This is a first for Volkswagen when many other companies have already tried this formula and some of them have tasted success like no other. Volkswagen showcased their product sometime back, but it took them almost two years to come up with a production model that is based on the hatchback, Volkswagen Polo. The new sub 4-metre sedan is called Ameo and does look very proportionate unlike many other sedans from the same segment. How the car really is? Let’s find out.
Looks
The Volkswagen Ameo can be awarded the best looking sub 4 metre sedan in the market. The front design is a carbon copy of the hatchback Polo but the real job is done on the rear. The roofline slope has been designed to come down aggressively so that it merges better with the extra boot. The bootlid is also designed to make it look like the original design. The rear also gets square tail lamps and fine creases to make sure that it does not looks boxy at all.
The rest of the car is straightforward Polo. It will be a difficult task to figure out between the two cars if they are kept side by side without showing the boot. Of course, Polo comes with dual projector lamps and has a longer front overhang but these details would require great level of inspection from the onlooker.
Interior
The VW Ameo looks exactly the same as the Polo from inside. The dashboard has a blended combination of black and beige plastics and in the centre sits the same console as the Polo. The audio system is touch sensitive and doubles up as a reverse camera. The central front arm rest gets storage space inside and the all four windows get one touch up and down with anti-pinch.
The quality of the cabin is top notch. Every switch, knob and handle is lushes of quality that Volkswagen is known for. The Ameo also gets flat-bottom steering wheel and the same driver instrument panel as the Polo. The added feature is the cruise control, which is a first in this segment. The car also gets auto dimming rear view mirror, auto rain sensing wipers, rear ac vents, cooled gloved box and folding rear seats among many other features. The biggest drawback is the rear space. The rear does not get generous space to fit adults comfortably but the boot space is good 330 litre to fit in your weekend holiday packings.
Engine
After the diesel gate, Volkswagen is selling the Ameo with only three-cylinder petrol engine. The car develops a maximum of 75 PS @ 5,400 rpm while the torque tops at 110 Nm at 3,750 rpm. The drive is very smooth and the power is well distributed along the engine range. The engine noise like the Polo is still there but it has been insulated a little more. The ARAI certified fuel efficiency is 17.83 km to a litre.
Images provided by the Writer
Verdict
Volkswagen is late to the party but it has joined with the right tools. The German engineering and the quality of the Ameo speaks for itself. Volkswagen has also insured that the car gets standard ABS and Airbags across the range. Starting at Rs. 5.14 lakh ex-showroom, the Ameo is the cheapest option in the segment except the Zest. If you don’t mind a petrol car and looking for great quality from your next small sedan, then the Ameo is the car to go for.
