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September 2022 - Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

In this variant explained article, you'll find out which variant of the Volkswagen Virtus petrol you should buy based on the ex-showroom prices, variant-wise features and value for money. Here we compare and objectively analyse the 2022 Virtus's petrol variants and their features. Then we will compare the engine specs, dimensions and mileage of the 2022 Volkswagen Virtus with its competitors and other petrol-powered C-segment sedans like the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Skoda Slavia and Maruti Nexa Ciaz.

Volkswagen Virtus

Also Read: Kia Carens Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Honda City Petrol & Hybrid Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Skoda Slavia Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Volkswagen Virtus Petrol?

The pros or advantages of Volkswagen Virtus petrol are:

  • SUV-like 179mm ground clearance gives sedan-lovers a reason to skip SUVs or crossovers
  • D-segment size (longest sedan in segment), together with the high ground clearance give it great road presence
  • The 1.0L turbo petrol engine is an all-rounder and offers better drivability than a 1.5L non-turbo petrol engine because of the wider torque band with higher torque output
  • The 1.5L turbo petrol engine sets new benchmarks for a C-segment sedan with 150PS of power and 250Nm torque from a petrol engine
  • Biggest 521L boot space in its class
  • Notable features like ventilated front seats, LED headlamps, wireless phone charger, 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, cruise control, sunroof, 6 airbags, full-colour LCD instrument cluster, paddle shifters and more

The Volkswagen Virtus petrol has the following shortcomings or problems:

  • The base model is too basic and misses out on several must-have features like auto AC, rear AC vents, front and rear armrests, alloy wheels, cruise control. For reference, the much more affordable Baleno offers auto AC and projector headlamps in all variants.
  • No diesel engine leaves the Verna and City as the only options for diesel sedan buyers.
  • The 1.5L turbo petrol engine carries a high premium for the performance.
  • The dual-clutch automatic transmission is yet to establish itself as a reliable long-term companion in Indian driving and climatic conditions.
  • The 1.5L turbo petrol is not available with the simpler and more reliable manual transmission.
  • The torque converter automatic with the 1.0L engine is an old and reliable piece of technology but its fluid coupling makes it extremely inefficient in stop-and-go traffic, which is the main reason why we buy an automatic transmission.

What Is The Price Of Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Variants?

The 2022 Volkswagen Virtus is available with 4 engine-transmission combinations:

  • 1.0L turbo petrol with 6-speed manual transmission
  • 1.0L turbo petrol with 6-speed TC automatic transmission
  • 1.5L turbo petrol with 7-speed DCT automatic transmission

The smaller 1.0L turbo petrol engine is available in 3 variants, with prices starting from Rs. 11.21 lakh for the base Comfortline manual and going up to 15.72 lakh for the Topline 1.0L turbo automatic. The 1.5L engine is only available in GT Plus variant with an automatic transmission and costs Rs. 17.92 lakh.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS

MANUAL VS AUTOMATIC PRICE COMPARISON

EX-SHOWROOM | SEP 2022

Variant

Manual

Difference

Automatic

Comfortline 1.0L

Rs. 11,21,900

-

-

Highline 1.0L

Rs. 12,97,900

Rs. 1,30,000

Rs. 14,27,900

Topline 1.0L

Rs. 14,41,900

Rs. 1,30,000

Rs. 15,71,900

GT Plus 1.5L

-

-

Rs. 17,91,900

The Virtus automatic carries a premium of Rs. 1.30 lakh over the manual variants. The larger 1.5L turbo petrol engine of the Virtus is Rs. 2.20 lakh more expensive than the Topline 1.0L turbo petrol automatic.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS

1.0L TURBO VS 1.5L TURBO PRICE COMPARISON

EX-SHOWROOM | SEP 2022

Variant

Topline 1.0L Turbo

Difference

GT Plus 1.5L Turbo

Automatic

Rs. 15,71,900

Rs. 2,20,000

Rs. 17,91,900

Note: Check your Car EMI with our - Car Loan EMI Calculator

Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Comfortline - Base Model Standard Features & Review

