2016 Volkswagen Ameo diesel review, test drive

As promised, VW’s made-for-India compact sedan now gets a diesel engine. And what a difference it has made.

Published on Oct 05, 2016 01:54:00 PM

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2016 Volkswagen Ameo diesel review, test drive

In fact, it's when you drive the DSG automatic that you'll feel the lag a bit more. Because it's been designed to slur its way through the lower gears for a smoother take-off, you feel more of that sub-1,800rpm sluggishness from the motor. There is, of course, less of this when you tap the lever down to Sport mode and you can eliminate it altogether by selecting gears manually (again via the lever; there are no paddles), but ultimately, it's the manual that is more fun to drive.

The DSG is superb at being an automatic though. It's smooth, clever and quick and makes matters so much more convenient in traffic. It's hugely better than the AMT gearboxes you get in the Maruti Dzire and Tata Zest, but that does come at a premium.

Finally, VW does seem to have fiddled with the suspension to help support the bigger, heavier diesel engine. It's been stiffened up and it is for the better. Where the petrol car rode well at low speeds, its overly soft setup meant it was a bit too bouncy and rolly when you went faster. Not anymore. The diesel car feels much better tied down, and yet absorbs bumps pretty well. In fact, we'd say it has a good chance of being the best riding car in its class. The steering is light and accurate but not quick or sharp enough to make you want to corner the Ameo hard, so while competent, it does shy away from being a fun handling car.

Should I buy one?

Apart from the car itself, what really impressed us about the petrol Ameo was that it was priced competitively, bucking VW’s tradition of premium pricing and even undercutting a few key rivals. They’ve managed to do it again with the diesel car, which too is priced in the upper middle of the segment. The only exception is the DSG Automatic, which costs a fair bit more than the equivalent Tata Zest and Maruti Dzire, both of which use cheaper AMT gearboxes. The incredibly punchy diesel motor is satisfying to drive and fixes our main criticism of the Ameo – the weak petrol engine. It makes for a superb owner-driven car, but as a family vehicle it falls a little short of rivals because of its relatively small boot and low rear seat space. If your use for these two things is minimal, however, you'll find the Ameo TDI is a well-built, well-appointed and well-equipped compact sedan that's now, finally, nice to drive too.