simply enjoying the ride. 

 

Areas of improvement  

After sales service - Costs and Service time.   

 

Great looks, Powerful Engine, Smooth ride and handlingAfter sales service