It's the third month of 2022 and we are already checking out the second mid-sized sedan in India after the Skoda Slavia, as a new Volkswagen car takes centrestage to rival the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. The German marquee is not shying away from the conventional compact sedan segment given the limited options in this particular space. Till yesterday, it had the Vento in its entry-level sedan segment, but it had started to show its age, and with rivals updating several elements of their car to strengthen its position in the market, Volkswagen decided to completely revamp its strategy under the India 2.0 program. The Volkswagen Virtus sedan is based on the same MQB-A0-IN platform that not only underpins the Volkswagen Taigun but also forms the base for the Skoda Kushaq and the Skoda Slavia sedan. You will also be surprised to know that the Virtus is the facelifted version of the car available in the global market with India being the first one to get it. And so, the spiritual successor of the Volkswagen Vento finds several similarities with its Skoda sibling in terms of design, cabin, features, and even powertrain options.
Also Read: Volkswagen Virtus Compact Sedan Makes Global Debut, India Launch This Year
Volkswagen Virtus
We will start with the design, which is typically Volkswagen, to begin with. The front section holds the single slat grille with chrome surrounds, merging quite elegantly with the LED headlamps, while the L-shaped LED DRLs enhance the sporty appeal of the car. The Virtus wrapped in this beautiful Wild Cherry Red, plays its part and also makes the car look bigger, which in fact is the longest and widest in the segment. The sharp and edgy design is retained in the lower section of the fascia as well as wide air dams, and the styling of the fog lamps gives a unique look to the car. As is typical to the Volkswagen Group, you get the GT badging on the front fenders, hinting at its GT trims, while the Dynamic misses this.
The Volkswagen Virtus is the longest and widest in the segment.
The sleek look is continued in profile as well with a sloping roofline and a strong character line covering the length of the sedan. The 16-inch alloy wheels complement the overall stance of the car and add a certain sexiness to its character. The chrome inserts for the door handles, contrast black ORVMs and roof, complete the profile while the wrap-around LED taillights, Virtus lettering on the boot-lid, and a boot-mounted number plate recess covers the rear section of the car. Overall, we like the way Volkswagen has given the Virtus its own unique character without taking the common route of replicating what its sibling possesses.
Also Read: Volkswagen Virtus Review: 1.0 TSI And 1.5 TSI Automatics Driven
The interior of the Volkswagen Virtus is slightly more appealing to our eyes than any other car in the segment, and the styling certainly speaks for it. The black & beige looks pleasing but it is the red highlights spread across the width of the dashboard that takes it away for the Virtus. This is however limited to the GT line in this specific colour scheme.
The black & beige looks pleasing but it is the red highlights spread across the width of the dashboard that takes it away for the Virtus.
Other elements on the Virtus do remind of the Slavia, such as the digital instrument console, as well as the 10-inch touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Virtus also comes with ventilated seats for the front passengers. Other key features on the Virtus are the electric sunroof, automatic climate control, cruise control, and wireless charging. The cabin also comes with 60:40 split rear seats, a cooled glovebox, and more.
Safety is also vital for VW and so 40+ features are standard including 6-airbags, ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control, multi-collision brakes, tire pressure deflation warning, hill hold control, and much more, making the Virtus one of the safest cars in the segment, according to the German marquee.
Volkswagen Virtus will be offered in 6 exterior colour schemes.
The Volkswagen Virtus sedan will be powered by two engine options - a 1.0-litre TSI petrol and 1.5-litre TSI petrol. The former will churn out 113 bhp power/178 Nm torque and the latter will produce 148 bhp power/250 Nm torque. The 1.0-litre TSI engine will get a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, and the 1.5-litre TSI engine will have an advanced 7-speed DSG transmission. We will soon get behind the wheel to tell you more about the driving dynamics, the ride and handling, and performance feedback from the new Virtus.
Volkswagen Virtus will be powered by two engine options - a 1.0-litre TSI petrol and 1.5-litre TSI petrol.
The Volkswagen Virtus will be locally built at the company's plant here so expect an aggressive pricing, which we think would be in the range of Rs. 10 lakh, to Rs. 17-19 lakh for the top-spec model, which will be loaded to the gills. The car even checks out most of the boxes than just the good looks department. It has the size, proportions. and the detailing to not just draw a glance, but also hold it. The Volkswagen Virtus does emerge as a promising contender in its segment; however, pricing will be the decisive factor behind its success in the Indian market.
