Great Car.

Great Car.

So after researching for almost 6 months I opted for VW Vento 1.2 Highline TSI Automatic, the primary criteria when I started looking out was actually to buy an automatic SUV and I test drove almost every SUV (Nexon AMT, XUV300 AMT and Creta AT) in range of 15-16 lacs, however, was disappointed by the performance of AMT gearbox and not so great handling and feedback of Creta's steering. After this disappointment, I thought I should opt for a manual gearbox which I was used to while driving my 1st car which was Ford Figo aspire diesel 1.5 TDCI, so I testwanted drove Tata Harrier (driving in city is a pain), MG hector (petrol manual is sluggish and diesel was above my budget), Nissan Kicks (excelling Ride and handling I would say best of the lot, however, there is no petrol top end and diesel clutch was on heavier side so in long term driving Nissan Kicks in Mumbai's traffic could have been a pain. So after driving all SUV in the lot, I was only impressed a little by Nissan Kicks however I thought of also looking at mid-sized sedans however only automatic versions as I was compromising on the SUV criteria. Verna Automatic- Feels good however the mileage in city is 6-7kmpl Honda CVT- Nice Cabin and rear seating however build quality is compromised and also the suspension is also on the softer side which makes the ride bouncy on high speed and also there is a lag while the CVT transmission change levels. Vento DSG Auto- I fell in love with this automatic, the gearshifts are seamless and the sport mode puts a smile on your face, also VW build quality was a plus though there were few missing features like keyless entry, front DRL, start-stop button and only 15-inch wheels instead of 16, but still it was love at first sight when I drove the DSG gearbox. It is a gearbox you will simply die for. Few honourable mentions before I pen down my review on Vento 1.2 TSI automatic- S Cross (overall a great package however lacks punch), Ecosport (did not want to opt for Ford again as the interior and engine was almost the same as my current car). Buying Experience- VW sales person was very knowledgeable and could explain all features and other dynamics very well I will rate it as 4/5 Riding Experience- it is seamless and driving this car in city or highway is a boon to mankind as there are no efforts whatsoever required. The suspension is on the stiffer side so in the city you will hear that thud noise on slow speeds however that does not hurt or make you uncomfortable. On the highway, the stiffer suspension helps the car stability and you can easily cruise in triple digits. Looks and performance- Vento looks very classy and elegant and the cabin is also very spacious and comfortable. Performance, as compared to any automatic, is best in the class with a stunning mileage of 12-13 kmpl in the city and 19 kmpl on highways. Servicing and Maintenance- It's a new car and it's been only 1200 km since I bought it, so won't be able to comment at this point though the car has a 4-year warranty by VW in which the DSG gearbox is also covered, also you can purchase an extended warranty at an additional cost for 2+1 years and so overall warranty cover is for 7 years. Also, it comes with a 3-year paint warranty and 6-year, Anti perforation warranty. Pros: DSG Automatic gearbox, Great mileage for an automatic, Great build quality, Excellent ride and handling, Elegant looks, VW Badge, Hill Assist, Rain sensing wipers, cruise control. Cons: No Keyless entry, No push start/stop button, No DRL's (only available in Highline plus), No reverse camera (can be added as an accessory with an additional cost), 15-inch alloys instead of 16 inches.