2020 VW Vento 1.0 TSI Automatic first drive impressions
What is it?
The Volkswagen Vento was the first, and for the longest time, only mid-dimensions sedan in India to be outfitted with a dual-clutch computerized (DSG) transmission paired with a highly effective turbo-petrol engine. This blend made the Vento an appealing proposition for all those who wanted the comfort of an computerized and also tugged at the heartstrings of all those who loved driving. But for the BS6 period, Volkswagen has dropped the one.2 TSI and DSG combo for the new one. TSI mated to an all-new six-speed torque-converter computerized. We have skilled the one. TSI Vento with a handbook gearbox and liked the new engine for its smoothness and effectiveness, but how effectively does it get the job done with the new six-speed computerized? Can a standard torque converter match a brief-shifting dual clutch car ‘box? Has the Vento car taken a step backwards adopting this older tech? These are the questions we’ve established out to response.
Absent is the one.2 TSI with the DSG and in will come the one. TSI with the AT.
Why did VW swap the DSG with a torque converter?
Pre-BS6, Volkswagen’s ‘EA111’1.six-litre obviously aspirated (NA) petrol-handbook served as the commencing point of the Vento vary, which was over Rs 2 lakh less costly, spec-to-spec, than the one.2-litre TSI DSG variant. With the one.six-litreengine long gone, VW wanted an entry-degree Vento to hit the proper price tag point in a extremely aggressive landscape. Hefty localisation of the new one.-litre TSI engine has pushed prices down to some extent and, as a consequence, the price tag of the base Vento one.0TSI with a six-speed handbook isn’t wildly costly.
New six-speed torque convertor computerized gearbox on the 2020 Vento.
Even so, the bulk of desire would be for the computerized variant, and to be extra aggressive in this important section Volkswagen determined to swap the costly (and challenging) 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox for a standard (and less costly) six-speed torque converter unit. Also, the complexity of dual-clutch automatics has acquired them a popularity for very poor dependability, which has significantly damage the model –another reason why VW has ditched its substantially vaunted DSG tech for a extra demonstrated and reliable answer. Even so, this transmission is a latest-era Aisin unit, not to be perplexed with the other six-speed torque converter that did responsibility in the Vento and Skoda Fast one.six-litre petrol computerized.
What is it like to drive?
There’s a good deal to like about this new transmission in everyday driving eventualities. It shifts effortlessly and seamlessly for the most element, and well will work its way about the one.-litre TSI’s turbo lag at reduced revs. In point, just one of the largest benefits of torque converters is, as the title implies, a strong develop-up of torque at reduced revs. What’s also good is that the computerized isn’t programmed to shift to the top rated-most ratio at the earliest, as a result extracting the most out of this tiny-capability, three-cylinder motor. So when you want to up the speed to continue to keep up with traffic, there is always ample effectiveness on tap to get moving.
Flex your proper foot for a brief overtake, or to close in a hole in flowing traffic, and that’s the place this gearbox demonstrates some reluctance ahead of it downshifts and transmits the 175Nm of torque, as a result lunging the car forward. The DSG showed a very similar momentary hesitation in energy supply, but the place the new gearbox actually scores is at sluggish speeds or in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The fluid-pushed torque converter does not give the very same perceptible jerks as a DSG swapping cogs and feels so substantially smoother, primarily when accelerating off the line.
The six-speed car ‘box is smoother at reduced speeds in contrast to the older model’s dual-clutch unit.
If just about anything, the Vento creeps forward a little bit way too enthusiastically from a standing start off simply because of the way the engine has been calibrated. To safeguard the engine from stalling under load, VW’s calibration engineers enhanced the idle speed, which in convert made the step off from a standstill a little bit way too sharp. This can be tough when you have to reverse or edge the Vento into a restricted parking area and phone calls for some aggressive modulation of the brakes. Holding the car in D2 lets you creep ahead in a comparatively smoother, extra peaceful manner.
Like ahead of, the Vento TSI does get a handbook method as effectively as a ‘Sport’ method for a extra enthusiastic driving knowledge. Rowing by means of the sequential handbook method isn’t rather as gratifying as in the DSG, and although in isolation it is obedient and brief ample to shift, it does not satisfy the higher bar established by the lightning-brief DSG, primarily all through upshifts. While driving in a hurry, you do overlook obtaining paddle shifters, which would have made the knowledge a touch extra partaking.
In the dash to 100kph, the Vento AT is slower than its predecessor but quicker than the 2020 City.
In the Activity method, the computerized retains onto every single equipment ratio substantially for a longer time than in ‘D’, and it can usually spin the motor closer to its redline with an aggressive driver powering the wheel. To set the effectiveness into standpoint, this new Vento car is as brief as the one.2 TSI DSG to 60kph, and is only .5sec slower to 100kph. As opposed to its rivals, the Vento is the fastest to 60kph or 100kph, clocking moments of 5.13sec and eleven.77sec,respectively, vs . the City CVT’s 5.forty five and eleven.85sec, and the Verna Turbo DCT’s six.32 and thirteen.09sec. It is also quicker than the other people, which includes the one.2 TSI DSG, from 20-80kph, taking simply six.61sec, vs . the City’s 7.18sec and the Verna’s 7.29sec.
| 2020 Volkswagen Vento one. TSI AT vs rivals: Efficiency | ||||
| Vento AT* | Vento DSG | City CVT | Verna Turbo | |
| -60kph | 5.13s | 5.14s | 5.45s | six.32s |
| -100kph | eleven.77s | eleven.24s | eleven.85s | thirteen.09s |
| 20-80kph (in kickdown) | six.61s | six.75s | 7.18s | 7.29s |
| 40-100kph (in kickdown) | 8.87s | 8.56s | 8.57s | nine.05s |
*Efficiency figures not to Autocar India exam requirements
Is the 2020 Vento TSI AT worth for revenue?
Priced at Rs twelve.ninety nine lakh for the Highline Moreover variant, this sole computerized featuring (for now) is Rs ninety one,000 extra costly than a in the same way specified handbook. For the revenue, it presents characteristics like LED headlamps, 16-inch alloys, leatherette upholstery, cruise control, traction control, 4 airbags, a touchscreen with Android Vehicle and Apple CarPlay, an car-dimming inside mirror and run mirrors.
At the end of the working day, the 2020 Vento AT is a entertaining, realistic computerized spouse and children car.
But if it is sheer characteristics that you find, for a lakh fewer, the mid-spec SX one.5 CVT version of the Hyundai Verna presents substantially superior worth, with characteristics these kinds of as an electrical sunroof, wi-fi charging, keyless entry and go, a much larger 8-inch touchscreen and car headlamps. What’s extra, the Honda City and Hyundai Verna are out there throughout numerous variants with reduce commencing points, as a result widening their access and attraction.
Should really I invest in just one?
The Vento’s attraction lies in its strong fundamentals and its unique Volkswagen-ness, be it in the way it drives or its designed-to-previous sense. While this computerized does not rather match the technologically exceptional DSG when it will come to an partaking driving knowledge, it extra than makes up for it with its smoothness, intuitiveness, outright effectiveness and possibly its very long-expression dependability. Additional affordable variants in the combine could even more broaden its attraction, but as points stand, irrespective of its age, the Vento remains a capable proposition. If a entertaining to drive, realistic, computerized spouse and children car is what you find, this 2020 Vento TSI AT ticks all the proper bins.
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