Virtus Comfortline

The base Comfortline variant of the 2022 Volkswagen Virtus sedan only comes with the 1.0L turbo petrol-manual and costs Rs. 11.22 lakh (ex-showroom). The most notable features of the Virtus Comfortline base model are:

  • 5x adjustable headrests
  • 5x 3-point seatbelts
  • LED reflector headlamps
  • LED DRLs
  • Tilt and telescopic steering
  • Height-adjustable driver seat
  • 16-inch steel wheels with covers
  • Tyre pressure sensors
  • Remote central locking
  • 7-inch touchscreen with wired Android Auto and Apple Carplay
  • Steering-mounted controls
  • Rear defogger
  • Manual day/night inside mirror
  • Power mirror
  • Fabric upholstery

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS COMFORTLINE

BASE MODEL STANDARD FEATURES

Safety 

Functional

Style & Entertainment

Std Safety Features

Engine idle start/stop

LED DRLs

5x 3-point seatbelts

LED reflector headlamps

Body-colour outside mirrors

Tyre pressure sensors

Tilt and telescopic steering

Body-colour door handles

2x ISOFIX anchors

Height-adjustable driver seat

Indicators on outside mirrors

Remote central locking

Day/night inside mirror

16-inch steel wheels

Rear defogger

Manual follow home headlamps

Full wheel covers

ESC

Power mirrors

LED tail lamps

Electronic differential lock

Dead pedal

Black fabric upholstery

5x adjustable headrests

Front passenger vanity mirror

7-inch touchscreen

 

Front and rear reading lights

Wired Android Auto

 

Illuminated boot

Wired Apple Carplay

 

12V front power socket

4x speakers

 

1x front USB port

4x tweeters

 

4x bottle holders

Steering-mounted controls

 

Folding rear seatback

 

Virtus Comfortline

The Virtus base model seems to offer most of the must-have features right from the base variant. However, considering the asking price of the car, we believe that you might still miss the following features in this variant:

  • Cruise control
  • Alloy wheels
  • Front armrest
  • Rear armrest
  • Auto AC
  • Rear AC vents
  • Split rear seatback (available in higher variants)
  • Rear camera

For this price, we expect a car to have these features. So, we won’t suggest buying the base Active variant of the Volkswagen Virtus.

Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Comfortline vs Highline Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

Virtus Highline

The Virtus Highline also gets the 1.0L turbo petrol engine but offers the option of automatic transmission as well. Highline manual costs Rs. 12.98 lakh while the automatic costs Rs. 14.28 lakh (ex-showroom). The Highline manual is Rs. 1.76 lakh more expensive than the lower Comfortline. The Highline automatic is another Rs. 1.30 lakh pricier than the Highline manual. The Highline variant gets the following additional notable features over the base Comfortline variant:

  • Power folding mirrors
  • Cruise control
  • Paddle shifters with automatic
  • 10.1-inch touchscreen
  • Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay
  • Wireless phone charger
  • 4x USB-C ports
  • Front and rear armrests
  • Auto AC
  • Rear AC vents
  • Cooled glovebox
  • Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
  • Alloy wheels
  • White ambient light
  • Shark-fin antenna
  • Rear camera
  • Front fog lamps
  • Split folding rear seatback
  • Beige fabric upholstery

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS | PRICE COMPARISON

 

Comfortline

Difference

Highline

1.0L Turbo Petrol MT

Rs. 11,21,900

Rs. 1,76,000

Rs. 12,97,900

Difference

-

 

Rs. 1,30,000

1.0L Turbo Petrol AT

-

-

Rs. 14,27,900

Virtus Highline

The Highline variant gets most of the must-have features and almost justifies the incremental asking price over the lower Comfortline trim. We wish it also had the side thorax airbags. For most buyers, the Highline variant will meet the needs while offering a nice ownership experience and it is our top recommendation for Virtus buyers.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS HIGHLINE

