Since you’re very sure of what you want, you decided not to go with the herd. Instead, you chose to stand out and got yourself a Volkswagen Virtus, a car that has brought life back into the sedan segment in India.
Sedans have an undeniable gravitas. In an era where SUVs have dominated globally, sedans find loyalty in the minds and hearts of a select few, a group which is now growing.
Where SUVs resonate more with a practical buyer, a well-engineered German sedan is for those who define a car as more than a medium of transport; they look at it as an expression and extension of their fun-seeking side.
Rather than chasing fleeting design trends, the Virtus chose to stay true to traditions and things it knows will outlast any latest fad. It has the timeless design language of a modern, sophisticated sedan, and it knows it won’t be dated even five years down the line.
The Indian automotive market of the past few years would have you believe that the sedan is a fading art form. Nobody told Volkswagen that, though. While the segment is facing strong headwinds from SUVs, and its key competitors are losing ground, the Virtus is witnessing strong growth.
In the last financial year, the Virtus saw a remarkable 7.1 per cent growth over the previous year. This isn’t a minor victory, and it’s also a testament that if you know what your customers want, you will succeed.
Volkswagen knows exactly what its customers want, naturally – a sedan with German engineering, built on the MQB-A0-IN platform. A heavily localised platform, the MQB-A0-IN is built with thoroughbred German DNA. This ensures you get that satisfying ‘thud’ every time you close the door, or shut the bonnet or the boot.
That structural integrity also means the car has class-leading safety and road manners. The Virtus scored an impeccable 5-star rating for adults and children at the Global New Car Assessment Programme (GNCAP) tests. Volkswagen doesn’t treat safety as a luxury; it treats it as the most important pillar while making its cars. That’s evident in not just the Virtus, but in the all other cars Volkswagen sells in India.
When people say manners maketh man, it can be held true for a car as well. The Virtus’ handling is so superbly tuned and confidence inspiring that it can make even amateur drivers immediately comfortable. What you miss out on with midsize SUVs, with their high-riding stance, is a dynamically sorted chassis. The Virtus solves that, with its lower centre of gravity.
Volkswagen didn’t compromise on daily driveability, mind you. The Virtus still comes with a commendable ground clearance of 179 mm, so you can have the fun of a sedan body style, without worrying that it will bottom out on speedbreakers or potholes.
It’s not just handling that the Virtus is exceptional at; is engines are from the top drawer too. You can opt for the frugal but fun 1.0-litre TSI engine, with the option of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. Or you can get the barnstorming 1.5-litre TSI engine, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Regardless of the engine you choose, the Virtus is going to plaster a smile on your face every time you floor the accelerator.
The Virtus isn’t only meant for having fun. It excels at being an executive’s car of choice. The subtlety of the design (exterior or interior) ensures you’re always looking the part outside a business park or a corporate event, in addition to matching your vibe on a back road or a race track.
On the inside, the Virtus oozes that executive nature quite perfectly. The materials, the fit and finish, the equipment list — everything is top-notch, and built to stand the test of time. The 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen offers wireless connectivity and crisp feedback. The 8-inch instrument cluster presents all the information in crystal clear fashion, so you can just get on with the business of driving.
The Virtus is perfect for a buyer who wants dynamic characteristics from their car. If you’re looking to have fun on back roads, the Virtus is definitely for you. If you want something that maintains its composure on the highways, the Virtus is for you as well. If you are someone who values the understated-but-stylish, the Virtus is – you guessed it – for you.
The best part is that Volkswagen is doing all of this with a proper focus on the SUV segment, too. Granted, the brand has more SUVs than sedans currently, but the Virtus allows Volkswagen to experiment and resuscitate the much-loved sedan body style. It allows Volkswagen to stay true to its roots, of being a genuine driver’s car.
