Volkswagen Virtus Is Here To Shake Up The Midsize-Sedan Segment

The much-needed replacement for the Vento is finally here to shake up the midsize-sedan segment

- Rivan RS

Take one look at the Volkswagen Virtus — the long-awaited answer from the German brand to the Honda City and the Skoda Slavia — and you know VW is serious about making a dent in the midsize-sedan segment. It looks almost nothing like its cousin from Skoda (with which it shares its underpinnings and powertrains), but there is a hint of similarity in the overall silhouette, and the door panels. Most wouldn’t be able to notice these similarities though, and VW has managed to give its new sedan a distinct identity.

A stretched version of typical VW’s grille and headlight, along with the toothy radiator grille and air dam-like fog light clusters make the Virtus look downright sporty. Despite a minimal front overhang, the bonnet looks long, and the creases enhance the sense of width. The slight forward tilt of the car, and the sexy 16-inch black alloys add to the sporty look, as does the blacked-out boot spoiler. Now, some of these aesthetics are only seen on the Performance Line model, which also gets GT badges, red front brake calipers, and aluminium pedals, and is only available with the 148-bhp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.

However, even the top-of-the-line Virtus Dynamic Line looks sporty enough, despite the silver and black alloys, lack of GT badging, and no boot spoiler. There’s something great going on at VW’s design department, and special kudos to the guys who designed that tail-light. The red LED elements contrast beautifully with the blacked-out glass used, and the parallel line element adds a sense of motion. The sense of occasion you get in more expensive Volkswagen cars can definitely be seen in the Virtus, at least on the outside.