Like it or not — and I’m ambivalent — SUVs of all sizes, shapes and pretences have had a stranglehold on the Indian automotive market for years now. Buyers can’t seem to get enough of them, even if many are glorified hatchbacks; 90 per cent of the cars I’ve driven in the recent past have been SUVs. I’ve almost forgotten what sedans are like to live with, so it was a stroke of luck that Volkswagen called me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to keep a Virtus for a while; the car was already in Goa, fortuitously.
Not long afterwards, a silver Virtus 1.0 TSI was handed to me. It’s a handsome car, undoubtedly — probably the best-proportioned in its (admittedly tiny) class. I like the fact that it’s both subtle enough to pass under the radar, and stylish enough to warrant a second look despite being a three-year old design. The cabin is roomy, well put together and comfortable, although I daresay the Verna beats it in this department, overall. I despise the A/C sliding-touch controls, to be honest — they’re not convenient, and they’re tiny to boot. Other than that, it serves up everything I require — wireless phone charging and Android Auto/Apple Carplay, a reversing camera, a solid audio system, steering-mounted controls, a 5-star safety rating and an enormous boot (I participate in the occasional gang-related activity in my spare time).
The 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is — like all such units — gruff sounding, with an almost diesel-like drone at low revs. Once you begin belting it, the engine note becomes raspier — and the car really takes off. It’s a lot of fun, this Virtus — it immediately reminds you why a properly sorted sedan ranks so high on the entertainment charts. The chassis has a lovely, crisp nature to it, and it’s beautifully balanced when being chucked around corners; the steering wheel and brakes bring up the rear very impressively, and the automatic gearbox (almost) matches the chassis’ crispness. It’s a car that wants to be driven hard, and also one that can be easily driven hard by most. The downside is that its fuel efficiency figure will make you gulp almost as quickly as it gulps petrol — the real-time average figure currently shows 7 kpl. I will have the Virtus with me for the next two months; hopefully I’ll be able to squeeze every last ounce of fun out of it in that time.
