Earlier this year, Volkswagen entered the compact sedan space with the Ameo. It has been specifically designed and engineered for the Indian market and will try to find a place for itself in the already-crowded compact sedan segment. There are some immensely capable products already on sale such as the Figo Aspire and Tata Zest and fending them off will not be an easy task. Volkswagen might be a little late to the party, but they’ve had time to do their homework. So, how does it fare in comparison to its rival? Check out our Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest Comparison of specifications and prices to find out how the new compact sedan stacks up against its rivals.
Also See – Ameo vs Swift Dzire vs Amaze | Ameo vs Vento vs Polo | Ameo vs Dzire vs Xcent
Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest Price Comparison
Petrol Variants
| Volkswagen Ameo (ex-Delhi) | Ford Aspire (ex-Delhi) | Tata Zest (ex-Delhi) | |||
| Trendline | Rs 5.24 lakh | Ambiente | Rs 5.28 lakh | XE | Rs 5.14 lakh |
| Comfortline | Rs 6.00 lakh | Trend | Rs 5.76 lakh | XM | Rs 5.80 lakh |
| Highline | Rs 7.06 lakh | Titanium | Rs 5.99 lakh | XMS | Rs 6.01 lakh |
| Titanium + | Rs 6.80 lakh | XT | Rs 6.60 lakh | ||
| Titanium 1.5 AT | Rs 8.20 lakh | ||||
Diesel Variants
| Volkswagen Ameo (ex-Delhi) | Ford Aspire (ex-Delhi) | Tata Zest (ex-Delhi) | |||
| Trendline | Rs 6.34 lakh | Ambiente | Rs 6.38 lakh | XE 75 PS | Rs 6.16 lakh |
| Comfortline | Rs 7.35 lakh | Trend | Rs 6.86 lakh | XM 75 PS | Rs 6.91 lakh |
| Comfortline AT | Rs 8.50 lakh | Titanium | Rs 7.09 lakh | XMS 75 PS | Rs 7.18 lakh |
| Highline | Rs 8.17 lakh | Titanium + | Rs 7.90 lakh | XT 90 PS | Rs 7.78 lakh |
| Highline AT | Rs 9.32 lakh | XMA 90 PS | Rs 7.74 lakh | ||
| XTA 90 PS | Rs 8.59 lakh | ||||
As far as the petrol variants are concerned, the Tata Zest is the cheapest followed by the Ford Aspire and Volkswagen Ameo . But the price difference is not very significant. Following the recent price cut, top end trims of the Ford Aspire have now become great value for money. Diesel variants of the Ameo are more expensive than those of the Aspire and Zest. Tata Zest Diesel automatic is much cheaper than the Volkswagen Ameo Diesel Automatic thanks to the use of a cost-effective AMT gearbox.
Also See – Volkswagen Ameo Compact Sedan
Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest Features Comparison
The Ameo edges ahead of its competitors in terms of features as it boasts multiple unique and segment first features including cruise control, rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps and a cooled glove box. Ford’s Figo Aspire misses out on a touchscreen infotainment system, which is offered on the Zest and Ameo. ABS and dual front airbags are offered as standard fitment across all variants of the Volkswagen Ameo while Ford offers dual front airbags as standard fitment across all variants of the Aspire. Also, the Titanium + variant comes with 6 airbags. Zest comes equipped with projector headlamps, driving modes, LED DRLs and a Harman Sourced infotainment system.
