INDIA'S MOST LOVED SEDAN

The Volkswagen Virtus symbolises the hope that a sedan an honest-to-goodness sports sedan can still be found in this SUV-dominated market

The sedan landscape in India and, for that matter, in most of the world contains few options, while everyone is queueing up to buy sport utility vehicles (SUV). In this situation, having something like the Volkswagen Virtus even as an option is a real stroke of luck for the customers. It is the best-selling and most loved premium sedan in our country by a long shot and it is easy to see why. The word “Virtus” comes from Latin and it refers to the concept of virtue or excellence. The term encompasses a multitude of morally positive attributes such as bravery, integrity, and honesty, among others. The Virtus symbolises all these attributes and more. The VW Virtus is a sedan with a classic form and free from the excessively modern design touches that plague most cars today.

It seems that 20 years down the line, the clean lines of this car will stand the test of time better than its present contemporaries. It also has proper headlights, with the daytime running lights (DRL) tucked under the headlights instead of dominating the fascia. Having a design free of clutter emanates an aura of honesty that appeals to almost everyone; the proof of which is the sales numbers posted by the Virtus. But looks alone don’t make a best- seller, as can be gleaned from flipping through the pages of history. When people buy something expensive, which in most cases is their house or a car, they want something that will last a long time and that’s where the Teutonic build quality of the Volkswagen Virtus comes into play. German manufacturers are known for their robust engineering and this car is no exception. It exudes a sense of solidity that is hard to find in the sparsely populated premium sedan segment in India. This, in turn, gives the customers peace of mind with the conviction that their second most expensive purchase of life will be able to withstand the passage of time and be a dependable companion on their journey of life. While being dependable and reliable are indeed important virtues, those need to be complemented by comfort and, in this respect, the Volkswagen Virtus offers a little more than is required.

It has some of the most comfortable seats in the segment, packing sporty buckets with side bolsters that envelop the driver, while the rear seats provide ample leg-room, which is a rare virtue. Even the most basic trim of the Virtus comes with an eight-speaker audio system, height-adjustable driver’s seat, electric wing mirrors, and six airbags. This only improves as you go up the trim levels, culminating in the top-of-the-line one that offers almost every feature one may want from the factory, such as a subwoofer, an amplifier, ventilated seats, and even foot-well illumination. If a customer modifies it, it will be for personal preferences only. The Volkswagen Virtus made for a brave choice when it came out, as it offered a 150-hp engine option right out of the box. At that time, there was nothing in the premium sedan segment that offered the kind of power one could get with the Virtus and even today there’s only one other that can match it in terms of raw power output.