Volkswagen Vento India - A review. Review on Volkswagen Vento

The Vento was indeed a much awaited car. I was eagerly waiting for the Vento to be in the stores. Finally on Saturday I visited "Down Town", the show room on Magrath Road. Right from the day the news was out that VW is coming up with a new sedan, I was collecting all details about it from any possible source. Obviously internet was my first choice and since then I have collected as many pictures and information regarding the car. I used to visit the VW website almost every day to check when is Vento going to appear in there.  I have read reviews about the car on Zigwheels.com, carwale.com and few other websites as well. All the well written reviews and pictures created a big picture of the car in my mind and I was so excited and eager to see the car and own it.

On Saturday 11th September, I walked into the VW showroom on Magrath road in Bangalore. There were hardly anyone in the showroom other than the staff. The girl who welcomed me was eager to help and assured me that assistance will be given soon. My excitement pulled me into the car. I sat in the driver's seat and started inspecting the vehicle in detail.

All my excitement vanished, to be honest. I was not impressed. I was in the driver's seat and I was not able to move my left hand freely. My elbow always hit the arm rest in the middle. I tried enacting the gear shift movements, each time hitting my elbow on the arm rest. Big thing. Big design error. I am sure sooner or later whoever is going to own this car is going to come up with this complaint. If I want to pull the hand brake, I have to retract the arm rest and then do it since the HB is placed directly under the hand rest.

Push down the driver's seat to the max and you will feel that your left hand is locked. This design is so inconvenient. I sincerely wish VW will look into this area and consider altering the design.

Look and feel: From outside : Awesome looks. I loved the car by its looks. The boot is the best in the segment. A perfectly designed boot. That is one area many cars lack the blend in overall design. The alloy wheels are an added attraction to the car in terms of looks. One suggestion is that the front grill portion could have been in a different design and looks than of the Polo. But still it looks very attractive.

The upholstery is not of high quality or looks. The arm rest provided in the back seat lacks aesthetics. It is too wide, plain with no cup holders. It will be much more attractive if made couple of inches shorter in width. Comfortable though, it lacks rich looks. So are the plastic used inside the cabin. If you look closely on the plastic on the back doors, it is not in fine finish with the door. Honda City beats VW in look and feel and quality of interior aspects for sure. The dash board console looked rather plain than attractive. I would say it is not the contemporary types. There is a pocket like area just in front of the gear shaft where there are bottle holders. This pocket kills the beauty of the design. It gives a very old look for the car. The design is very old.

The driver's seat, when at the maximum height, my head was almost touching the roof. I am only 5' 10" in height. This car is not meant for tall guys.

There are no steering mounted controls.

There are only two speakers in the front doors, but gives a theater effect to some extend. Good speakers used. Appreciate that.

I wanted to check how the engine sounds and the quality and power of AC, but the executive politely refused saying that they are not allowed to start the car inside the showroom. Hmm I have to wait till I take a test drive.

The girl who greeted me while entering the showroom was still around and when I asked for assistance again, she apologized and then started asking those well dressed executives to assist me. There was this well dressed tall lean and handsome dude who immediately refused her request. I guess he was pretending to be busy. I was watching them on the RV mirror. He was then comfortably seated in a chair and playing with his mobile. Wow very good approach to the customers. She then asked a couple of other guys finally a different guy came to assist me in explaining about the car. He had an attitude "ok dude....lets do it....anyway your are not going to buy this car....." One thing I decided before leaving Downtown showroom on magrath road, that if I am buying a Vento, I will not buy it from Down Town. Very good approach and care for the customer. Hats off.

Here are my feedback:

You pay eleven lacs and more for a Vento in Bangalore and what you get are:

A neatly designed car with striking looks. A 1.6 lr powerhouse, with a poorly designed driver seat handrest gear to hand brake area, not so plush upholstery and look and feel. My sincere wish and request is please re-do the Driver's armrest or completely get rid of with it. I am still interested in this car. Hope to hear from VW.