| Volkswagen Ameo | Ford Aspire | Tata Zest | |
| Air Conditioner Type | Automatic Climate Control | Automatic Climate Control | Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Windows | Yes (4) | Yes (4) | Yes (4) |
| Central Locking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Steering Audio Controls | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio System | Touchscreen | 2-DIN | Touchscreen |
| Airbags | 2 (Standard) | 2 (standard) or 6 (Titanium+) | 2 |
| ABS | Yes (standard) | Yes | Yes |
Also See – VW Ameo: What to Expect
Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest Specifications Comparison
Diesel
| Volkswagen Ameo | Ford Aspire | Hyundai Xcent | |
| Type | 1.5 L Diesel | 1.5 L TDCi Diesel | 1.3 L Diesel |
| Displacement | 1498 cc | 1495 cc | 1248 cc |
| Power | 108 bhp | 99 bhp | 74 bhp/89 bhp |
| Torque | 250 Nm | 215 Nm | 190 Nm/200 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT/7-speed AT | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT/5-speed MT or 5-speed AMT |
| Mileage | 21.73 kpl | 25.83 kpl | 23 kpl/23 kpl |
Petrol
| Volkswagen Ameo | Ford Aspire | Tata Zest | |
| Type | 1.2 L Petrol | 1.2 L Petrol/1.5 L Petrol | 1.2 L Turbo Petrol |
| Displacement | 1198 cc | 1196 cc/1499 cc | 1193 cc |
| Power | 74 bhp | 87 bhp/110 bhp | 89 bhp |
| Torque | 110 Nm | 112 Nm/136 Nm | 140 Nm |
| Transmission | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT/6-speed AT | 5-speed MT |
| Mileage | 17.83 kpl | 18.16 kpl/17 kpl | 17.6 kpl |
The Volkswagen Ameo will borrow engines from the Polo. However, the 1.5 L TDI Diesel has seen gets updates in the form of an increase in power and torque. Zest is powered by a Fiat-sourced 1.3 L Multijet diesel engine that is available in two states of tune – 75 PS and 90 PS. Tata also offers the Zest with an optional 5-speed AMT mated to the 1.3 L diesel unit. Petrol versions of all three compact sedans are powered by 1.2 L units. Tata Zest’s turbocharged petrol unit churns out the most amount of power and torque. The 1.5 L automatic variant of the Figo Aspire belts out 110 bhp and 136 Nm with a claimed mileage of 17 kpl.
Also See – Honda Amaze vs Ford Figo Aspire vs Maruti Swift Dzire vs Hyundai Xcent vs Tata Zest
Volkswagen Ameo vs Maruti Dzire vs Hyundai Xcent Dimensions
| Volkswagen Ameo | Ford Aspire | Tata Zest | |
| Length | 3995 mm | 3995 mm | 3995 mm |
| Width | 1682 mm | 1695 mm | 1706 mm |
| Height | 1483 mm | 1525 mm | 1570 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2470 mm | 2491 mm | 2470 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 165 mm | 174 mm | 165 mm |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWH1FKEticw
Volkswagen Ameo vs Maruti Dzire vs Hyundai Xcent Comparison of Design
In terms of exterior design, much like the rest of the compact sedans, features an awkward looking boot sticking out from the back. Although VW designers have done a neat job of integrating the boot into the Polo, it still doesn’t look as smart as the Ford Figo Aspire. The Ameo’s squared off tail section could have done with softer edges, along the lines of the Vento. Tata has done a great job with the Zest’s styling making it easily one of the best looking compact sedans on sale today.
Ameo’s beautifully designed steering wheel, black-beige dashboard with silver highlights have been borrowed from the Polo/Vento without any changes. Ford Aspire’s cabin boasts decent quality materials and pretty striking design. Again, Tata has done a great job with the interiors, which feature an attractive design and good levels of fit and finish.
Volkswagen Ameo vs Maruti Dzire vs Hyundai Xcent Mileage Comparison
Here’s a comparison table of the ARAI-tested fuel mileage figures of the Volkswagen Ameo and the ARAI certified mileage figures of the Aspire and Zest. The updated 1.5-litre Diesel powering the Ameo returns close to 22 kmpl overall. The Ford Figo Aspire is the most fuel efficient of the lot.
| Petrol | Diesel | |
| Volkswagen Ameo | 17.83 kpl | 21.73 kpl |
| Ford Aspire | 18.16 kpl | 25.83 kpl |
| Tata Zest | 17.6 kpl | 23 kpl |
Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest – Verdict
The compact sedan segment is immensely popular in India as evident from the monthly sales figures and the number of compact sedans currently populating the market. Maruti’s Swift Dzire remains the most popular of the lot and matching its sales is a Herculean task. However, the Ameo could easily eat into the sales of the Ford Aspire and the Tata Zest.
- Design – Volkswagen has done a tidy job of integrating the boot into the Polo, but it is still not as smart as the Figo Aspire or the Zest.
- Features – The Ameo comes loaded with features, some of which are segment firsts. Ford Aspire misses out on a touchscreen but comes with 6-airbags as an option.
- Specifications – Petrol variants of all three cars are powered by a 1.2 L unit. Diesel automatic option available on the Zest and Ameo.
- Price – Although Volkswagen has been aggressive with the pricing of the Ameo, it is still slightly more expensive than the Ford Aspire and Tata Zest.
So stay tuned to CarBlogIndia for updates on the Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest Comparison. What do you have to say about our Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Aspire vs Tata Zest Comparison? Do share your views in the comments section below.
