Volkswagen has begun phasing out the Vento sedan that has served as the company’s sole midsize sedan offering since a decade. Before its replacement arrives in a few months, the company has now trimmed the Vento range to merely three variants.

• Vento now available in just one manual, two automatic TSI variants 

• Matte paint option still available at most outlets 

• Vento replacement to be launched in May 2022

Volkswagen India is scheduled to take the wraps off its Vento replacement, the all-new Virtus, in March and it is likely to hit showrooms in May 2022. As a result, the company has begun phasing out the ageing Vento midsize sedan.

Last updated in March 2020, the Vento with the BS6 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine was priced between Rs 8.86 lakh and Rs 11.99 lakh for the manual and was available in Trendline, Comfortline, Highline and Highline Plus variants, while the automatic was available from Rs 12.09 lakh to Rs 13.29 lakh in the Highline and Highline Plus variants. In this latest variant rejig, the company has limited the manual to just the Highline, priced at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom, India), while the automatic range continues with the Highline and Highline Plus priced at Rs 13 lakh and Rs 14.44 lakh, respectively.

Even though the official website lists four body paint options, availability may vary from dealer to dealer. For buyers who want to stand out, the automatic variants continue to be offered with an optional factory matte paint at a premium of merely Rs 36,000 over the Highline AT and Highline Plus AT variants. We are told there are no 2022 stocks of the Vento available at any outlet. All unsold stocks are built in the year 2021. 

In the process of making way for the Virtus, as well as by prioritising production in favour of the recently launched Taigun midsize SUV, waiting periods for the Vento and Polo have been on the rise since September 2021, as reported in our previous article. And now, by limiting variants offered in the Vento range, the company will be in a better position to clear stocks before phasing out this model. A few dealers we spoke to are offering discounts in the range of Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh on the Vento, depending on leftover inventory. 

Despite facing severe competition from the likes of the Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, Skoda Rapid, as well as a slew of compact and midsize SUVs, the Vento has been soldiering along, maintaining steady sales thanks to periodical updates in the form of minor makeovers, special editions and new feature additions over the course of its 12-year journey. The Vento was offered with multiple engine and transmission options along the way, however, the current one is the best petrol iteration till date; this 1.0-litre TSI is an internationally acclaimed three-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine that also powers the Taigun midsize SUV and will also find its way to the upcoming Volkswagen Virtus midsize sedan. The 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic from the Vento will also perform duties in its replacement.