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2022 Volkswagen Virtus
Overview
With the Polo and Vento now consigned to the history books, the Volkswagen Virtus has it on itself to repeat the success of those two models. And live up to the image these cars have helped create of Volkswagen being a maker of approachable enthusiast-oriented cars.
In a larger sense, the Virtus is also a culmination of the Skoda-Volkswagen group's India 2.0 turn-around plan. The last act to what has been a fairly successful revamp of the firm in India, and completes the group's interesting strategy of trying to revitalize the stagnant sedan market in India.
2022 Volkswagen Virtus GT Driving Impressions, ARAI Mileage
Like the Taigun, the biggest differentiator for this top-spec Volkswagen Virtus GT is the larger 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and the seven-speed DCT it pairs with. But, unlike its SUV and Skoda brethren, the Virtus doesn't get a manual option in GT form, although this could be added to the line-up later.
We've now experienced all four iterations of the MQB-A0-IN architecture in the past year, so on the move, the Virtus throws up few surprises in the way it drives. This motor with its 150PS and 250 Nm is still a potent performer. Even with the gearbox's propensity to choose the highest possible gear in the D mode, the engine's accessible torque band ensures that progress in traffic is generally seamless. Shifts are largely smooth and well-timed, with much of the slow-speed stutters from earlier iterations of the VW's dual-clutch transmissions brought under check.
2022 Volkswagen Virtus GT Interiors, Features
The Virtus GT's placement as the more enthusiast-focussed variant is well represented in the cabin. To begin with, the blocky angular dash layout with the squared-off AC vents is quite a change from the current industry trend of horizontal layers and floating screens.
The use of gloss black and the glossy red inserts is tasteful and lends the cabin quite a striking look, without feeling too forced. This red theme continues with the ambient lighting and graphics in the digital instrumentation, which though well laid out, could do with fewer sub-menus for all the trip data. The steering wheel is in the new VW design and feels satisfying to hold with its tactile buttons and perforations. You sit quite high up for a sedan as the driver, but the high scuttle does counter that to mimic a more traditional sedan-like seating position.
2022 Volkswagen Virtus GT Styling, Dimensions
For those of you choosing a sedan over an SUV, looks should hold more ground. And Volkswagen has played to this crowd well with the Virtus, especially in this GT form. The Virtus looks unmistakably like a Volkswagen with the wide rectangular LED headlamps, standard across the range, and the simple chrome-lined grille. There's some amount of aggressive here, with the beefed-up gloss-black bumpers with the large air dam and LED foglamps, which also help the Virtus edge out the Slavia as the longest sedan in this segment at 4,561mm.
2022 Volkswagen Virtus GT Safety
There are no ADAS functions on offer but, equally importantly, the Volkswagen Virtus gives you a strong list of standard safety equipment. There are six airbags as standard in this GT trim while there is tyre pressure deflation warning, hill-hold, stability control and multi-collision brakes. The single rear camera could do with far better resolution though.
2022 Volkswagen Virtus GT Verdict, Expected Price
The Volkswagen Virtus GT is convincing as an affordable performance sedan that is also easy to live with. We would have liked a more responsive tune for the gearbox and sharper steering, especially in this trim, but these concessions seem to have been made to widen the appeal of the car. But considering the striking looks and tasteful interior ambience, along with the potent engine with the fuel-saving tech it packs, the Virtus GT is easily the most driver-oriented car in its segment. A good second act to the Vento and Polo, especially if Volkswagen manages to tuck this version in under Rs 20 lakh.
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