Volkswagen Virtus Clocks 50,000 Sales In India: Segment Best Seller

Volkswagen has been around in India for the better part of two decades but has never really managed to top a segment it operates in. Well, that was until the Virtus happened. Launched in 2022, the Volkswagen Virtus has just sold over 50,000 units, in about 28 months of launch.

The Virtus has also managed to storm through the leaderboard, topping the C2 (full size yet relatively affordable) segment for the first 10 months of this year, beating stable-mate Skoda Slavia, Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Maruti Ciaz in the process. And the Virtus shows no signs of fatigue. Sales continue be strong and the car seems to be carving out a cult of followers.

The Virtus’ strong sales performance comes at a time when SUVs have nearly killed the sedan segment. In fact, Volkswagen – once selling 5 sedans across multiple segments in India – has only one. Some factors driving sales for the Virtus include its classic, timeless dare-we-say, sedan form factor. A long bonnet, the classic three box design and understated elegance come together to make the Virtus quite the looker, and the Indian market seems to love this car.

Volkswagen India has been clever enough to endow the Virtus with nearly 180 mm of ground clearance. This makes the sedan quite practical for most Indian conditions. The absence of a diesel engine, which would have been a deal-breaker in the past, has been dealt with smartly by Volkswagen. The German automaker offers the Virtus with two engine options – both turbocharged petrols.

The smaller motor – a 1 liter-3 cylinder TSI unit with about 115 Bhp-178 Nm – is for those who want economy, and the reliability of a torque converter automatic gearbox. The bigger engine – a 1.5 liter TSI unit with 148 Bhp-250 Nm – is all about performance and the sheer thrill of driving a car with a balanced chassis and neutral handling. There’s a blazingly quick 7 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox that perfectly complements the engine. Both engines are available with 6 speed manual gearboxes as well.

Volkswagen will update the Virtus sometime later next year, when the car is expected to receive a slew of changes. A design revision with sheet metal changes, more upmarket interiors, ADAS, a panoramic sunroof, and a clutch of new features are expected in the facelifted Virtus.

While sedan enthusiasts in India would want Volkswagen to bring an all-new Virtus to India post 2028-29, when the car would have run through its life cycle, a full replacement for this car looks unlikely in current circumstances.

More so because Volkswagen is said to be in advanced talks with Mahindra, for a joint venture that would see the former utilizing the latter’s SUV platforms (NFA platform to be specific) for future products. This, after Volkswagen couldn’t get costs in check for the next-generation MQB A0 37 platform (larger than the current MQB A0 27 platform). An official announcement about Mahindra taking 50 % stake in VW’s Indian operations is expected before 2025 arrives.

On where the likes of the Volkswagen Virtus and Skoda Slavia will fit the Mahindra-VW equation is something that’s hazy for now. So, enjoy the virtues of the Virtus until you can, for it’s easily one of the most elegant sedans money can buy for under Rs. 25 lakh.

Meanwhile, a happy Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, had this to say about the Virtus’ strong sales performance,