Volkswagen Ameo TDI review
Words by Aninda Sardar
That face is now old and familiar but the car is new. Well, at least in a manner of speaking. The run up to the Auto Expo earlier this year marked the entry of Volkswagen into the unique-to-India and somewhat questionable sub-4 metre segment with the introduction of the Ameo. For the longest time, the car was available only to those with a specific affinity for petrol. Now however, for the first time, consumers of diesel powered sub-4 metre sedans have an option from this German manufacturer. Behold, the VW Ameo TDI.
What’s new?
There isn’t a lot here that can be called all-new, and that’s an assessment that even the most optimistic of marketing janta would find difficult to argue with. The Ameo is based on the Polo platform, which is now over half a decade old, and as such isn’t a brand new car. The 1.5-litre TDI engine isn’t all new either and neither is the seven-speed DSG that is now being offered with the automatic variant of the Ameo. But it isn’t all a case of old wine,new bottle either, for there is indeed something new in the Ameo. Although the 1,498cc four-cylinder engine isn’t new, its state of tune is certainly new for it makes more power (five horses, to be precise)than before and at a lower 4,000rpm. In its earlier state of tune you would have to see the needle on the tacho climb to 4,400rpm before you could access the engine’s 103bhp peak output. The torque spread has also been widened and as a result you have access to its 250Nm of max twist force from a lowly 1,500rpm all the way up to 3,000 revs. So, more power for a peppier drive and wider torque curve for better driveability and fuel economy. So far so good.
Gets TDI badging at the rear
Will It Turn Heads?
I remember Sirish describing the Polo as the best looking hatchback there was at the time of its launch in 2009. After all these years I had expected the design to have become much too dated. But the car’s inherently classic and understated face means it hasn’t aged as much as it should have. It’s not as contemporary as it used to be once and will certainly not invite a second glance but you don’t mind it too much. So the straight answer to that question is no, the Ameo doesn’t turn heads but it isn’t unpleasant either, despite its unexciting rear styling.
The design has started showing its age
What Else?
Like the petrol Ameo, the TDI version is pretty loaded too with a number of what VW say are ‘first in segment’ features. For instance, the Ameo gets static cornering lights, rain sensing wipers, cruise control, front armrest, and anti-pinch windows all around. Not to forget the auto dimming rear view mirror and ESP and Hill Hold Control, the latter two being available only with the range topping Highline trim level of the DSG variant. In short, the Ameo boasts an impressive list of creature comforts.
Comes loaded with lots of creature comforts
How Quick?
As mentioned earlier, the Ameo gets the same 1.5-litre diesel engine that powers the Vento and the Polo but in the Ameo you get 108bhp at 4,000rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1,500-3,000 rpm. We drove both the manual transmission variant as well as the one with the seven-speed DSG. Both are quick off the mark but the automatic feels quicker in S (Sport) mode where the gearbox holds the revs for much longer. The manual feels the second quickest while DSG in the regular D (Drive) mode feels the slowest. That said, the DSG in D mode offers the excellent driveability, which combined with the inherent convenience of an automatic, means it’s a great option.
The DSG feels quicker than the manual gearbox
Fun to Drive?
The Ameo is blessed with the same inherent dynamic characteristics as the Polo or the Vento and as such makes for a fun to drive car. Around bends at even triple digit speeds, the car holds its line rather well, inspiring a ton of confidence to push harder. That said, there’s no escaping the inevitable understeer that front wheel driven cars are prone to. Ride quality, though stiffer than what competitors offer, is nonetheless pliant and you won’t be uncomfortable at any point.
Easy on the Pocket?
Here’s the catch. The starting price for the base level Trendline Ameo TDI with a manual transmission is Rs 6.33 lakh, ex-Delhi. The most expensive Ameo version would be the top-of-the-line Highline trim with the DSG ‘box, which will retail for Rs 9.32 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi. There are three other trim levels between these two. So, on the whole, pricing is par for the course for the most part, excepting the absolute range-topper.
Good Value?
Despite being slightly more expensive than most of the competition, barring one, the Ameo offers a lot of kit packed into a car that is mechanically sound. The fact that it gets you critical safety equipment like twin airbags and ABS as standard figment across the entire variant range adds quite a lot to the car’s value proposition.
Decent boot capacity at 330litre, boot-lip is low too
Competition Check?
The Ameo TDI will find itself competing with the likes of the well entrenched Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, the Honda Amaze, the Hyundai Xcent, the Tata Zest and the Ford Figo Aspire. The Dzire is the best seller in the segment and is therefore backed up by Maruti’s solid reputation and after sales network but it has begun to show its age now. The Amaze is another mechanically sound product but suffered from obvious evidences of cost consciousness that Indian consumers did not take to. The Xcent offers good value and is backed up by Hyundai’s service network but is not exciting and fun to drive. The Zest is the most affordable of the lot and is equally packed with features but doesn’t impress with its dynamic abilities or peppiness. It is actually the Figo Aspire that could have come close to its offer of value. The Ford however has failed to ignite the market in the way that the American manufacturer would have wanted it to.
Verdict
The Ameo TDI is a good addition to the VW portfolio and is a great product that marries the advantages of the platform that it’s based on with a whole bunch of features to offer good value to consumers. There are three areas however where the Ameo will be playing on the back foot. First, the styling. While it isn’t unpleasant, the beautiful Polo design has lost its freshness and is in need of an update. Secondly, although our research shows that the VW is only marginally more expensive than rivals, common perception is that the product is expensive. Last but not the least, VW is far from having sorted out their after sales service. Of these two, there isn’t much that can be done to address the first problem but if VW can address the other two, then the Ameo might just do for Volkswagen what the Figo Aspire couldn’t for Ford.
evo Rating:
3.5/5
Specifications:
Engine: In-line 4-cyl, 1498cc, TDI
Power: 108bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 1500-3000rpm
0-100kmph: NA
Top Speed: NA
Prices (ex-showroom Delhi):
Highline MT: Rs 8.17 lakh
Highline DSG: Rs 9.32 lakh
