VW Vento

VW the name that associates German engineering standards with automobiles has marked its presence in Indian market with their creation that is hailed to be a unison of engineering brilliance and comfort. It is called the Vento.

This C segment sedan has created waves in the Indian auto market by giving a run for the money to its competitors.

Looks

German cars have always been not so aesthetically appealing like the Italians or Japs and this is evident with the vento. The first look of the car gives you the feeling of looking at something different which is away from the recent trend of a flowing body design with smooth curves and edges.

The designers at VW which gives this car its identity, the lines are kept sharp with sharp edges around the front bumper, headlamps, and windows. The grills are relatively small but the chrome lines around the grills and fog lamps give it a complete look. The shape of the side mirrors are very appealing and provide good visibility, the semi clear tail lamps give out a signature style which can be spotted from a distance, this feature is usually seen in high end cars like your BMW's and Audi's. One thing which was seen was the use of chrome but in places where it would best suit the look of the car.

Interior

This is the place where the reagrd for German quality is evident,  the quality of material is superb and the use of high grade plastics and fibre does not give out the feeling of getting underpaid. Matt finished chrome is provided on the door lever, ac vents and the dashboard adds a touch of class to the overall soothing interior. We selected the top diesel variant (high-line) but were surprised with certain aspects like the lack of USB and aux support in the music system, no steering mounted controls.

SpaceMax Arrangement for maximum leg space at rear

The rear end of the car was spacious, with the vento VW has done much more than adding a boot to the polo, they have increased the rear track which provides better seating space and legroom. 

A unique feature here is the presence of a lever behind the front passenger seat which can be used to move the seat forward by the rear passenger. The only area for improvement here is the rear head rest which is not at a comfortable position and the relatively large hump in the rear foot space.










Power Train
VW Vento is equipped with 1.6L DOHC(Double Overhead Cam) 4 cylinder petrol as well as diesel engine. Although the power output for both the engines is same at 105 PS we personally liked the diesel variant for its higher efficiency and torque. The diesel plant packs a 250Nm torque @1500-2500rpm.The heart of the car is kept pretty powerful which is evident from the fact that even if you have five passengers and luggage the car would just tackle those ghats and uphills like a normal road.
The transmission provided is 5 Speed manual with front disc brake s and rear drum brakes. The engine compartment is very well placed which the center of gravity of the vehicle at the right level and position. The power to weight ratio is 0.9 PS/Kg.

Handling

Right from the word go, the car has a well engineered engine and transmission system. The engine is complained to be a bit earsplitting at cold start but for us its like music for our ears. The engine does pack a punch  for those overtaking maneuvers on the highway as well as for high speed drives.

15" alloys provide good comfort and stability

The diesel manual variant did have the turbo lag and the turbo kicks in only after 1900rpm, though the interesting part being the red line is at 5000rpm which is not usually seen for diesel power plants. The road grip is good with the 15" wheels and the steering is very nimble and smooth with a finger slot which in-turn makes it easier to use.

One interesting feature here is the presence of adaptive cruise, when the driver driving in 4th or 5th gear at speeds around 50kmph leaves the accelerator pedal the car will continue to cruise between 40 - 50 kmph. The cruising speed isn't high but its worth for those night drives with loved one(s). The only place were problem was faced was in the working of the clutch, the car is a bit jerky one the clutch is released while driving at lower gears.

Running Cost

VW is offering its Vento in both petrol and diesel variants but due to high petrol costs its is providing lower interest rates for its petrol variants. The mileage of the car was relatively good with 21kmpl on the highway and overall around 17kmpl. The service interval is provided at 15000km / 1yr which is great as no one likes to visit the service station too frequently. The diesel variant gave us a running cost of Rs 7.5-8/ km (incl of depreciation cost)

Final Verdict

VW Vento is a good buy but in case you are looking for more aesthetic features and a petrol car the Honda City or the new Hyundai Verna Fluidic. For diesel buyers it is worth the money but some dealers in big cities are providing a long waiting periods but we were able to get the delivery within 15 days from booking.

- Nitesh Bansal

   TGM Blog

The Other End of the Scale

   Hatchbacks, the first thing that pops up in one’s mind after uttering this harmless word is cheap, economical, simple...and what not. But if your pockets are deep enough and you’ve got a Beamer or a Merc just lying around and another one to drop ‘Baba and Baby’ to school, I doubt that the run-of-the mill Hyundais and Marutis will satisfy your bootless dreams. The Ritz wouldn’t be ritzy enough and the i20 wouldn’t be ‘Ubѐr Cool’ at all. Do not worry my prosperous friends; consumerism and capitalism have the answers to your hitch.   

  Welcome to the world of imports. The concept remains the same; you purchase a car that has been completely built abroad and imported to India by the manufacturer along with a 100% + import duty. This leads to a normal 6-7 lakh hatchback to be sold at 16-17 lakhs. The Europeans have been smart enough to tap this market and Fiat and Volkswagen have their own offerings to cater to this demand. The Japanese could have also done this, they too have brilliant hatches but none of those brands hold the prestige the Europeans brands have. So let’s meet the contenders...

  Both were born as the ‘Tata Nano’ of their era and country, a people’s car for a post-world war nation. Both were cheap and sold in astonishing numbers. One had simple Italian design yet oozing panache, the other had intuitive German engineering designed by the automotive legend Dr. Ferdinand Porsche summoned by Hitler himself! So if you haven’t guessed it by now, I am talking about the Fiat 500 and the VW Beetle.

