What is it?
The Volkswagen Vento was the to start with, and for the longest time, only mid-measurement sedan in India to be outfitted with a dual-clutch automatic (DSG) transmission paired with a highly effective turbo-petrol motor. This blend designed the Vento an appealing proposition for people who needed the convenience of an automatic and also tugged at the heartstrings of people who enjoyed driving. But for the BS6 period, Volkswagen has dropped the 1.2 TSI and DSG combo for the new 1. TSI mated to an all-new 6-velocity torque-converter automatic. We’ve expert the 1. TSI Vento with a manual gearbox and beloved the new motor for its smoothness and functionality, but how effectively does it work with the new 6-velocity automatic? Can a regular torque converter match a speedy-shifting dual clutch vehicle ‘box? Has the Vento vehicle taken a action backwards adopting this more mature tech? These are the issues we’ve set out to solution.
Absent is the 1.2 TSI with the DSG and in comes the 1. TSI with the AT.
Why did VW switch the DSG with a torque converter?
Pre-BS6, Volkswagen’s ‘EA111’1.6-litre naturally aspirated (NA) petrol-manual served as the starting off issue of the Vento assortment, which was more than Rs 2 lakh much less expensive, spec-to-spec, than the 1.2-litre TSI DSG variant. With the 1.6-litreengine absent, VW necessary an entry-degree Vento to hit the right price tag issue in a very aggressive landscape. Large localisation of the new 1.-litre TSI motor has driven costs down to some extent and, as a end result, the price tag of the base Vento 1.0TSI with a 6-velocity manual isn’t wildly pricey.
New 6-velocity torque convertor automatic gearbox on the 2020 Vento.
On the other hand, the bulk of demand from customers would be for the automatic variant, and to be far more aggressive in this essential section Volkswagen decided to swap the pricey (and complex) seven-velocity DSG dual-clutch gearbox for a regular (and much less expensive) 6-velocity torque converter unit. Also, the complexity of dual-clutch automatics has acquired them a track record for lousy trustworthiness, which has seriously damage the manufacturer –another purpose why VW has ditched its significantly vaunted DSG tech for a far more verified and trusted remedy. On the other hand, this transmission is a latest-technology Aisin unit, not to be puzzled with the other 6-velocity torque converter that did responsibility in the Vento and Skoda Speedy 1.6-litre petrol automatic.
What is it like to travel?
There’s a great deal to like about this new transmission in everyday driving scenarios. It shifts smoothly and seamlessly for the most component, and smartly operates its way around the 1.-litre TSI’s turbo lag at low revs. In simple fact, just one of the biggest pros of torque converters is, as the title implies, a sturdy develop-up of torque at low revs. What is also nice is that the automatic isn’t programmed to shift to the leading-most ratio at the earliest, hence extracting the most out of this tiny-ability, a few-cylinder motor. So when you want to up the speed to maintain up with targeted visitors, there is usually adequate functionality on tap to get shifting.
Flex your right foot for a speedy overtake, or to shut in a hole in flowing targeted visitors, and that is where by this gearbox exhibits some reluctance ahead of it downshifts and transmits the 175Nm of torque, hence lunging the automobile ahead. The DSG confirmed a comparable momentary hesitation in electrical power supply, but where by the new gearbox truly scores is at slow speeds or in bumper-to-bumper targeted visitors. The fluid-driven torque converter doesn’t give the very same perceptible jerks as a DSG swapping cogs and feels so significantly smoother, primarily when accelerating off the line.
The 6-velocity vehicle ‘box is smoother at low speeds compared to the more mature model’s dual-clutch unit.
If something, the Vento creeps ahead a bit way too enthusiastically from a standing start since of the way the motor has been calibrated. To safeguard the motor from stalling underneath load, VW’s calibration engineers enhanced the idle velocity, which in switch designed the action off from a standstill a bit way too sharp. This can be difficult when you have to reverse or edge the Vento into a tight parking space and phone calls for some intense modulation of the brakes. Retaining the automobile in D2 lets you creep in advance in a comparatively smoother, far more calm method.
Like ahead of, the Vento TSI does get a manual manner as effectively as a ‘Sport’ manner for a far more enthusiastic driving encounter. Rowing by the sequential manual manner isn’t quite as gratifying as in the DSG, and while in isolation it is obedient and speedy adequate to shift, it doesn’t meet the large bar set by the lightning-speedy DSG, primarily in the course of upshifts. Even though driving in a hurry, you do overlook owning paddle shifters, which would have designed the encounter a contact far more partaking.
In the sprint to 100kph, the Vento AT is slower than its predecessor but faster than the 2020 Town.
In the Activity manner, the automatic retains onto every single gear ratio significantly extended than in ‘D’, and it can typically spin the motor nearer to its redline with an intense driver behind the wheel. To put the functionality into point of view, this new Vento vehicle is as speedy as the 1.2 TSI DSG to 60kph, and is only .5sec slower to 100kph. As opposed to its rivals, the Vento is the quickest to 60kph or 100kph, clocking periods of 5.13sec and eleven.77sec,respectively, compared to the Town CVT’s 5.forty five and eleven.85sec, and the Verna Turbo DCT’s 6.32 and thirteen.09sec. It is also faster than the others, which include the 1.2 TSI DSG, from 20-80kph, having merely 6.61sec, compared to the City’s seven.18sec and the Verna’s seven.29sec.
| 2020 Volkswagen Vento 1. TSI AT vs rivals: Efficiency | ||||
| Vento AT* | Vento DSG | Town CVT | Verna Turbo | |
| -60kph | 5.13s | 5.14s | 5.45s | 6.32s |
| -100kph | eleven.77s | eleven.24s | eleven.85s | thirteen.09s |
| 20-80kph (in kickdown) | 6.61s | 6.75s | seven.18s | seven.29s |
| forty-100kph (in kickdown) | eight.87s | eight.56s | eight.57s | 9.05s |
*Efficiency figures not to Autocar India examination specifications
Is the 2020 Vento TSI AT worth for money?
Priced at Rs 12.ninety nine lakh for the Highline Additionally variant, this sole automatic presenting (for now) is Rs 91,000 far more pricey than a similarly specified manual. For the money, it delivers capabilities like LED headlamps, sixteen-inch alloys, leatherette upholstery, cruise manage, traction manage, 4 airbags, a touchscreen with Android Vehicle and Apple CarPlay, an vehicle-dimming inside mirror and run mirrors.
At the finish of the day, the 2020 Vento AT is a fun, useful automatic household automobile.
But if it is sheer capabilities that you request, for a lakh considerably less, the mid-spec SX 1.5 CVT variation of the Hyundai Verna delivers significantly far better worth, with capabilities these as an electric powered sunroof, wireless charging, keyless entry and go, a much larger eight-inch touchscreen and vehicle headlamps. What is far more, the Honda Town and Hyundai Verna are readily available across multiple variants with decrease starting off factors, hence widening their arrive at and appeal.
Need to I buy just one?
The Vento’s appeal lies in its sturdy fundamentals and its exceptional Volkswagen-ness, be it in the way it drives or its developed-to-final come to feel. Even though this automatic doesn’t quite match the technologically top-quality DSG when it comes to an partaking driving encounter, it far more than helps make up for it with its smoothness, intuitiveness, outright functionality and quite possibly its lengthy-time period trustworthiness. Additional reasonably priced variants in the blend could even further broaden its appeal, but as points stand, despite its age, the Vento stays a proficient proposition. If a fun to travel, useful, automatic household automobile is what you request, this 2020 Vento TSI AT ticks all the right containers.
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