It was yesterday that Volkswagen launched the new face of the Vento and the company has refreshed this model just under a year. Considering its new, it still has to battle with old foes and these are the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna and the Honda City. Out of these, it is only the Verna that has been refreshed in the recent past. So how does the Vento perform when it comes to such stiff competition?
Dimensions
If you check out the dimensions, it is the Ciaz that wins in both the overall length and width. The Honda City is taller than the others and comes a close second, while the Verna and the Vento are placed 3rd and 4th in this battle. When it comes to the space it has between the tyres, which we call wheelbase, the Ciaz is at the forefront once again. With a wheelbase of 2650mm, the Ciaz stands as the clear winner followed by the City (2600mm), the Verna (2570mm) and finally the Vento (2553mm).
Engine
Moving on to the engines and this is quite an important turf for the Vento comes with 2 petrol and 1 diesel engine option. You have a choice between the 1.2 litre turbocharged unit or the naturally aspirated 1.6-litre one which churn out the same 103bhp. The 1.2 litre engine is mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, while the 1.6 one comes with a 5-speed manual. Both offer a mileage in excess of 16km/l. The one diesel engine on offer in the Vento is the 1.5-litre mill which is capable of churning 103bhp and is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG. The diesel offers fuel efficiency in excess of 20km/l.
The engine department is where the Verna comes with the most options. There are 2 petrol and 2 diesel options on offer along with 2 transmissions. For those looking for a petrol unit, Hyundai offers the Verna with a 1.4-litre(107bhp) and 1.6-litre(123bhp) option. The 2 transmissions on offer are the 4-speed H matic auto box or a 5-speed manual. The diesel too gets 2 options, as we said earlier and the 1.4-litre is good for 89bhp, while the 1.6-litre unit is more powerful offering 126bhp.
Maruti Suzuki has kept things simple in the Ciaz as there's the 1.4-litre petrol mill which is the least powerful of the lot churning just 92bhp. On offer is a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic. The diesel powered Ciaz gets a 1.3 litre, 89bhp churning unit which is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The Honda City comes with the tried and trusted 1.5 litre i-Vtec petrol unit which produces 119bhp and so is the powerful of the lot. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual or a CVT. The diesel mill in the City is a familiar one as we've seen this unit in the Amaze. The 1.5-litre i-Dtec produces 99bhp and comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Features
All the companies have made certain that their cars get the best from all the worlds. So the top spec variants of all the cars come loaded with features like audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted controls, climate control, rear air-con vents and leather upholstery. The car will also come equipped with rear parking sensors. The cars are well prepared even when it comes to safety as all of them come equipped with ABS with EBD and dual front airbags.
There are a few segment firsts though, that need mention here. The Verna comes with follow me headlamps feature along with automatic rain sensing wipers. The Vento comes with a glove box that keeps things cool, Hill assist and electronic power steering with a speed adaptive feature. Maruti Suzuki brings in a touch screen multimedia system and a parking camera. Honda brings in the sunroof, paddle shifters and a touch screen.
Price
When it comes to pricing, the base variant of the Ciaz is the cheapest of the lot, followed by the City, the Verna and finally the Vento. Volkswagen then, has brought in a contender which has to deal with a lot of competition. Only time will tell how the Vento does in terms of sales.
