Volkswagen Virtus Pros & Cons

Check out pros and cons about the Volkswagen Virtus that are worth highlighting for a potential buyer. Here are some of the highlights of the benefits of buying the Volkswagen Virtus. We'll also list out the Virtus drawbacks to help you make an informed buying decision.

Virtus Advantanges

• Impressive Dimensions And Ground Clearance

  The Volkswagen Virtus is one of the widest sedans in its class and also boasts a fairly long wheelbase of 2651mm. Additionally, the Virtus also gets a large boot space of 521 litres. While these figures are no longer class-leading after the launch of the new Hyundai Verna, they are still very respectable. Apart from the large proportions, the Virtus also offers a ground clearance of 179mm, which is not only the highest in the segment but also on par with some B2-segment SUVs that are currently on sale.

• All-Rounder 1.0L Turbo Petrol Engine

  The VW Virtus comes with a 1.0L turbo petrol engine option with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. It produces 115PS of power @ 5000rpm and 178Nm of torque between 1750rpm and 4500rpm. It offers great driveability and smooth torque delivery at lower RPMs over its rivals that get 1.5L normal petrol engines.

• Performance-Oriented 1.5L Turbo Petrol Engine

  The VW Virtus also comes with the option of a 1.5L turbo petrol engine with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It produces 150PS of power at 5000rpm and 250Nm of torque between 1500rpm and 3500rpm. Thanks to the active cylinder deactivation technology, it also offers better claimed fuel efficiency than the Virtus 1.0L automatic despite offering higher performance figures.

• Good Set Of Features

  While the Virtus doesn’t offer features like ADAS and heated seats, it offers a good set of feel-good and must-have features. These features include ventilated front seats, LED headlamps, a wireless phone charger, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, cruise control, sunroof, 6 airbags, full-colour LCD instrument cluster, paddle shifters, and more.

Virtus Disadvantanges

• Base Model Lacks Features

  The base model of the Volkswagen Virtus is too basic and lacks several must-have features for the segment, like auto AC, rear AC vents, front and rear armrests, alloy wheels and cruise control. For reference, the Baleno from a segment below offers auto AC and projector headlamps in all variants.

• No Diesel Engine Option

  The Virtus comes with a choice of 2 petrol engines — a 1.0L turbo and a 1.5L turbo. However, it lacks a turbo diesel engine option and that leaves the Honda City and Hyundai Verna as the only diesel-powered C-segment sedans. It is worth mentioning that the Verna diesel also gets an automatic transmission option over the Honda City. No longer applicable since both the Hyundai Verna and Honda City stopped offering diesel engine options with the latest update.

• Expensive 1.5L Turbo Petrol And Questionable DCT Reliability

  The 1.5L turbo petrol engine in the Virtus carries a huge premium over the 1.0L turbo petrol engine. Additionally, the dual-clutch automatic transmission is yet to establish itself in our country’s hot conditions. The dual-clutch automatic transmission also carries a premium of around Rs. 1.60 lakh, which is higher than the industry standard.

• Fuel-Sapping Torque Converter In Traffic

  The torque converter automatic with the 1.0L engine is an old and reliable piece of technology but its fluid coupling makes it extremely inefficient in stop-and-go traffic, which is the main reason why we buy an automatic transmission.