Meet the VW Vento, err, sorry actually the VW Jetta! Mistaken identity, that’s what happens if car makers resort to the so called family looks for all the cars in their portfolio.
Look at all the VWs from the front and you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference.
To be honest, on my first glance, I actually mistook the Jetta for a Vento. The Jetta’s snout appears so uncomfortably close to its far cheaper sibling, which is a good thing for the Vento but is not going to be welcomed by a D Segment buyer.
Observe keenly and you will realize that the Jetta has a slightly wider and lower stance. The attention to detail on the headlamps has a premium effect but the shape has only a very subtle difference from that of the Vento. The edges of the front bumper are a tad more accentuated and the sharp chin adds to the premium feel.
The side profile has almost flat panels, save for the crease that runs along the lower part of the doors and the shoulder line which bridges the head and tail lamps.
Steeply raked front windshield and wedge shaped wing mirrors are there for aerodynamic reasons albeit they add to the style too. The five spoke alloys have a nice sculpted look, but again the poor Jetta has nothing except her length to inform the onlooker that she isn’t a Vento!
The rear is the only distinct identity of the Jetta and is easily the best looking part of the car, which ever angle you may see from. The sleek tail lamps are a bit Audi A4-ish but its elements are nicely detailed and look fantastic at night.
The diffuser style black plastic cladding does a good job of masking the visual bulk. The TSI badge is the only give away that it burns petrol.
Final words on the looks, there is no clear line of demarcation between the VW Jetta and Vento; the Jetta suffers from lack of individuality, however its understated looks have a sort of appealing richness to it.
