Volkswagen Vento TDI DSG long term review first report

But it wasn’t the responsive engine, quick gearbox, pleasant ride and nice controls alone that got my vote. Fuel economy was another highlight. I managed 18.5kpl driving in normal mode and a still decent 13.5kpl in Sport mode. Mind you, the latter was in brisk driving on empty Gujarati state highways. Not bad in the least.

Of the other things, I also quite like the audio system. It easily hooks up to all phones and sound quality is nice too. Good, because it helps drown out some of the engine’s pronounced low rpm clatter. Quieter engine aside, I also wish VW would give this version a dedicated dead pedal. It should be an easy fit, given the ample room in the footwell. Something that perhaps needs more urgent attention is the bottle holders on the door pockets. They are wide, but not deep enough, making it possible for bottles to pop out of place on hard braking. The last thing you want is a bottle stuck under the pedals, the fear of which has stopped me using the driver’s side door pocket altogether. Thankfully, the cabin isn’t short on other places to store smaller items.

On the whole, though, the Vento TDI DSG has made a very strong first impression. It’s comfortable, fairly exciting and reasonably frugal. And thanks to the exterior and interior changes, it seems to give you more for your money too. The way I see it, the Vento TDI DSG is 75 percent Jetta for 70 percent of the money. In my books, that’s quite a good deal.

Odometer: 4,200km 
Price : 13.32 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) 
Test economy: 16kpl (highway)
Maintenance costs:  None
Faults: None