Volkswagen Virtus special feature: The perfect sedan

When your writer began his career in automotive journalism in 2021, the SUV segment seemed to be at the peak of its dominance. The first few shoots that I tagged along with the team on were those of SUVs and one of my first-ever features to be published in this magazine was a piece on the Volkswagen Taigun. I even remember the title of that very first story I penned – Volume Rocker – and that was because I believed that this SUV had the potential to shake up the segment and bring in the volumes for Volkswagen in India. There was a consequence to this seemingly unending dominance of SUVs however. The increasing number of SUVs on our roads meant that they no longer felt as unique as before. The novelty that comes with the purchase of a new car model is something to look forward to but buying a vehicle that is very similar to the one owned by most of your neighbours might just dampen that spirit. Thankfully, there is a solution to this dilemma, in the form of a sedan – the Volkswagen Virtus.

When the Volkswagen Virtus was launched three years ago in 2022, it marked the revival of the sedan segment that had once been very popular in India and it did so in a very logical manner. Let me explain. First off, we have to talk about the design. The three-box shape of a sedan is what we always associate with car design at first glance and the Virtus builds on that familiar template with sharp, clear and timeless lines which make the sedan a handsome looker. Be it the GT Chrome variant with its chrome elements or the GT Line and GT Plus Sport variants which look decidedly sportier, the Virtus has always been a looker. And the best part of its design is that it never commands attention by being shouty or in your face, a design trait that most SUVs seem to possess these days. And despite having been on sale in India for three years, the sight of a Virtus continues to turn heads of onlookers.

It’s not just the outside where the Volkswagen Virtus scores highly. Step inside and you are greeted by a cabin that is well-equipped. Get into the driver’s seat and you will realise that all the controls and switches are easily accessible to the driver. The Virtus is also equipped with ventilation for the front seats, which is a must-have feature considering the temperatures we endure through Indian summers. The generous levels of equipment includes features such as a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment, eight speakers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and an electric sunroof, along with more than 40 safety features. And while one might argue that a sedan cannot offer an imposing seating position as in an SUV, the Virtus sedan has you covered there as well, with height adjustable seats for the driver as well as the front passenger. The steering wheel also adjusts for rake as well as reach, which makes finding the perfect driving position a cinch.

One of the main reasons for the Volkswagen Virtus’ massive success even after being on sale for three years is the performance on offer. Depending on the variant, the Virtus can be had with either a 1-litre TSI engine or a 1.5 TSI engine and both of these engines can be mated to either a manual gearbox or an automatic transmission – providing a buyer with the freedom of choice. Not too long ago, we put the Virtus through its paces in our gruelling 24 Hour Speed Endurance Run at the NATRAX (click to watch), and we can attest to the fact that both the 1-litre TSI and the 1.5-litre TSI engines can sit comfortably at high speeds. But all this talk of performance is pointless if it is not complemented by competent handling and road manners, and this is another area where the Virtus shines.

The suspension setup of the Virtus strikes the perfect balance between ride comfort and enthusiastic handling, and this means that while the driver of a Virtus will have a big smile on their face post a spirited drive, it won’t come at the expense of the passengers’ comfort. Another feather in the Virtus’ cap is its ability to cope with Indian road conditions. With 179mm of ground clearance on offer – which is almost the same as that of a mid-size SUV – there’s no need to worry about the Virtus sedan scraping its belly over speed breakers. You can actually hammer through bumps with gay abandon and that actually does wonders for your confidence behind the ’wheel. In fact, the reason why many people traded in their sedans for SUVs in the first place was the ground clearance that the latter had on offer. With the Virtus however, the ground clearance is no longer a pain point.

In a sea of SUVs that seem to be dominating the traffic on our roads these days, the Virtus continues to be a breath of fresh air. With its timeless styling, superb performance and an excellent balance of ride and handling, the sedan makes quite an excellent case for itself, especially as an alternative to the barrage of SUVs that are on sale in the same price bracket. In its three years of being on sale, the Virtus has also built up quite a fan following for itself and it is evident whenever you get the chance to talk to an owner of a Virtus or read the comments of the Virtus fanboys on social media. In just a couple of years, the Volkswagen Virtus has proven that you do not need to stick to the SUV status quo to get a vehicle that ticks all the right boxes. All you need to do is be open – open to thinking differently.