Volkswagen Virtus GT - 11,000km Long Term Review | Autocar India 

Honest and true review, I changed by car tyres to Michelins which further enhanced the driving pleasure. 12000 km in 6 months, Super Happy with my Virtus GT+.

Lol android auto disconnecting when honking is soo funny

An Honest Review! Such a rarity these days! Thanks Gavin! I drive a Kushaq, 1 year 17k on the odo and relate with everything that's said here in the review. Love the car a lot more than I hate it sometimes. The niggles get masked when you drive this beast of an engine! More people need to get these cars. The niggles are not a deal breaker, trust me!!

this is how a review should be made. one wants to know the full term not only the new condition but also entire service details.

I was bit skepticle last year and moved forward to buy Honda City against Virtus / Salvia. Atleast couple of sedans are keeping sedan market alive in India. There periodic facelifts and upgrades should be released by manufacturers to engaged people

I too own the red GT beast . The primary challenges I've faced revolve around the delicate body panels - the front bonnet, side fenders, and roof. They prove susceptible to even minor encounters with debris or stones.I've experienced instances that left me restless at night within the first six months of ownership. Dealing with three dents prompted me to invest in a dent repair kit to tackle the problem. Plus I still face issues with the right driver side window. Sometimes it just decided to go up when you want it to go down and vice versa. But no complaints so far with the ride , the ride quality and the sheer Goosebumps the machine gives.

I'll be getting Virtus GT next week. Can't wait to get my hands on this beast. I was very much confused b/w this and the slavia but went with VW.

I own a Virtus and they fixed my boot on asking on my first 1000km service checkup. I just love this car.

The window thing was there in my 1.5MT Kushaq as well but after a year or so they had an update for it, went to the service centre and got it fixed it’s absolutely smooth now no problem

Video gets much more interesting when Gavin reviews any Car💯

I own a Virtus GT reflex silver and I can relate with every single thing he said except the Android auto disconnection issue.

Indeed a Volkswagen Virtus takes a crown because of best in segment ground clearance ,Dynamics , Strong build etc.. the list goes on and on

I own a Slavia 1.0 AT from the initial batches of 2022. The pros and cons mentioned in video are very much felt with my machine also.The major irritation i felt is the reduction in sound level of music system while running with google maps. The driver side window also sometimes tests our patience. But above all just love the machine alot , its an absolute fun to drive🤩

Slavia 1.5 tsi owner here, the review could not have been more spot on. Though I do not find the gearbox to be such a big issue as it is quite sporty like I prefer.

Spot on review.. I own a Troc 1.5 TSI evo here in the UK (pretty much the same engine), and I couldnt agree more on the 7 speed DSG.. while it sounds extremely fancy on paper, this gearbox is the only slight drawback on an otherwise brilliant car. It feels very clunky and unresponsive at lower gears (generally bet 2 and 3). I feel it is hesitant to shift quicker thereby leading to slightest of vibrations esp on low speed traffic. This also contributes to the above mentioned fuel economy. But that aside, I'm loving every bit of my ownership. The pure sense of assurance VW cars give you at the price point is in itself worth the spend and I would still recommend a buy (with all that negativity around the gearbox, this is a dream in the highway and at gears 5 and above)...

Awesome review. Thanks for sharing.

You mentioned that android auto stopped working while hitting the horn. Did you connect it wirelessly or was it wired? I had the same problem with apple carplay but it turned out that I switched to the original apple cable and it magically got resolved

I have come to taigun 1.5 after ny polo. Polo was such a flawless car. In taigun, the touch AC is such an irritation. Within 8 months my clutch cylinder changed because of bumper bumper traffic. Yes, this car struggles in bumper to bumper. Sometimes door lock/unlock issue, sometimes mirror folding/unfolding issues and the co-passenger window not working. So altogether, my car had been to workshop for 4 time within 8 months- for 10k km. Polo was the car I chose vw. Sigh.