FEATURES OVER COMFORTLINE

Entertainment

Functional

Safety & Style

10.1-inch touchscreen

Power folding mirrors

Cruise control

Alloy wheels

Wireless Android Auto

60-40 split rear seatback

Paddle shifters (Automatic only)

Chrome door handles

Wireless Apple Carplay

Front armrest with storage

Driver windows one-touch up/down

Beige fabric upholstery

2x front USB-C ports

Wireless phone charging

Rear armrest with cupholders

White ambient light

2x rear USB-C ports

Rear AC vents

Cooled glovebox

Shark fin antenna

Telematics (optional)

2x front seatback pockets

Keyless entry with push-button start/stop

Fog lamps with cornering

 

Auto AC

 

Hill start assist

     

Rear camera

Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Highline vs Topline Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

Virtus Topline

The Topline variant of the 2022 Virtus costs Rs. 14.42 lakh with the manual and Rs. 15.72 lakh with the automatic transmission. It’s Rs. 1.44 lakh more than the lower Highline trim. The Topline variant gets the following extra features over the lower Highline trim:

  • LED projector headlamps with auto function
  • Machined alloy wheels
  • 2x side and 2x curtain airbags
  • Leather upholstery
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Height-adjustable front passenger seat
  • Sunroof
  • Auto wipers
  • Auto-dimming inside mirror
  • 8-inch full-colour LCD instrument cluster

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS | PRICE COMPARISON

 

Highline

Difference

Topline

1.0L Turbo Petrol MT

Rs. 12,97,900

Rs. 1,44,000

Rs. 14,41,900

Difference

Rs. 1,30,000

 

Rs. 1,30,000

1.0L Turbo Petrol AT

Rs. 14,27,900

Rs. 1,44,000

Rs. 15,71,900

Virtus Topline

The Topline variant also almost justifies the price over the lower variants and is suitable for buyers who want some of the good-to-have features of this variant. It’s worth noting that the Topline trim mostly adds good-to-have features and only a few must-have features.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS TOPLINE

FEATURES OVER HIGHLINE

Style & Safety

Entertainment & Functional

2x curtain airbags

Telematics (std)

LED projector headlamps

2x side thorax airbags

Auto-dimming inside mirror

LED indicators

Hill start assist (with manual also)

Auto follow me headlamps

Height-adjustable front passenger seat

Chrome window line

Auto wipers

Front ventilated seats

Machined alloy wheels

Auto headlamps

 

Sunroof

   

Leather upholstery

   

8-inch full-colour LCD instrument cluster

   

Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Topline 1.0L vs GT Plus 1.5L Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

Virtus GT

The GT Plus variant of the 2022 Virtus only gets the 1.5L turbo petrol engine with an automatic transmission. It costs Rs. 17.92 lakh, which is Rs. 2.20 lakh more than the Topline 1.0L automatic. For this additional price, the GT Plus variant gets the following extra features over the lower Topline trim:

  • GT badging interior and exteriors
  • Red ambient lighting
  • Metal pedals
  • Black alloy wheels
  • Black spoiler
  • Cylinder deactivation technology
  • 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (instead of 6-speed torque converter automatic)

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS | PRICE COMPARISON

 

Topline 1.0L

Difference

GT Plus 1.5L

Turbo Petrol MT

Rs. 14,41,900

-

-

Difference

Rs. 1,30,000

 

-

Turbo Petrol AT

Rs. 15,71,900

Rs. 2,20,000

Rs. 17,91,900

Virtus GT

Besides a more powerful engine, the top-spec GT Plus variant mostly adds cosmetic changes to the feature list. According to our data-based algorithm, for the performance and cosmetic upgrades, the Rs. 2.20 lakh higher price is not a value for money option. However, you can consider it if you’re interested in the performance and find the asking price acceptable.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS

FEATURES OVER TOPLINE

Functional & Style

Cylinder deactivation

Black machined alloy wheels

Metal pedals

Red interior accents

Grey outside mirrors

GT badging

Black rear spoiler

Red ambient light

Which Variant Of The 2022 Volkswagen Virtus Petrol Should You Buy?

