Ford Fiesta Ambiente vs. Volkswagen Vento Trendline. Battle of the base sedans!

Ford India has revised the pricing of Fiesta which now starts at Rs. 7.23 lakh for the base petrol variant, Ambiente. The Volkswagen Vento is a popular choice among sedan buyers in this segment and it starts at Rs. 7.08 lakh for the base petrol variant, Trendline.

Here we compare the two cars in terms of driving, handling, features, space and comfort to know which car variant offers a better value for money proposition.

Driving and handling

The Fiesta Ambiente is powered by a 1.5-litre TiVCT petrol motor that puts out 106.5 bhp of power and 140 Nm of torque. The Fiesta offers a linear torque delivery ensures fuel efficiency but may not appeal to enthusiasts looking for outright performance. Also read: Ford Fiesta Automatic video review

On the other hand, the Vento Trendline is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol motor that puts out 104 bhp of power and 153 Nm of torque. The Vento with its much more useable amount of torque comes earlier in the rev-band making the Vento feel a little more drivable especially at city speeds.

Ford cars are known for their great handling characteristics and the new Fiesta is no exception. The Fiesta with its electronic steering clubbed with the pull-drift compensation system helps in giving accurate feedback at all speeds especially when driving through cross-winds or banked roads.

The Vento’s electric steering feels too light that is a delight while parking. However, it feels a little less connected when compared to the Fiesta. Besides, the suspension setup of the Vento is on the softer side, offering a smooth ride while the suspension on the Fiesta is on the firmer side though vertical movement is well controlled in both the sedans.

Overall, the Vento leads in terms of drivability while the Fiesta leads in terms of pure handling.

Space and comfort

The Ford Fiesta and Vento are both pretty comfortable in the front seats. However, if you are one who is going to be spending time in the rear seat, the Vento is a better place to be in. It has slightly more legroom and head room than the Fiesta. Read more: 7 features that make the Volkswagen Vento a desirable car!

The Vento also comes equipped with rear AC vents, which should keep you pretty comfortable.The Vento has more boot space at 454 litres as against the Fiesta’s 430 litres.  Overall, the Vento has more comfortable rear seats and a larger boot than the Fiesta.

Looks

The 2011 Ford Fiesta has a foxy-eyed look with dual-beam headlamps, a trapezoidal grille and the use of quarter glasses in the cabin design to give it an airy feel. The car has an aerodynamic, forward-leaning stance that ends in a notchback-like tall boot.

The Volkswagen Vento has a more traditional, sober look. It has an angular front with trademark Volkswagen features such as a slim grille, with a large badge, low-set bonnet and a profile that’s boxier compared to the Vento. The boot is neatly integrated into the Vento (as the car is based on the smaller Polo hatchback). The rear of the car is pretty bland. For us, the Fiesta with its futuristic looks and aerodynamic lines looks livelier than the conventionally designed Vento.

Features

The Fiesta Ambiente comes with ABS with EBD and driver airbag which are not offered in the Vento Trendline. The Vento Trendline offers rear AC vents, not available in the Fiesta Ambiente. Both the cars have features such as manual AC, electric power steering, engine immobilizer, central locking and all four power windows.

So, safety wise, the Fiesta Ambiente has an edge over the Vento Trendline.

Price, Mileage, overall VFM

The Fiesta Ambiente costs Rs. 16,000 more than the Vento Trendline. However, the Fiesta Ambiente manages to offer ABS, EBD and driver airbag not found in the Vento Trendline. The ARAI-certified mileage of the Fiesta is 17 kmpl while that of the Vento is 15 kmpl. In real world conditions, expect the Fiesta to offer slightly more mileage than the Vento.

Overall, the Fiesta Ambiente with its safety features and better fuel economy is more attractive than the Vento Trendline.

Pros and Cons

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Verdict

Ford has made a clever move by stripping off some of the features and offering a competitively priced base Ambiente for the Fiesta.  The Fiesta Ambiente has an edge over the Vento Trendline in terms of fuel efficiency, handling and safety features making it the clear winner in this comparison.