Volkswagen Vento 1.6 Petrol AT Highline - Design Review

Volkswagen has had its eyes set on India for long. It tried pushing its products in the country through a few dealers, but not as aggressively as, say, BMW. It was only when it announced its Indian operations that VW became a force to reckon with. Experiments with cars like Passat, Jetta, Touareg and even the Beetle got it recognition but it knew it needed something else to become a household name. The Polo was the answer. Now when it needs to move a step above, what better than a midsized sedan, the next best thing to a premium hatch? Thus, the Polo platform gave birth to the Vento. So is this another booted hatchback, or does it rewrites the rules for the midsized sedans in the country? We take it for a spin around town to find out.

Volkswagen has been pretty aggressive about becoming the world’s largest automaker and its new design philosophy reflects just that - the curvy and elegant looking VWs are passé and sharp edges are the in thing. Think new Touareg, Passat or Jetta, and you get the picture. The good thing is that the same lines have trickled down to the Vento and the Polo as well. Vento is based on the Polo platform and needless to say, both cars are almost identical when viewed from the front. It’s the boot and the longer wheelbase that separates the Vento from its sibling.

Personally, I like every bit of the design, right from the Scirocco-like nose to the smartly-executed boot. The chrome twin-slit grille with a VW logo is simple but contrasts the wedge-shaped headlamps, which look very techno and upmarket in their layout. This is further accentuated by the sharp-lipped front bumper. The large black plastic insert comes with chrome accents on the highline variant that look premium. Then there are the round foglamps (the Polo gets angular ones, by the way) with chrome surrounds, adding up to the premium feel.

Sharp lines all around give it an athletic yet elegant aura and there is a hint of flame surfacing on the door panels, which is more evident in lighter colours like silver and white. The crisp waistline extends throughout the length of the car and the fender line extends through the lower half of the doors, adding style to the side. The boot is so nicely integrated in the design that the Vento actually looks a proper sedan than just a booted Polo. The clean bootlid is flanked by tail lamps that are identical to the Polo, but are stretched a little more in this case.

Overall, the Vento is a contemporary car with the right mix of elegance and sportiness. There are no loud design elements shouting for attention and the Vento appeals to younger and matured tastes alike. The Volkswagen family face will gain much more effect when the more premium, all new Jetta and Passat are launched later this year.