Although SUVs are the rage today, sedans are still finding many takers pushing carmakers to bring back this body style. After a brief hiatus, sedans have indeed made a comeback in India and the whole group is spearheaded by the Volkswagen Virtus followed by the Skoda Slavia and the new Hyundai Verna. These three sedans are fierce competitors with the Volkswagen stealing most of the limelight thanks to its understated design and sporty underpinnings. Introduced back in 2022, the Volkswagen Virtus is a stylish sedan for ardent sedan aficionados who wish to not jump in on the SUV bandwagon.
Volkswagen is offering the Virtus with two engine petrol options – a 1.0-litre turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre petrol mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6/7-speed automatic gearbox. Both these engines were updated to comply with BS6 Phase 2/RDE regulations and Volkswagen also updated the Virtus with more features and colour options to withstand competition from the recently launched Hyundai Verna. Priced anywhere between Rs 11.48 lakh and Rs. 18.77 lakh, the Virtus is offered in 4 variants – Comfortline, Highline, Topline, and GT Plus. The Virtus is a prominent name in the sedan space as it ranks high on every sedan buyer’s list. But, is it really the quintessential sedan for you? Let’s find out.
Volkswagen Virtus Specifications
Volkswagen Virtus Engine & Transmission | ||
Engine | 1.0-litre turbo petrol | 1.5-litre turbo petrol |
Transmission | 6-speed MT/6-speed AT | 6-speed MT/7-speed DSG |
Power | 115 PS | 150 PS |
Torque | 178 Nm | 250 Nm |
Mileage | 18.12 to 20.8 kmpl | 18.12 to 20.8 kmpl |
Volkswagen Virtus Dimensions | ||
Length | 4561mm | |
Width | 1752mm | |
Height | 1507mm | |
Wheelbase | 2651mm | |
Boot Space | 521 litres | |
Volkswagen Virtus Safety | ||
Feature | Variant Available | |
Airbags | 2 airbags as standard | |
ABS with EBD | Standard | |
Rear Parking Sensors | Standard | |
All-Wheel Disc Brakes | Standard | |
Reverse Parking Camera | Standard | |
Electronic Stability Programme | Standard | |
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | Accessory | |
ISOFIX Mounts | Standard | |
Hill Hold Assist | Automatic Variants | |
Hill Descent Control | No | |
Volkswagen Virtus Features | ||
Feature | Variant Available | |
Digital Cockpit | Topline and GT Plus/Edge | |
Sunroof | Highline, Topline, GT and GT Plus/Edge | |
Ventilated Seats | Topline and GT Plus/Edge | |
Why you should consider the Volkswagen Virtus
The Volkswagen Virtus is a highly desirable sedan and one of the hottest cars from this year with the latest update. It’s got a lot going for it making it a hard car to ignore. Nevertheless, here are four reasons why the Virtus might be the best car for you.
Explosive Performance From Both Engines
Turbo diesel engines are long gone with the introduction of stringent BS6 emission norms. Filling that void are turbo petrol engines that offer punchy performance without compromising much on fuel economy. The Virtus comes packed with two turbo petrol engine options, a 1.0-litre TSI and the potent 1.5-litre TSI EVO. The former develops a healthy 115 PS and 178 Nm mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. The 1.5-litre is the crown jewel here as it develops 150 PS and 250Nm mated to a 6-speed manual or a lightning-quick 7-speed DSG gearbox. The 1.5-litre engine offers outstanding performance with 0-100kmph coming up in just 8.8 seconds. It also offers active cylinder management for maximum fuel economy. Both these engines deliver remarkable performance making the Virtus a go-to choice for enthusiasts and buyers who prefer something exciting.
The Ride And Handling
Backing the brilliant engines is a chassis with a suspension setup that offers the best of both worlds. The Virtus rides well, deals with broken roads easily and offers an SUV-like 179mm of ground clearance. The suspension tuning is spot on as the VW sedan offers good ride quality without sacrificing handling. Body control and body roll are well managed and the Virtus offers more than enough thrills behind the wheel for any kind of buyer. The steering also adds to the whole experience by being a direct and quick unit.