Finally a helpful review. Thank God

Driven my Virtus 1.0 AT 55000 kms in just 16 months... Funtastic🤩

I have always been a driving enthusiast. My other car is Hyundai Creta 1.4s Diesel which I have driven for over 1.4 lakh kms in just 4.5 years. It is a great car too. But VW Virtus is a different league altogether. I always wanted to buy a Sedan, but never had the courage to do so because of Indian roads and low ground clearance associated with Sedans. And then, Czech’s Skoda Slavia was launched in India in Feb 2022 with a surprisingly high ground clearance of 179 mm. I didn’t like the front grill design of the car and I was also very sure that there must be its German VW twin sister on its way as there has always been with Skoda-VW (Like Rapid-Vento, Kushaq-Tigun, Octavia-Jetta, Superb-Passat and so on). I was right. Virtus was about to arrive. Meanwhile my Creta was getting old and the way I was covering distances in it, I might had to retire it within 2-3 years. So I decided to give it some rest and leave it at my home in Bhopal with my father who doesn’t drive much and I took his Chevrolet Beat Diesel 2011 model with me in return to Hisar where I was working. But Beat was too old and not in a very good condition and definitely not for a person like me. So my research work on which car to buy next started. This time unlike in 2016 when I bought Hyundai Creta, I was well aware of the safety norms, GNCAP, Latin NCAP ratings etc and hence it was my number 1 priority to get a safe car and number 2 priority was to get an automatic car due to increasing city traffic. Initially with the financial constraints I had, I was looking for a budget car like Tata Punch, Tiago, Nexon, Kia Seltos, XUV 300, Renault Kiger, Honda Amaze and base models of cars like MG Astor, VW Tigun etc. Out of all these cars I tested, I liked Renault Kiger the most (4 star adult safety, 2 star child occupants). Especially its CVT - Turbo version which was a rare and exciting combination. However, its toy car like look was something which I was not very fond of. Still, I booked it considering other positives it was offering. Meanwhile VW Virtus was launched in Jun 2022 and had a long waiting period initially. It always had my attention but I never went to a showroom to had a real look at it because I knew that I was already in love with the car (after watching countless video reviews) and I would start seeing Kiger as a compromise I had to make. Virtus base model (Comfortline) was below base (no features), mid variant (Highline) lacked few features which I always wanted and top variant (Topline) was above my budget. So buying the variant I admired the most i.e topline automatic would have made an additional hole in my pocket. But as I say ~ “ You don’t select your car, your car selects you” Something similar happened. Waiting period for Kiger CVT Turbo got extended by 2 more months and I didn’t like the rude attitude of Renault’s representatives. It was a blessing in disguise. I cancelled the booking. Now I desperately needed a car since my beat’s AC had stopped working now and the cost of repair of its compressor was 22k. Which I was not ready to pay. One fine Sunday in October 22, I was free and decided to visit car showrooms. I started with Tata, then Renault again to give Kiger a second try, then MG, then Mahindra and then Hyundai (Maruti was never on my list due to their poor performance in GNCAP). On returning back after reviewing numerous cars, I decided to go to VW showroom at last. And there it was, VW Virtus, standing next to VW Tigun. I felt love. I went for a test drive and felt more love. I booked Highline (mid variant) at first and later upgraded my booking to Topline Automatic after some encouragement from my loved ones. I got my car within a month. I covered 15000 kms in just 4 months. Driven it at various terrains. What an amazing car it is. Best decision of my life so far. And I couldn’t have been more proud on my decision after seeing the latest GNCAP results (though it already proved its mettle previously in Latin NCAP with a 5 star rating) and now it has been officially declared as the SAFEST CAR OF INDIA. It is a practical feature loaded car, it looks good and has an adequate Ground Clearance .Have driven it on quiet bumpy roads as well. Especially the mountainous route between Jibhi and Tandi in Himachal. Tackled it with ease due to classical TC transmission. And one more positive side which I was assured of was its power due to its finest tuned 1 litre Turbo engine. Too good. Never felt the need of more power. It tackled difficult inclines with ease and smoothness. The only cons which I could find are - 1. Driver Side Power Window Issue- It doesn’t get rolled up or down automatically sometimes. You have to keep the button pressed. Discussed with service centre, they said it is a software glitch and they are waiting for an update. 2. Android/ Apple Wireless Car Play connectivity/ wireless charging Issue - Sometimes it doesn’t connect/ takes a lot of time to connect. I have started using wired connection now. 3. Noise from suspension/brakes when you turn the steering wheel at a very low speed (while parking) That is it. And above issues don’t bother me much. I am extremely happy with all the pros it offers. It is truly a no nonsense car and daily when I press the push button, it gives me immense happiness. The hole in my pocket was totally worth it. 😊

I really love the way the car drives and handles corners.. I own a 1 Litre TSI virtus automatic .. took a time to adjust to it's eagerness to move 😊.. Though It has its own issues like rattle sounds on interiors , suspension thuds on the pot holes etc

I own a taigun, 14000 kms, absolutely love it. No regrets

He’s right about the gearbox it’s a think of beauty if you get it to work right! else it’s turns the other beautifully made machine into a gas guzzler. The trick I use in my 1.5 is using the paddle shifter to upshift if it’s reving high.

Please do many longterm review more going forward

I love their long term report

@7:10 I agree.. on steering feedback. It has got some harry potter magic on connection with wheels. Sometimes i just go out on a drive just to enjoy the 100 prcnt accurate steering wheel

how come no one has pointed out the weird placement of hazard switch..... its way out of drivers reach, and in all those nighttime highway runs with multiple unexpected barricades you need these to alert the traffic behind you. Best placement i've seen till date is in Ford Ecosport, Honda Elevate its just at the right place and you can reach it without any disturbance.

virtus 1L with torque converter is a better choice for city use.

Did you get a chance to test out the GT with the manual transmission?

my skoda slavia 1.5 dsg automatic on highways if you drive at around 100-130 .. mileage is around 17-18 and if you drive 80-95 mileage increases to 20-21 even on ac.. tank to tank.. and in winters without ac it gives around 2-3 kmpl more..it is sibling of virtus 1.5 dsg and at steady speeds it runs on 2 cylinder mode half power .. so gets more mileage.. in noida city mileage is 12-13 (noida roads are mostly 4-6 lanes) and in bumper to bumper 8-9..

In same amount of virtus i would prefer Volkswagen 2017/18 used jetta or passat. All current gen budget sedans has lost the charm.

2 things to note: 1) Boot will stay up once you ask service center to adjust spring setting (1/2/3 level) 2) My car android/apple car play is working well, you might need a system upgrade.

Honest feedback helps buyers to take the right decision. ✅️

Can you do a long term review of Taigun TSi manual like this...

Good comparison..🎉

Which to choose from - Virtus or Kushaq & which variant? Limit rs 20 lac. Any other car / suv recommended ?

VW fan boys can note that not every common man can deal with such bad fuel economy... The same case is with 1.0 tsi so it's only good for people who don't care about fuel economy or use it mostly on highways

What if its comfort line 1.0L engine? Manual virtus? What about the gearbox? What’s your opinion on all of the above Qs?

Who needs Tech stuff..when you have best handling and best engine with safety

How is the braking ? I keep hearing a grinding noise when the car comes to standstill once the brakes are hot … sounds like a metallic rubbing noise, have checked the pads, lot of life left

Cannot find a review of the 1.5 manual anywhere. I’m planning to buy the Virtus GT, but I’m really confused between Auto and Manual. Main concern with automatic is the DSG gearbox and its issues. Although, I do want the convenience of automatic. Would be great if Autocar can tell us about how the manual gearbox is.

Why are all videos capped @1080p? I think it's high time you guys push out content in 1440/2160p

Wow, quite a few deal breakers for me, incl the city driving. Thank god I didn't go through with the booking

I ❤❤ virtus..i find some reason to drive..weekends bangalore to mysore for a cup of coffee..

Well my fathers daily commute is of 100kms should we consider virtus for 2lakh kms or more ? As we cross 1.5 lac kms in just 4 or 5 years

My boot door issue was resolved. It seems it was there in all cars but corrected at workshop

I have a golf with a DQ200. This can be easily reprogrammed to upshift early.

how is the clutch of manual 1.5 tsi? hard? soft/smooth? how long is the clutch travel and How high is the biting point? I don't mid the manual if the clutch is not too bad. I think the manual 1.5 tsi would make it a perfect car

Thank you for calling out those god awful touch AC controls. When I test drove the Virtus, this was an instant dealbreaker and I knew I could not live with that everyday. The person at VW who thought this would be a good idea needs to be fired immediately.

I sold my VW Vento after 10 years and getting VW Virtus Topline, Lava blue color, delivery is scheduled for this coming Monday, waiting time was two months.

Will VW ever bring in an alternative fuel option as CNG for the Indian market as this version has in Brazil? Or a smart hybrid option These cars have a mileage issue in b2b traffic

The expectation in a long term review maybe the points in addition to what was explained is the maintenance. Like which failed and which did not. I can understand this is too early to talk when the car has only clocked 11k but still if there were any points !

Review i was waiting for 😢

I drive a Slavia 1.0 MT and it’s the same story this side as well (obviously). However, the power window issue and the boot issue you speak of are electrical and mechanical failures. I had the same power window issue, had to get it fixed from the service center.

@5:30 I highly object to this conclusion of FE. It totally depends on the aggression. But we run a community of virtus owners and in average virtus DSG with ACT gives us 18.5, sometimes 20 kmpl in over 1000+ kms. I recently did hyderabad to kolkata 1400kms at average speed of 74kmph ( speed cams ever 2kms at 80kmph limit ) .. abd we got 19.2kmpl Thats better than what my 1.2 mpi polo used to give. I strongly suggest you take the car and go on a long drive on a highway and keep speeds in cruise control between 80 and 90.. you will see what i mean

Thanks

Why do you want to get an exact number of the temperature?🤔

Salavia or Virtus GT which one should i go for

Gears can be managed as now it gets paddle shifters

2:49 the samething which also happens in my duster

Is this Rear Wheel Dive car ?

The boot lid issue There is a spring that can be adjusted to maintain tension. Its a DIY The AA issue .. its mostly with the android phone.. my note 10 never disconnects.. but my z flip4 heats up on wireless AA and disconnects and now my s23ultra just randomly disconnects.. its a phone software issue. The window roll up was fixed in the 5k service through software patch. Although my window never had issues

6 months with the Virtus GT Manual too please 🙏🏻

Glad I didn't make the leap and buy this. Will wait a few more years before they have more efficient and spacious cars. The current lot have some or the other limitation which needs to be ironed out.

Black painted alloy is an eyesore lacks the premium of diamond cut alloy of 1.0 tsi

Hai Gavin..why can't you shoot your next video on night drive..just a suggestion.

More bad features that you would expect GT to have: -There is no button on steering wheel to play and pause the music. Same goes for disconnecting a call! Look at the display to do that and brace for accident! -Only the driver window is automatic (though not perfect) and rest all are manual! Uh what!? -The ground clearance is definitely higher but the longer wheelbase tends to lead the car scraping on those high speedbrakers! There goes the base of the car! -Even when you push to lock the trunk, it would still fall on you when on a slope! Ouch! I have hurt my spine multiple times!

BS review. If you want a car for Mumbai bumper to bumper driving what would u go buy a 1.5L engine? Then u say fuel efficiency is less. And looks like u have issues with window and boot(please contact service centre they can fix it for you) and you should reset/update your android auto man. Also please ask passenger seat person to adjust the temperature for you or you can go ahead and buy bmw which might satisfy your requirements.

The steering has all the buttons you need? it doesnt even have an answer call button.

I am getting virtus topline on 14th

I took test drive yesterday.. Worst part was. Not being able to see speed and revs in 1 view

So manual is the way to go?

larger wheels and drive modes would make this car perfect

If VW introduced the Virtus with a petrol hybrid engine it will kill the competition and mileage will be a big plus…

My Taigun has traveled 21,000 kilometers, and I'm experiencing recurring problems with both the one-touch power window and the wireless charger. Despite multiple visits to the local dealer, EVM Motor, these issues remain unresolved. It seems Volkswagen's renowned German technology may not provide solutions for these particular issues. 😂😂😂😂

Did VW/Skoda resolve these Problems/Issues/Shortcomings reported in Virtus/Slavia by customers? • Rattling and squeaking noise from everywhere • Break noise is apparent in the 1.0 automatic while creeping in b2b traffic, parking and reversing. The brake pads makes a screeching sound and the ABS brings the car to a juddering halt • Jerky brakes. Brakes are not as much activated till a certain time and then they suddenly become too sharp. The breaks makes major noise like screeching and whistling • Aggressive creep function in 1.0 automatic. The acceleration is quite aggressive when parking in tight spots. • AC ineffective and AC cutoff problem • Ac vissiling noise after every 20 sec when driving in a silent atmosphere • Fuel injector issues • consumes engine oil more • EPC error/ Fuel pump malfunction leaving the car stranded on road during trip • Got it towed when it showed ESC & engine error due to loose engine air suction pipe (manufacturing assembly error) • Infotainment system hangs multiple times with a message as 'component protection mode active' • Min 95 octane fuel mandated in the manual which is extremely difficult to find • The discs are very grabby, the car doesn't start creeping forward because of the stuck brakes • MT has issue of clutch pedal sticking to the bottom in excessive usage, mostly on mountains or bumper to bumper traffic • Power window one touch up doesn't work sometimes and it comes down on its own • Auto Gearstick has distinct vibration while braking at high speed (120+) • Transparent/open part of the sun blind making the AC ineffective by letting in sunlight heat • Panel gaps • Exhaust smell coming into cabin when AC in recirculation mode. Outdoor smell coming in despite the AC vent closed or on, painful whenever passing a drain • Piano black on the interior prone to scratches easily • Cabin lamp comes apart and fell down on potholed roads • Rear reading light had fallen off going over rumblers • Lever to open driver side door broke • Grab handle loose/improper fitting (handle came out on co passenger side during the 1st usage) • The cruise buttons in the right switchboard panel of the steering wheel fell off on its own • Noisy windows roll motor • Engine sound inside cabin. if music is not played and road is relatively empty, engine noise is irritating inside cabin • Front ac vents are of cheap quality • Windows roll up/down not working properly • Noisy ventilated seats • Irritating Auto start stop switching off the engine on a speed breaker • Not well done cabin insulation. You hear tyre noise, stones hitting your car underbelly and the engine rev noise. • Gear stick breaking and coming to your hands • Jerky rides on lower gears in DSG. D3-D2 transition is jerky when driven at City speeds, DSG is inherently jerky at city speeds • DSG lag • Wireless charger heating • Erratic Android Auto/Apple CarPlay disconnecting and refusing to connect • Steering alignment issues • No disk breaks at the rear • No physical control for AC needing to take eyes off the road to fiddle with climatronic control • Placement of buttons (lock and auto engine start stop) near gear box is painful to operate for driver. These should have been at right side • No height adjustable seatbelt • No sunglass holder(Virtus) • Smaller size ORVM • Only typeC port available • Less wider seats at the front making it uncomfortable for wider people • Seat which are supposed to be stock seat material, but looks more like after market seat covers. Fit and finish is very poor with lots of wrinkles, lines and loose fitting with exposed zippers, exposed stitching and poor contouring around the creases • Ugly looking rear with an exposed tank, torsion beam(Slavia) • No dynamic guidelines on reverse camera • ESP can't be turned off completely • Low quality/resolution reverse camera • No full fledged highline TPMS • The music audio quality is a let down with no branded audio system in any variants • Uncomfortable back seat recline angle • Low mileage in city • Low quality plastics and cheap materials used for India-spec 2.0 models • Inability of service centre to resolve issues. They are pathetically slow & poor in responding to query

