5 reasons why you should get a Volkswagen Santana

The subcompact sedan segment comes dominated by Japanese and South Korean offerings. One model, however, stands out as the only European offering that can go toe to toe with them in terms of pricing as well as in features. Enter the Volkswagen Santana, an affordable German vehicle that not only comes feature-packed but also comes with an attractive price point. It’s a sedan for those who want something a little different but at the same time checks all the right boxes of affordability. With that said here are 5 reasons why you should get the Volkswagen Santana and why you should add it to your subcompact sedan shortlist.

If you want an affordable German vehicle, then the Volkswagen Santana ticks all the right boxes. While it is understood that the production of the sedan was outsourced to a different country. It still is built to the highest standards that Volkswagen has for its vehicles. Never the less you still get a well-designed vehicle that is built to last. This can be seen in Santana’s build quality as its panel gaps are on point and its interior is solidly built. While its looks aren’t as flashy as its competitors, Volkswagen has designed the sedan to come with a timeless design that blends in well with the modern vehicles of today but still comes with a unique look.

When it comes to the interior of the Santana, it is built with a simple, durable, and utilitarian design philosophy in mind. Nothing is too fancy, and the glossy silver is subtle but helps give a premium feel to the vehicle. The seats are comfortable yet durable at the same time, making sure that they can last the rigors of use throughout the years. While hard plastics are found inside the cabin, these are positioned in high touch areas ensuring that they will last against the rigors of use. Aside from this everything is easy to read including the simple yet functional gauge cluster, and the climate control dials are easily within reach. Where the interior shines is with the new 7-inch infotainment system that Volkswagen Philippines has given the vehicle, to bring it even closer to its competition. Overall its interior works well and even comes with a few subtle premium accents that help elevate the Santana above its rivals.

Pricing is another strong point of the Volkswagen Santana as it comes well under the P1,000,000 mark for its top-of-the-line model. This puts the humble German sedan in a prime price bracket that makes it competitive options against its rivals. For those who want a simple and back-to-basics sedan, the Santana comes with an MPI MT variant that offers exactly that. For those who want an automatic version with a few more features, the MPI S AT is there to reach out to that market. Finally for those who want all the bells and whistles, but at an affordable and attractive price point, the MPI SE AT is there to meet that need.

When it comes to what’s under the hood, the Volkswagen Santana is powered by a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine. While it may not seem like much on paper, it does produce 108hp and produces 150 Nm of torque. It also sends power to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. What it lacks in raw power, it more than makes up for when it comes to fuel economy. During our testing with the vehicle, we were able to get 8.8km/L in the city and 21.5km/L on the highway. This makes the vehicle an ideal city car that will maximize the fuel you give it and is also a capable highway cruiser as well. 

Volkswagen Philippines has also updated the Santana for the 2021 model year. With the new update comes a new 7-inch infotainment system that now comes as standard for the S and SE models. The German sedan now comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This feature makes it easier for the driver to sync their smartphone with the sedan and grants them access to their favorite music stream services as well as to their preferred navigation applications. The new infotainment also lets the user use the inbuilt digital assistants of their smartphones such as Siri and Google Assistant.

Overall the Volkswagen Santana presents itself as the vehicle of choice for those who want a timeless-looking vehicle that is unique at the same time. It’s for those who want a car that just works and works well, all while retaining an affordable price point.