Volkswagen Virtus

The Volkswagen Virtus is a subcompact sedan (B-segment) manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2018. It is based on the Polo Mk6 with an extended wheelbase and the same Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform, which it also closely shares with the Taigo/Nivus and T-Cross/Taigun.

It was first introduced in Brazil in November 2017, with sales starting in January 2018. From Brazil, the vehicle has been exported throughout Latin America. In March 2022, the vehicle was introduced in India to replace the Vento and uses the MQB A0 IN platform adapted for India.

The Virtus is also marketed as the Volkswagen Polo Sedan in South Africa since September 2022, and as the Volkswagen Lavida XR in China since June 2023. A redesigned version has been sold as the Škoda Slavia in India, which was introduced in November 2021 and went on sale in February 2022.

Brazil
The Virtus was introduced in Brazil on 16 November 2017 as a sedan counterpart to the Polo, and slots between the smaller Voyage and the larger Jetta in VW Brazil sedan line-up. It uses the same front fascia as the Polo, including the modifications that were made to the Polo for the South American market such as redesigned bumper. It also features a longer wheelbase which stood at 2651 mm, 103 mm longer than the Polo. The trunk has a capacity of 521 litre, an increase of 200 litre from the Polo.

In Brazil, all Virtus versions are sold as flex-fuel vehicles (petrol and ethanol). The base 1.6-litre MSI four-cylinder engine generates 130 PS with petrol and 118 PS with ethanol. The rest of the options are all equipped with the TSI engines, with 1.0-litre (116 PS gasoline, 128 PS ethanol), and 1.4-litre (150 PS with both fuels), the latter only available for the GTS version.

In February 2023, Virtus sold in Brazil received a restyling, which brought updates to the model. The GTS version was discontinued, being replaced by a version called Exclusive which is powered with the 1.4-litre TSI engine (150 PS with both fuels). In addition, the basic versions are powered by the 170 TSI 1.0-litre engine (109 PS gasoline, 116 PS ethanol) which replaced the base 1.6-litre MSI four-cylinder engine. The mid-range versions, Comfortline and Highline retains the 200 TSI 1.0 litre engine, with 1.0-litre (116 PS gasoline, 128 PS ethanol).

Argentina
The Virtus was released in Argentina in February 2018 with a sole 1.6-litre MSI engine with 6-speed automatic transmission.

Mexico
In Mexico, the Virtus was launched in August 2019, equipped with a 1.6-litre MSI four-cylinder with 110 PS. During its initial release, the model was imported from Brazil and placed between the Indian-made Vento and the Jetta.

In September 2022, the updated Virtus was released for the 2023 model year. It is imported from India, while the Vento was discontinued. An optional 1.0-litre TSI engine was introduced alongside the older 1.6-litre engine.

India
The Virtus was introduced in India on 8 March 2022 as a replacement to the Vento and the sister model of the Škoda Slavia. It was launched with the facelifted appearance, differentiated with the Polo and with a revised dashboard design. The Indian version is localized with up to 95% of its parts. As with the Taigun, Škoda Kushaq and Škoda Slavia, it uses the MQB A0 IN platform, and will be exported to 25 countries.

Available models are the Dynamic Line with the locally produced three-cylinder 1.0 TSI engine producing 115 PS and Performance Line equipped with the four-cylinder 1.5-liter TSI engine featuring cylinder deactivation technology with 150 PS.

The Virtus GT is the range-topping model which features cosmetic upgrades as compared to the Dynamic line such as dual-tone roof along with sunroof, red accents, red brake calipers and aluminum pedals similar to GTI models. Equipment list included ventilated front seats, wireless smartphone charging, an eight-inch digital instrument cluster, sunroof, and ambient lighting. Sales started in June 2022.

China
The vehicle was introduced in June 2023 in China as the Lavida XR, sharing the nameplate with the larger and more advanced Lavida sedan while targeting younger customers. It is mostly identical to the Virtus, with few changes such as different grille pattern, chrome on the air intake on the front bumpers, and dark-tinted tail lights. It is powered by a 1.5-litre MPI engine producing 108 PS and 141 Nm with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It replaced the second-generation Lavida and the Santana.

Latin America
The made-in-Brazil Volkswagen Virtus was sold in Latin America with a standard safety specification of four airbags including two frontal airbags and two seat-mounted side combination torso-head airbags, i-Size approved ISOFIX anchorages, three-point seatbelts in all seats, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners. Electronic Stability Control and post-collision braking were sold in volumes high enough for Latin NCAP's five star rating.

The Virtus was tested by the New Car Assessment Programme for Latin America and the Caribbean (Latin NCAP) in 2017 and achieved five stars for both adult and child protection, performing well across all areas of assessment including the ESC test and side, front and pole impacts (the last two were carried over from the Polo based on technical evidence supplied by Volkswagen). The Virtus also received an award from Latin NCAP Advanced for its pedestrian protection. In 2020, Latin NCAP introduced a geometric evaluation for head protection airbags for rear occupants; the updated Virtus for Latin America is equipped with curtain airbags instead of the older seat-mounted combination torso-head airbags, and is fitted with rear-seat belt reminders. Higher trim levels are also sold with Autonomous Emergency Braking, which is part of Latin NCAP's 2020 assessment protocols. Latin NCAP reassessed the facelifted Virtus against their new protocols in 2022 (similar to Euro NCAP 2014), and it achieved the maximum five star safety rating.

India
The Virtus is sold in India with a standard safety specification of two frontal airbags, i-Size compatible ISOFIX anchorages, Electronic Stability Control, three-point seatbelts for all seats, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, post-collision braking and a tyre pressure monitor. Higher trim levels are fitted with front-seat side torso airbags, and front and rear head-protecting curtains.

In April 2023, the Virtus was awarded five stars for adult and child occupant protection by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP, based on Latin NCAP 2016) under its Safer Cars for India project after testing performed at Škoda's expense. In the frontal offset impact of the Virtus' corporate twin, the Škoda Slavia, against a deformable aluminium honeycomb at 64km/h, dummy readings indicated low or limited risk of serious injury to all critical body regions, the passenger compartment remained stable and Škoda demonstrated that the car's dual retractor-lap pretensioning system would protect the knees of occupants of different sizes or seating positions from impact with hard points in the fascia. However, moderate rearward intrusion of the brake pedal into the footwell resulted in protection of the driver's feet being rated marginal.

In the side mobile barrier impact, performed on a Virtus unit, deceleration of the driver's head indicated there was hard contact with the roof liner, and protection was downrated to adequate despite dummy readings of HIC not indicating a high enough risk of serious injury. Dummy readings of deflection of the driver's ribs and forces in his pubic symphysis indicated a limited risk of serious thoracic and abdominal injury. In the side pole test, dummy readings of rib deflection indicated a moderate risk of serious fracture, but the optional curtain airbags fitted to the test unit worked well to produce head injury readings well within the tolerances allowed.

Using the Britax Dualfix child restraints selected by Volkswagen and installed rearward-facing using i-Size anchorages, both the child dummies achieved maximum points for dynamics, but the Virtus lost points in the vehicle-based portion of the assessment because it does not offer a means to disconnect the front passenger airbag, should the need to install a rearward-facing child restraint on that seat arise. The Virtus met minimum European regulatory requirements for electronic stability control performance and pedestrian protection.

The rating for the Virtus has not yet been extended to Global NCAP's Safer Cars for Africa project. In South Africa, where the Virtus is sold as the Polo Sedan, side thorax or head (curtain) airbags are not available on any variant, so the Polo Sedan will not be eligible for the side pole test required for a rating of four stars or better.