Should you buy a used Volkswagen Virtus?

Just like any other country in the world, India also loves its SUVs. These high-riders have been on a roll obliterating various body styles. The body style that takes the most brunt is a sedan. Yes, these sleek three-box cars have been around forever, but with the increasing popularity of SUVs, sedans are forced to take the back seat. Sedans are almost on the verge of extinction, and when Volkswagen launched the Virtus in 2022, it gave us hope. In this day and age of subcompact and compact SUVs, Volkswagen offered a sedan that was also touted to deliver the thrills that we expect from a sedan. It is one of the best-selling sedans today, and many are popping up in the used car market. With a brand new one costing anywhere between Rs 11.48 – 18.77 Lakh (ex-showroom), it begs the question – should you buy a used Volkswagen Virtus today?

Why you should consider the Volkswagen Virtus

The used car market is filled with modern sedans and sedans from the last decade that got phased out due to the onslaught of SUVs. The Virtus is a fresh product that uses two competent turbo petrol engines with three gearbox options. Furthermore, it is also a sedan that ticks all the boxes with little to no compromises. If you’re on the fence, here are some of the main reasons why the Virtus might be a great used car to buy:

The Turbo Petrol Engines!

The biggest talking point of the Volkswagen Virtus has to be the duo of turbo petrol engines on offer. With diesel engines disappearing into oblivion, turbo petrol engines have replaced them by offering strong performance and frugality. There is the option of a base 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI turbo petrol engine for the lower-priced Virtus variants. Despite being the entry-level engine, this unit offers more than enough performance rated at 115 PS and 178 Nm mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed conventional automatic gearbox. 

For those who prefer more drama and excitement, there’s the 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI EVO turbo petrol engine that delivers a whopping 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque to the front wheels. This engine comes mated to either a 6-speed manual or a slick 7-speed DSG gearbox. The performance is explosive and the Virtus 1.5 can reach speeds of up to 190 kmph and sprint to 100kmph in under 9 seconds. This engine also comes bundled with active cylinder management that cuts down two cylinders in light load conditions to aid fuel economy.

Safest Sedan Out There

In a country where safety is often flouted, Volkswagen has stuck to its promise and delivered the safest sedan. The Virtus offers all the cutting-edge safety tech and has also scored a full 5 stars at the Global NCAP safety test for both adult and child occupants. This makes the Volkswagen Virtus one of the safest cars sold in India today and a clear choice for buyers who prioritise safety and crashworthiness. 

Ride And Handling Balance

The Virtus comes with an exceptional ground clearance of 179 mm, similar to some compact SUVs in India. What this means is the Virtus can take on broken roads and speed bumps with a level of poise that is unlike a sedan. This sedan also offers great ride quality that also holds its composure at triple-digit speeds with good stability and body control. For the enthusiasts out there, Volkswagen has tuned the steering for better feedback and overall, the Virtus is one sedan that comes together and performs well when you show it some corners. This holds true even as a used buy and a used Volkswagen Virtus is an even better choice than some new sedans. 

Design That Shines

Gone are the days when cars used to be beautiful from all angles. Function is taking over form and cars are increasingly becoming overstyled or bland. Volkswagen is one brand that has always churned out classy designs. The Virtus follows the same design ethos as it sports clean lines making it one of the nicest-looking sedans around. Thanks to the simple design, it is also one of those designs that will age gracefully. Years down the line, the Volkswagen Virtus will still be a good-looking sedan.

Long List of Features

Going by the industry trends, the Volkswagen Virtus makes do with modern features. Some of these include ventilated seats, a sunroof, wireless charging, a digital cockpit, a touchscreen unit, connected car features and much more. The Virtus does miss out on some features in contrast to its rivals but nothing is missing that can be a deal-breaker. If a feature-loaded sedan seals the deal for you, a used Volkswagen Virtus is a strong contender. Since it offers all the cutting-edge tech, these features will stand the test of time. 

How old should your pre-owned Volkswagen Virtus be?

The Volkswagen Virtus was launched in 2022, so it has not been long. The brand updated the sedan in March 2023 with some refinements, new colours and features. If your budget permits, we highly suggest the latest version since it also comes with important updates and revisions. One such update is that the 2023 model year is also BS6 Phase2/RDE compliant – the latest emission norms in play that are also capable of monitoring real driving emissions. That said, the 2022 version Virtus is not obsolete and these cars are compatible with the current fuels and will remain relevant for many years to come. 

What to look out for when you buy a used Volkswagen Virtus?

The Volkswagen Virtus is a relatively new car in the market but there have been reports of some issues and here are some of them: 

Weak Aircon and Hissing Sound

A good majority of Virtus owners have reported poor AC performance during harsh summers accompanied by hissing noises from the vents. The initial launch models of the Virtus were known to have a weak air conditioning system in comparison to other cars. However, Volkswagen has released a couple of performance updates that aim to fix these issues. Owners have reported a noticeable difference in the AC performance with the full set of updates (free of cost). That said, the air conditioning system is still the weakest link of the Volkswagen Virtus. So, during the inspection of a used Virtus make sure you check out if the updates were carried out and make sure to also assess the AC performance. 

Steering Pull

Some existing Virtus owners have reported weird steering issues where there is a pronounced pull to the left even after alignment corrections. Since this issue has come to light, we suggest taking a long test drive and making sure the car in question doesn’t suffer from this issue. According to some owners, these issues are not easily fixable as even after multiple alignments and corrections this issue seems to persist. 

How much should a pre-owned Volkswagen Virtus cost?

Is a used Volkswagen Virtus worth buying in 2023?

The definitive answer would be a resounding yes. Since the Volkswagen Virtus is a fresh product, there might be some long-term issues that are yet to creep up. But the brand offers a standard 4-year warranty that will take care of everything and offers a seamless ownership experience. As we mentioned, if possible, we suggest you try to stretch the budget and get a 2023 model year since the same has many updates and tweaks. If you’re getting the older version, make sure you check the AC system and the steering pull issue. If both of them check out, you can go ahead with the deal.

At the end of the day, the Virtus is one of the best sedans out there that is almost perfect. It impresses normal sedan buyers and enthusiasts alike with its duality – a comfortable and spacious sedan or a powerful sedan with underlying sporty intentions. Sedans in 2023 don’t get any better than this if you ask us.