Volkswagen Vento Launched In Malaysia

New Volkswagen Vento Goes Turbo

Here is some great news for Volkswagen lovers – the new Volkswagen Vento has been launched, and it comes exactly as I want it – with the same 1.2 litre turbocharged TSI engine that used to be found on the Polo Hatch. The difference is that whilst the Polo Hatch was a CBU (imported unit) and cost around RM115k and would probably cost more now, the new Vento is a CKD (locally assembled) unit and thus can be sold at a more competitive price.

The Vento is a refreshed sedan that replaces the outgoing Polo Sedan – VW decided to use the Vento name for the sedan version, while the hatchback will now simply be called the Polo. To me it makes sense because instead of having to refer to this category as the Polo Hatch and the Polo Sedan, it is much easier to call it the Polo and the Vento.

Whilst the name Vento translates to ‘wind’ in Italian and Portuguese, the Vento is a true testament of German brand values and world-class engineering – and made for drivers who want the best in performance without sacrificing safety. And the good news is that buyers can now afford to have this German technology at a more attractive price.

Safety-wise, the Vento enjoys a 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating – four airbags, ESC, ABS, and most impressive for a car in this category and price range, is the Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), which does three things in the event of a crash – the fuel line gets shut off from the engine to minimise the risk of fire and explosion, the hazard lights come on, and the doors unlock themselves to minimize the risk of trapping the occupants in the car.

The new Vento is offered in three variants, the Trendline, Comfortline and the top-of-the-range Highline. The Trendline and Comfortline are powered by 1.6-litre MPI engines with 6-speed automatic transmissions while the Highline is powered by the award-winning VW 1.2 litre TSI engine hooked to a 7-speed DSG. All variants are very competitively priced from RM79,888 (Trendline), to RM86,888 (Comfortline) to RM93,888 (Highline), stunning prices for a stunning range, as announced by Mr. Armin Keller, Managing Director, VW Group Malaysia, at the launch ceremony.

As a note in passing, Volkswagen lovers (and non-lovers) might be interested to know that the new Vento Highline comes with a revamped DSG system, which includes, among other items, new Mekatronik hardware and retuned software as well as an improved, more durable clutch system. As a family that has four units of Volkswagen running around, with the oldest unit being a Golf TSI, now in its sixth year, and going as good as new, perhaps the gearbox issue was blown a bit out of proportion.

The new Vento is not a rebadged exercise for the Polo sedan – it comes refreshed with a new front end that includes a re-designed front bonnet, a new front grille, and at the rear, the Vento gets a new taillight cluster. Inside, there is new upholstery, a new ‘flat-bottomed’ steering wheel, and a new audio system that has bluetooth, AUX and USB connectivity. A quick glance inside also tells me that there is a rear air-conditioner blower located at the centre console between the front seats, plus a cooled glove box that will be a boon for outstation trips as it will keep chocolate from melting, and chilled drinks chilled.

We shall be going on a media test drive in a few days time, so stay tuned for our drive report. In the meantime, Volkswagen is giving out ‘early starter’ bonuses of RM2,000 for early bird bookings.