VW Vento 1.6 TDi Review

The Vento may have been derived from the Polo but it's been conceived exactly for the Indian buyer. It's a roomy and comfortable saloon with special attention given to the rear seat along with all the features (in the Highline variant) you really need. A tough pair of engines and a super price makes the deal even sweeter.

DESIGN AND STYLE

Unlike many saloons derived from hatchback body styles, the Vento looks like it was meant to have a boot all along - that's how well integrated the third box is. It's a simple, handsome design and one that echoes the Polo right up to the B-pillar, which is in fact a shame. With the only difference at the front being the chrome highlights on the chin, the lower grille design and the round foglamps, the Vento looks too similar to the Polo for comfort - and we prefer the Polo's sportier chin. From the rear, the Vento with its huge boot looks big. The tail-lamp design looks a bit old-fashioned and the rear isn't particularly exciting and at best it's a clean and understated design.

The Vento is based on the same platform as the Polo but is 414mm longer, of which a massive 96mm has gone into increasing the wheelbase. You can clearly see the additional length by the amount of space in the rear of the Vento. Also, the rear track is 35mm wider and the wider haunches have allowed a wee bit more width for the rear seat.

The fit and finish and consistency of panel gaps are top class but what's disappointing is the way the doors shut - with an unsatisfying and hollow thud. This reflects the light build of the Vento which, at 1,220kg (for the diesel), is just 95kg more than an equivalently specced Polo - impressive considering how much more car the Vento is.

CABIN

The cabin is stylish and discreet. It may not have the elegance of its competitors but it does feel better put together. The beige and brown interiors are highlighted by high-quality silver accents, but the hard-wearing surfaces speak more about robustness than luxury and some of the plastics feel below standard.

The switches have a firm and concrete feel. The front seats are really comfortable with good under-thigh support and tall passengers won't have a problem, thanks to the generous seat travel. The driver gets a steering that adjusts for reach and rake but we found the central armrest a bit too obstructive. The rear seats have lots of legroom and headroom is good too, thanks to a less swoopy roof line. The rear seatback is a bit too upright and you sink a touch too low into the seat squab. Also, the middle passenger doesn't have a good time due to the big central tunnel.

The 454-litre boot is sufficient and the inner lining of the boot lid is a nice touch.

ENGINE

VW has given the Vento an awesome 1.6-litre common-rail diesel which is in fundamental nature the Polo motor with an additional cylinder. This twin-cam diesel churns out 105bhp and churns out a class-leading 25.4kgm of torque which peaks at a nice and low 1500rpm. The engine is pretty quiet except for a disturbing rattle at idle and a somewhat grimly note. But for the most part, it's a very sophisticated motor and the smoothest small diesel yet.

The engine is very alert with negligible turbo-lag and when you cross 2000rpm, the Vento simply takes off. Also wonderful is the broad torque spread of this engine. Unlike most diesels which fall off a cliff past 4000rpm, the VW 1.6 keeps pulling strongly till 5000rpm. The extra revs to play with give the engine amazing litheness and in fact you can merely stick to one gear, whether in the city or on the highway.

RIDE AND HANDLING

The Vento's main aim is to be a comfortable saloon and the suspension is set up that way. At low speeds it rides with sophistication, absorbs bumps well apart from some sharp ones which sieve through. The Vento's ride quality isn't quite as proficient as the Linea's and its suspension can get clunky but the long-travel suspension soaks up bad roads pretty well. At high speed, the ride is again quite tractable and there's a good supple edge to the way it coasts over a bad patch.

FACT FILE  Fuel Diesel Installation Front, longitudinal Type 4-cyls in-line, 1598cc Valve gear 4 valves per cyl, DOHC Power 105bhp Torque 25.4kgm at 1500-2500rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual