Volkswagen Ameo TDI Performance Review

Most manufacturers have come out with their versions of compact sedans to compete in the ever evolving Indian market. Volkswagen also joined the band wagon this year by launching the Ameo. While the car got the right bells and whistles we felt it lacked the right punch….that was up until we drove the TDI diesel variant which was recently launched. The combination of a 1.5 litre diesel mill mated to the 7-speed automatic DSG gearbox and a boat full of features renders a sucker punch to the other competitors and puts the Ameo right back in the game.

While Maruti and Hyundai have been the major players in this segment, there is still a large scope for improvement. This is where we feel Volkswagen has capitalised extremely well with their new Ameo TDI. The Ameo gets a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder, turbocharged diesel mill which can churn out 108.4bhp and 250Nm of torque. This is the most powerful motor on offer in the compact sedan segment and lends a very peppy drive experience. Turn the key and the diesel mill roars to life, the engine achieves peak power at 4400rpm but the climb up the band is minutely linear since the peak power is higher up in the rpm gauge. Once the turbo kicks in you can feel that punch in the small of your back, as the Ameo surges forward. The engine's peak torque comes in from 1500rpm and goes up to 3000rpm which helps the compact sedan to get going with ease and out do the competition.

The engine of the Ameo has been mated to the famed 7-speed DSG gearbox. The transmission is extremely smooth and thanks to the dual clutch system the up shifts come with minimal lag. You can also throw the lever into sports mode and that makes the drive feel even more peppy. While having a compact sedan in congested cities makes a lot of sense, an automatic transmission caters to stress free commuting. Even if you want to get going in a hurry, the DSG gearbox assists in quick shifts and the 1.5L TDI engine punches out its 100 plus horses on the tarmac. The diesel mill returns 16-18kmpl in city traffic and approximately 22kms to the litre on highways.

The suspensions setup on the Ameo is a McPherson Strut in the front and a Semi Independent Trailing Arm in the rear. Thanks to the mildly stiff suspension, the Ameo glides over bad roads and feels planted to the road while cruising at high speeds. Braking on the Ameo is facilitated by  Ventilated disc in the front and drum brakes in the rear. The braking is progressive and quite stable, the vehicle also handles extremely well during panic braking situations and can come to a stop from 60kmph in a matter of seconds. The Ameo also displays excellent corner braking control and does not get its tail out easily thanks to ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Program) and ABS. The DSG variants of the Ameo also get hill hold control to prevent a roll back while stopped on a positive incline.  The Ameo Highline variant powered by the 1.5L TDI variant which is mated to the 7-speed DSG gearbox is available for Rs. 9,31,900 (ex-showroom Delhi). The top end variant offers a lot of features which redefine convenience and set this compact sedan apart from the rest. If you are looking at picking up a vehicle in this segment, then in our opinion there is no better option than the Ameo at present.