Understated And Elegant Design
Sedans have always been more stylish than SUVs, and the Virtus, in true Volkswagen fashion, features a clean and classy design language that works. The design is devoid of any complicated lines and crevices making it a car that will age well. Furthermore, Volkswagen has styled the Virtus in such a way that it appeals to everyone. It is truly a nice-looking sedan that never fails to impress buyers of all age spectrums.
Safety Rating
Volkswagen’s claim of the Virtus being one of the safest cars in India is actually true. A testament to that is Virtus’ Global NCAP score of a perfect 5 stars for both adult and child occupants. It also offers a whole host of safety features such as 6 airbags, traction control, ESP, hill start assist and Multi Collision Brakes (MCB).
Why you should not consider the Volkswagen Virtus
The Virtus is one of those rare cars that we can never fault. It delivers on all of its promises and does everything brilliantly that we’d have to nitpick to come up with reasons to not suggest one.
Cabin Quality
The Virtus has a modern cabin with all the features and amenities that you expect today. The design and layout are also faultless but the overall fit and finish might leave some disappointed. Volkswagen is known for its build quality and fit and fish levels. But, the Virtus leaves room for some improvement here as there are some obvious cost cuttings inside the cabin with the quality of materials used and the build quality. This is more pronounced since we generally expect more from the German brand. So if this is something you cannot live with, we suggest you look at other options.
Volkswagen Virtus Variants
Variant | Powertrain | Price |
1.0 Comfortline | 1.0-litre MT | Rs.11.48 Lakh |
1.0 Highline | 1.0-litre MT | Rs.13.38 Lakh |
1.0 Highline AT | 1.0-litre AT | Rs.14.68 Lakh |
1.0 Topline | 1.0-litre MT | Rs.14.90 Lakh |
1.5 GT DSG | 1.5-litre DSG | Rs.16.20 Lakh |
1.0 Topline AT | 1.0-litre AT | Rs.16.20 Lakh |
1.5 GT Plus | 1.5-litre MT | Rs.16.90 Lakh |
1.5 GT Plus Edge | 1.5-litre MT | Rs.17.10 Lakh |
1.5 GT Plus DSG | 1.5-litre DSG | Rs.18.57 Lakh |
1.5 GT Plus Edge DSG | 1.5-litre DSG | Rs.18.77 Lakh |
Volkswagen Virtus Variant to buy
If you’re strictly looking at a budget variant that does the job, the 1.0 Highline AT offers the most value at Rs.14.68 Lakh. The 1.0-litre engine offers enough performance to make it an ideal family sedan. But, if you are an enthusiast who fancies extra performance and style, the 1.5 GT DSG would be a great pick and if you don’t mind working your left leg, the 1.5 GT Plus with the 6-speed manual is also a great choice.
Volkswagen Virtus Warranty And Service Cost
Volkswagen offers a standard 4 years/1,00,000 km warranty which is class-leading. This added with the option 1 or 2-year extended warranty makes for a compelling option as it offers a completely seamless ownership experience. As for service costs, the Germans claim they were able to bring down costs to such an extent that it requires only Rs 0.42 per km for 60,000 km for the Virtus.
Final Thoughts
SUVs are popular for a reason, but if an SUV is not what you’re looking for with a budget of Rs. 12 to Rs 20 lakhs, the Volkswagen Virtus might just be the best car for you. First and foremost, it offers more than enough ground clearance for Indian roads and a cavernous boot that can gulp all your luggage. There’s ample performance on tap, and the Virtus has got enough character and soul to make you fall for it. The competition is also strong with the Hyundai Verna matching the Virtus and even surpassing it in many areas
Looking at the big picture, it is obvious that Volkswagen has done a commendable job by engineering a capable sedan for India. The Virtus ticks all the right boxes for a sedan buyer and lures enthusiastic buyers. With its subdued styling, good ride/handling and features list, it also works for normal car buyers who are looking for a sedan that offers an unadulterated sedan experience that was missing from the Indian automotive landscape to date.
