Volkswagen has been present in India since a few years now but it was
just this year that they launched a made for India product with the
Ameo. Within no time, the Ameo became Volkswagen’s best selling car in
India, with its sales being more than all other VW cars combined. This
was only with a petrol version on sale and now the Ameo’s popularity
is set to increase further as the diesel model has been launched,
available with both manual and DSG automatic transmission. We drive
the car from Mumbai to Nashik and back to analyse how the updated
diesel motor fares in the compact German sedan.
The Ameo is the first Volkswagen car tailor made for India and it
competes in a segment where there is a lot of demand, hence pricing
and value proposition remain important.
DESIGN AND STYLING
From the front the Volkswagen Ameo looks identical to the Polo. The
bumper’s length has been reduced by 35mm to make space for the boot.
Upto the C-pillar things remain the same. Then comes a new boot. From
the rear, the Ameo looks more like the Skoda Rapid. The German
automaker is looking at enhancing its reach with this new compact
sedan. The wheelbase is the same as the Polo and there is no other
difference, expect for a new boot and different colour options.
CABIN
The superbly appointed interior is back too, with VW’s typically
restrained-looking dashboard and exceptional fit and finish. The long
equipment list on this Highline trim returns, replete with a
touchscreen, rear-view camera, automatic wipers, cornering lamps,
cruise control, two airbags and ABS. In fact, those last two safety
features are standard across the range. The DSG auto version
additionally gets ESC and a hill hold function. Finally, the rear seat
– it isn’t the most spacious, especially on knee room, but if your use
is only occasional, it might be good enough.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The new Volkswagen Ameo TDI is offered with the same 1.5-litre turbocharged
diesel engine as is the Polo and Vento. Only difference is in the
larger turbocharger which has enabled the engine to deliver a tuned-up
81kW or about 110PS of peak power and a peak torque of 250Nm – that is
quite impressive for a small car that weighs just over 1,150kgs. With
the idling engine rpm level being about 800rpm and the redline
starting at about 5,200rpm, the delivery of power and torque is
perfectly tuned within the mid-range for power, and low-rpm range for
torque. Peak torque kicks in as early as 1,500rpm and turbo-lag is
quite minimal. The result is an eager performer for a car in the CS
segment. The Ameo’s gear ratios have been spaced just right and from
when you slip into first gear, there is enough room to work the
gearbox through either a passive city driving cycle or an aggressive
mix of cruising and over-taking on the highway.
While idling and when you are outside the Ameo, this four-cylinder
still has the trademark diesel clatter, but step into the cabin and
the good insulation package manages to cut out a lot of the noise. You
can still hear the engine at cold start and at high revs. The manual
gearbox is a clean shifting 5-speeder and can easily be your choice
especially with so much low-end torque available to exploit. The
7-speed, dual clutch DSG automatic is another USP altogether in the
Ameo. With so many buyers now preferring automatics, it is a good call
to go with the DSG. But then this is not just another auto
transmission, this is VW’s popular dual clutch gearbox. Shifts are
quick and the gearbox is equally adept at offering shifts for
economical, slow-paced driving as it is for aggressive, dynamic
driving. You don’t get steering mounted paddles, though manual gear
selection with the stick is possible. There is a sports mode too.
DRIVING DYNAMICS
The ride on the Ameo is on the stiffer side and the setup is able to
absorb most bumps and imperfections without sending much back into the
cabin. However, when you do hit a really deep pothole or bad
imperfection the audibility of the suspension taking a beating is
quite loud in the cabin. The slightly stiffer suspension setup
provides decent stability at high speeds though the car tends to get
flighty when encountering undulations at high speed and there is body
roll when you go through the corners. However, one thing that
Volkswagen has managed get right is the steering. It is precise,
weighs up correctly and is an excellent tool for the ‘point and shoot’
style of driving.
Book a Test Drive for Volkswagen Ameo
BOTTOMLINE
The Ameo on the whole is a pretty nice car, especially when you
consider the equipment you get for the money you pay along with the
fact that it is a Volkswagen, and is thus a very well-engineered car.
Volkswagen has learnt from its previous mistakes and is offering a
bucket load features this time which adds to the Ameo’s value for
money quotient.
Build quality and quality of materials used is pretty good, which
gives the Ameo a more premium feel. What’s more, it is a familiar
looking car though that’s something which works in its favour but
could also be a bit of a turn off for some. Not a deal breaker though,
especially since it drives well, has a good balance of ride and
handling, and of course the fact that this car has been made
specifically for India. A little thing to be proud of, no?
Calculate EMI for Volkswagen Ameo
Volkswagen Ameo Ex Showroom Price in Gurgoan ranges from 5,50,200/- (Ameo 1.2L MPI Petrol Trendline) to 9,89,600/- (Ameo 1.5L TDI Diesel Highline DSG AT) .Volkswagen Ameo has 8 Variants of Petrol are available in India. Volkswagen Ameo comes in 5 colours, namely Blue Slik,Candy White,Carbon Steel,Riflex Silver,Toffee Brown.