Among the petrol-manual variants, the base trim is too basic for a car costing more than Rs. 11.0 lakh (ex-showroom). So, we highly recommend buying at least the Highline variant, which is also our top recommendation. It gets almost all must-have features leaving only the good-do-have features for the Topline variant. The top variant is also justifiably expensive over the lower trims and worth buying for the good-to-have and safety features like sunroof and 4 extra airbags.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS MANUAL

BUYING RECOMMENDATION

Variant

VFM Rank

Price

Recommendation

Comfortline 1.0L

Rank 2

Rs. 11,21,900

Doesn’t get many must-have features. Not recommended.

Highline 1.0L

Rank 1

Rs. 12,97,900

Suitable for most buyers. Top recommendation.

Topline 1.0L

Rank 3

Rs. 14,41,900

Worth upgrading for good-to-have features.

With the automatic transmission, the Highline variant is our top recommendation and it is suitable for buyers looking for a functional cabin experience. For good-to-have features like sunroof, auto headlamps, auto wipers, the higher Topline trim is worth buying. The GT Plus 1.5L is quite expensive for the performance and cosmetic features it offers. So, you should consider it only if you’re comfortable with the higher asking price for the performance.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS AUTOMATIC

BUYING RECOMMENDATION

Variant

VFM Rank

Price

Recommendation

Highline 1.0L

Rank 1

Rs. 14,27,900

Suitable for most Virtus buyers. Top recommended

Topline 1.0L

Rank 2

Rs. 15,71,900

Worth upgrading for good-to-have features.

GT Plus 1.5L

Rank 3

Rs. 17,91,900

Not a value upgrade. Buyer’s decision.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Volkswagen Virtus Petrol?

The 2022 Volkswagen Virtus comes with 2 petrol engine options - a 1.0L turbo petrol and a 1.5L turbo petrol. The 1.0L turbo petrol engine gets a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission while the larger petrol engine gets only a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 1.0L petrol engine is small in displacement but its power output of 115PS is on par with the segment rivals. Since it’s a turbocharged engine, its torque output of 178Nm is higher than all of the normal petrol engines even though they have larger displacements. The torque of this 1.0L engine is also available at lower RPMs and for a wider rev range. So, the 1.0L turbo petrol engine will offer better drivability than 1.5L normal petrol engines of its rivals. This engine is available with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

The Virtus also has a larger 1.5L turbo petrol engine, which is a lot more powerful than the other C-segment sedans. It makes 150PS of power and 250Nm of torque. The 250Nm torque is comparable with that of the City hybrid, which also offers ADAS features but for a higher asking price than the Virtus 1.5L.

The Virtus 1.5L offers a mileage figure comparable with the 1.0L along with better performance. However, you can’t expect the 1.5L engine to deliver high fuel mileage if you drive it aggressively. Because of its cylinder deactivation technology, the Virtus 1.5L can deliver mileage figures that are comparable to the 1.0L if you’re driving it normally while keeping torque in reserve for a quick overtake.

 

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS PETROL VS COMPETITORS

PETROL ENGINE SPEC COMPARISON

 