How many advertisements do you need. Autocar .. Yes You advertising plus in video advertising plus on video advertising.. nice

The tuning of the Gearbox needs to be changed. The Electronics intervene in the acceleration and shifts to an upper Gear which is the worst thing I am experiencing with this gear box. Very frustrating to drive in bumper to bumper traffic with this useless tuning. This can just be updated with a minor software update. But the team at VOLKSWAGEN INDIA is not ready to take feedback from its CUSTOMERS.

Ha

Didnt find this video very helpful.. no real insight I feel for an 11K duration apart from the dsg gearbox thing.. it would have been a great addon to discuss if the 1.5 is truly a better buy than the 1.0..

so 1.5 GT MT is the way to go

This thud is silly, I hear same sound when a bajaj ace or a tempo also closes the door.

Does virtus and taigun 1 litre still has the AC cooling issue?

Cost of Maintenance being low means quality has gone down! They don't quiet feel VW 1.0 era version cars.. Rapid TSI/TDI still feels so much great driving cars than 2.0...They need to buck up to match the quality during from 1.0 era..omitting VWs basic features like one touch uptown, remote windows roll down is bit of disappointment and also the interiors doesn't feel worth 22 lakhs. Lastly at 22 lac price tag they good have given DQ 250 as standard for the entire segment for India 2.0 car portfolio...

Basically, if you enjoy driving just get the manual version.

The DSG is a great in traffic as well!! Don't know what you've been smoking. In fact in D mode, it's very relaxed and upshifts very quickly. Now how can that make you an aggressive driver. Seriously have you really driven the car for a year!? You say the gearbox keeps the revs high then you've been driving in S mode because in D mode the revs hardly cross 2k rpm before it upshifts.

Steering Wheel lacks mute button.

Android Auto disconnecting while honking is a deal breaker for me. They should recall all the cars just because of that problem.

does it have the turbo lag?

What a car? Virtus GT is the best if one can afford maintenance otherwise Verna is the King

My best economy 20+ Average is 12 km/hr

Pl test the GT+ Manual Fuel Efficiency

VW Skoda engines are amazing. But poor fuel economy is a deal breaker for me. And of course the built quality has always been great. i guess that's why people go with Honda IVTEC because it provides double digit fuel economy even in bumper to bumber traffic, plush interiors with syrong built.

5.95 kmpl in city worst, you should be a crazy driver one who does not know to drive😊....a 200 bhp xuv 700 also delivers 7kmpl at its worst

For a car that cost over 22L...these are just not acceptable! This is why I prefer a Japanese or Indian brand..

I am getting only 8/9 km milage in short trips and highway 14km.

You are complaining about a responsive gear box ?

How is overdoing chrome accents timeless design? It looks gimmicky. It's wierd of you to justify good overall engine + gearbox when the gearbox has issues in what it needs to do reliably and properly which directly affects fuel economy and cost of running the car.

Long term for 11k 😂the problem starts after 35 to 40... from clutch to other parts use it as daily drive u will know how high the maintenance is... machine is extraordinary but maintenance is too high