Fiat 500 

The original Fiat 500

  Launched internationally in 2007, the Fiat 500 is the remake of the original 1950’s Fiat 500. Fiat has tried very hard to retain the original design cues and maintain similar overall appeal. The new 500 is actually based on the Fiat Panda. This car has won a plethora of awards and is highly regarded internationally. Though this car is sold as a basic hatch in UK and other markets, in India it costs almost Rs. 18 lakh. It comes fully loaded with all the creature comforts one desires and to be honest it does look a class apart.

The Fiat 500

  Despite having a huge range of engines abroad, Fiat has decided to get the same 75bhp 1.3L Multijet diesel engine that powers the Punto, for the 500 in India. I believe that if you are wondering of actually purchasing this car, you could be one of those I-care-for-the-environment-and-I-brag-about-every-small-thing-I-do types...so go ahead and boast all you want ‘coz diesel does burn better and is green. The downside to this car could be that Fiat doesn’t have all that snob value.

Volkswagen Beetle

Original VW Beetle

  The Beetle is one of the most iconic cars of the 20^th century, instantly recognizable anywhere in the world. Launched in 1998, the new Beetle has managed to keep some of the aura of the original Beetle. The car is based on the VW Golf, but apparently is not very engrossing to drive. I doubt that this would be a deal breaker in this segment in India though. The car has people hooked to its looks and also has a small vase in the dashboard! No wonder every daddy’s girl wants this as her 18^th birthday gift...

Current VW Beetle

 This cute little mechanical wonder will set you back by almost Rs. 27 lakhs, no much for your little princess...eh, Mr Rich? VW has got the 2.0 L petrol engine that boasts of a power output of 114 bhp, kind of low for this capacity though. The even newer Beetle is slated for a 2012 launch; with this one they have addressed the main issue...feminine looks. The rear half of it actually does look very similar to the original one. But if you are stuck on the cutie-cutie looks no ones to blame you.

2012 VW Beetle

  But if you actually are an enthusiast, you will be smart enough to not fall these two gimmicky cars, and rather import some other hatch. There are many other well established hatchbacks like the Ford Focus, Renault Megane and Clio, Alfa Romeos, and a few hot-hatches that will set you back by almost the same amount and let you enjoy the freedom of a small car but with a grin on your face that stretches from ear-to-ear.

Written by

Gaurav Singh
(The Grease Monkey Blog)

What Next?

         2011 has arrived; it not only marks the end of a year...but also a decade. And what a decade this was! We witnessed the rise of our very powerful and incredible auto industry. Well yes these 10 years were important, but the foundation was laid in 1991, when our economy opened up and the license-raj ended. Up till then all we had was the Premier Padmini, Hindustan Motor Ambassador and Maruti 800. Mid 90's saw the entry of Hyundai and Fiat and by 2000 Tata was ready with the Indica.

Premier Padmini and HM Ambassador

1986 Maruti 800

         Back in 2000 if someone thought of a Lamborghini showroom in India, it would have been as absurd as a Black American President, but we have Obama and a stable in Delhi. The growth that our market witnessed in this decade was the stuff of legends. As of now, no significant auto manufacturer can ignore our market and everyone somehow or the other wants a piece of this pie. And if this was not enough, Indians now own Jaguar, Land Rover and Ssangyong. We now have immense momentum and I don't see this dying out anytime soon. So now the question arises, what next?


        This current decade will be defined by major alliances between Indian and international players and also among international players to get the perfect product that this market demands. There is no doubt that as always the major share will be of the small car segment, but other segments will also continue to grow into significant numbers.


       Mahindra will be the one to be watched closely as they have new platforms and very interesting models in their near future line-up. The first act will be the sale of the imported Korando, an interesting SUV from their newly bought Ssangyong motors. Testing of an international SUV with exceptional quality is also underway and if they get it right, they will rule the MPV and SUV market for many years to come. The small car market is ready to explode as even the big boys like Toyota and Honda have small cars specially made for India.

Mahindra Korando

    
        Another thing that has gone unnoticed by many is the VW-Suzuki partnership. Let's face it; Suzuki along with Maruti is the world leader in small, efficient and cheap cars. Though some of their philosophies may be not in sync with the German giant, but they have to make compromises to get a decent market share in the segment below the Polo. With Suzuki on their side, don't be shocked to see a re-badged A-star or Estilo as a VW or Skoda. It's a win-win situation for VW, Suzuki and the customers! In turn Suzuki can learn a thing or two on how to get that solid feel in their at times, soulless cars. I don't think such an amazing and powerful alliance has been seen among Germans and Japanese since the Axis powers of World-War II.


       On the local front, Tata will continue to churn out more cars with their ever popular and successful idea- 'More Car Per Car'. Maruti will continue to rule the small car market despite many attempts from various manufacturers to dethrone it. They are trying to enter the big league with the Kizashi, but this move is very debatable.

Maruti Suzuki Kizashi

    
       Chevrolet has made an alliance with Chinese car manufacturers and has now planned to import many of their cheap and very market relevant models to India. Fiat has an amazing range abroad and the highly accredited new multi-air engine technology. Though after long they have managed to hit the sweet spot with the Linea and Punto, getting the strategy right for the coming years will dictate how its brand image is changed and perceived. Coming to the luxury range, with the current economic growth, this segment is bound to grow many folds. Don't be surprised to even see a Porsche assembly plant in Chakan!!

GM Sail and Wuling

      So will Maruti be able to establish itself in the luxury segment, will Tata and Mahindra be able to reach quality standards of international levels, will Toyota and Honda be able to make significant impacts on the small car market, will Chevys Chinese products be a hit in India, will Fiat finally achieve the status it deserves? These questions will only be answered as time goes by, but one thing is for sure is that we are in one hell of a ride! So lets sit back and enjoy. And wish you all a very happy new year...


- Gaurav Singh 
TGM Blog Team