Volkswagen Santana GTS

The interior shares the same conventional design methodology. The dashboard offers the common controls typical of a contemporary passenger car and is mostly dominated with plastic finishes. The three-spoke steering wheel is straightforward with only the VW emblem and the horn included. The in-dash infotainment system offers SD card, AUX-IN, and USB connectivity while the air-conditioning system has a pollen filter. An optional 7-inch Blaupunkt touchscreen infotainment monitor is also being offered.  Headroom and legroom are ideal for Asian-sized passengers.  There is also a height adjustment feature for the driver’s seat. For rear passengers, there is easy access to a centrally-mounted cabin light, two cubby holes attached to the interior door panels, as well as a cupholder between the two front seats. An optional sunroof is also available which isn’t very common with subcompact sedans. 

Not much has changed from its previous design. The style still retains the trademark Volkswagen crisp lines while sharing significant similarities with its compact counterpart, the Jetta. The bumper, headlights, and chrome-accented grille all seem to take inspiration from the compact model.  Two character lines on the hood flow towards the grille which is straddled by halogen headlights that have integrated signal lights. However, considering the vehicle’s carrying more premium over its competitors, LED headlights could have been a more obvious choice. Fog lights can also be found below the headlights. On the rear are angular brake lights which have integrated signal lights as well. While the design is not particularly striking, it can only be described with signature Volkswagen characteristics: conventional and practical.

Santana is powerful enough to achieve highway cruising speeds. The 6-speed automatic transmission can tend to feel a bit sluggish when driving uphill or attempting to overtake other vehicles. This is mostly because it can take some time to downshift.  However, this can easily be addressed with the Sport mode. Luckily, 5-speed the manual transmission does not share this same problem. Its 50-litre fuel tank is also much larger compared to its rivals which supplements the engine’s overall efficiency.

Drivers have a choice between two-gasoline inline-4 engines.  The 5-speed manual transmission variant is powered by a 1.4-litre MPI that can produce 89 hp and 132 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the 6-speed automatic transmission and GTS variants are powered by 1.5-litre MPI with BlueMotion that churns out 108 hp and 150 Nm of torque.

While some may find the vehicle lacking in design, one thing Volkswagen did not cut back on is its abundance of safety features. The Santana is equipped with the standard ABS and ISOFIX, plus a complete set of airbags for the driver and passenger. The higher variant also comes with side airbags. They also come with an Electronic Stabilization Program which allows speeds and braking sensor to detect loss of traction and apply brakes when the need arises.

The Volkswagen Santana starts at P686,000 with the highest variant priced at P993,000. The latest model is a strong competitor and definitely an attractive option for the subcompact segment. For its affordable price range, you’ll get top-notch German engineering and branding that can last you a very long time.