Virtus/Slavia

New City

Old City

Verna

Ciaz

Engine

1.5L Turbo

1.0L Turbo

1.5L Normal

1.5L Hybrid

1.5L Normal

1.5L Normal

1.0L Turbo

1.5L Hybrid

Displacement

1498cc

999cc

1498cc

1498cc

1497cc

1497cc

998cc

1462cc

Cylinder

4

3

4

4

4

4

3

4

Maximum Power

150PS @ 5000rpm

115PS @ 5000rpm

121PS @ 6600rpm

109PS @ 6600rpm

119PS @ 6600rpm

115PS @ 6300rpm

120PS @ 6000rpm

105PS @ 6000rpm

Power:Weight

117.65PS/tt/-

104.54PS/tt/-

104.94PS/t

85.16PS/t

109.07PS/t

99.91PS/t

100.42PS/t

99.06PS/t

Peak Torque

250Nm @ 1600 - 3500rpm

178Nm @ 1750 - 4500rpm

145Nm @ 4300rpm

253Nm @ 0 - 3000rpm

145Nm @ 4600rpm

144Nm @

4500rpm

172Nm @ 

1500 - 4000rpm

138Nm @ 4400rpm

Torque:Weight

196.08Nm/t/-

161.82Nm/t/-

125.76Nm/t

197.66Nm/t

132.91Nm/t

125.11Nm/t

143.93Nm/t

130.19Nm/t

Manual 

-/6MT

6MT

6MT

-

5MT

6MT

-

5MT

Manual FE

18.72kmpl

19.4kmpl/19.47kmpl

17.8kmpl

-

17.4kmpl

17.4kmpl

-

20.65kmpl

Auto 

7DCT

6TC

CVT

1-speed

CVT

CVT

7DCT

4TC

Auto

FE

18.67kmpl/

18.47kmpl

18.12kmpl/

18.07kmpl

18.4kmpl

26.5kmpl

18kmpl

18.45kmpl

19.2kmpl

20.04kmpl

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how much any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator in India

What Are The Dimensions Of The 2022 Volkswagen Virtus?

The 2022 Volkswagen Virtus is the longest car in its segment measuring 4561mm. It’s also the widest, has the largest boot and the highest ground clearance. Slavia is the only other car, which can challenge it on all of these 3 counts.

For buyers interested in a sedan body style but considering an SUV for a higher ground clearance, the Virtus and Slavia are fresh alternatives with their high ground clearance. The two newest C-segment sedans offer 179mm of clearance, which is only 1mm less than that of the XUV300 SUV.

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS vs COMPETITION

DIMENSION COMPARISON

 

Virtus

Slavia

New City

Old City

Verna

Ciaz

Length

4561mm

4541mm

4549mm

4440mm

4440mm

4490mm

Width

1752mm

1752mm

1748mm

1695mm

1729mm

1730mm

Height

1507mm

1487mm

1489mm

1495mm

1475mm

1485mm

Wheelbase

2651mm

2651mm

2600mm

2600mm

2600mm

2650mm

Boot Space

521L

521L

506L/306L (hybrid)

510L

465L

510L

Ground Clearance

179mm

179mm

165mm*

165mm

165mm

170mm

Fuel Tank

45L

45L

40L

40L

45L

43L

Tyre Size (Base)

205/55 R16

195/65 R15

185/60 R15

175/65 R15

185/65 R15

185/65 R15 

Tyre Size (Top)

205/55 R16

205/55 R16

185/55 R16

185/55 R16

195/55 R16

195/55 R16

*Estimated

What Are The Colour Options Of The 2022 Volkswagen Virtus?

The 2022 Virtus is available in the following 6 colour options:

  • Yellow
  • Red
  • Grey
  • Silver
  • Blue
  • White

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

CLASSIFICATION OF CARS

SEGMENT

SUB-SEGMENT

LENGTH

EXAMPLE

A Segment

A

< 3699mm

Alto, Kwid (Exception), Santro, Celerio

       

B Segment

B1

3700 - 3850mm

Ignis, GO, Nios, Swift, Tiago

       

B Segment

B2

3850 - 3999mm

Altroz, Baleno, Dzire, Amaze, Nexon, Brezza

       

C Segment

C

4000 - 4499mm

Exceptions: New City Virtus, Slavia

Creta, Seltos, Compass, T-Roc, Ertiga

       

D Segment

D1

4500 - 4750mm

Carens, XUV700, Elantra, Civic, Harrier, Hector, Innova, Kodiaq, CR-V

       

D Segment

D2

> 4750mm

Gloster, Fortuner, Superb, Camry, Carnival

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mahesh Yadav

Mahesh is a fan of compact, quirky and underrated vehicles that punch above their weight. Multix, Nano and Navi are his favorites.

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