SUBCOMPACT cars have this reputation of being cramped. “Sardinas” is the word used to refer to how occupants are packed into a limited space. The problem could lie in the way car companies measure the space inside a vehicle. Using volume instead of dimensions will change the way consumers perceive space. This is fine when it means measursing cargo space. Cubic liters to be precise. The idea is if you pour water into that contained space, the resulting amount of liquid used up equals to space.
Physicians will applaud this theory. Passengers won’t. Sardines are packed into can to maximize the space filled with olive oil. Passengers aren’t. Volume in its totality, works for air or water. Not for passengers.
Volkswagen didn’t make any motherhood statements about the space in the compact Santana GTS wagon. And that is appreciated. It is a wonderful vehicle and just to mention it, the opportunity to drive it a bit longer than the usual 3-days allotted to me, because picking it up from the our provincial town wasn’t easy. I was forbidden to drive it more because our contract to drive already ended. That was a pity. The car is such a joy to drive.
The Santana GTS wagon is not a hatch with an extended cargo hold. VW calls it a wagon and rightly so–fitting itself just longer than the usual hatchback and having a real “D” pillar–that 4 piece of molded sheet metal that holds a third window and extends the cargo hold. The C-pillar is cleverly hidden underneath the extended third window. The 4-pillars add to the safety structure of the GTS, which When launched 3 years ago the GTS wagon cost P998K. Today, the retail price is P1.029M for the top of the line GTS AT SE.
I was with my siblings when we switched from the Maxus D50 people carrier (a large people carrier with leg stretching space and no shoulder rubbing) so when we saw the smallish wagon, the first question that popped into our heads was: “can we all fit there?”
You might say that we siblings are an odd mix of body shapes. That being said, it was amazing how it did not require wedging us all into the Santana. Like peas in a pod, there is a lot of leg, head and shoulder room–more than expected after a walkaround. Remember it is a subcompact wagon, so space seems to be at a premium, but that’s not the case.
The seats are slim but comfortable and the door panels are trimmed to provide maximum width inside the otherwise diminutive cabin. My tallest brother, at 5’7” remarked he was comfortable even in the back seat, though he preferred the leg stretch upfront. in size but surprisingly, the cabin isn’t cramped, more so behind the rear seats.
Inside is plasticky. Now don’t take that as a bad thing. The plastics are durable, not empty, and are textured and help keep the space to its widest and tallest. The rear set is snug, though a bit low for my liking, and because of the extended rear cargo hold, the tailgate does not rest on one’s head, say like in the Wigo or Eon. The seat material, though it is a faux leather is nice to the touch and warm to rest on. Not a sticky vinyl feel, just a leathery tension to it. Which is highlighted by the sporty stitching.
Upfront, it’s a different story, especially with the audio-slash-infotainment system. It’s a touchscreen, which by the way does not come as standard. I guess the standard radio is that red-LED typeface cluster. The big seller for me is the shifter and that well thought of German ergonomics when it comes to pedal-shifter-steering wheel. Add to these pluses are the adjustable elbow rest that isn’t complicated to operate and the properly located drink bottle holders.
Standard are 3-point seatbelts with dual front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and stability control. No reversing camera but there is a sensor that shows an icon on the radio that gives an approximation of the distance between the car and objects around it.
That red (or orange) thread used to put the seat fabric together gives justice to that red line that cuts across the dashboard with traces of carbon fiber on the front and the door panels. I guess without the Blaupunkt audio system, the radio would have a red LED face too. The air-conditioning system is a completely manual affair with knobs and buttons but the temp is detected and reported on the infotainment screen. Properly aimed, the vents deliver cooled air all the way to the back.
I first thought that the rear of the center console was an aircon duct. It turned out to be a large cubbyhole that is for gadgets. This is one thing the Santana GTS lacks–proper USB charging ports. Inside the glovebox are two USB plug ins that are, well complicated and tedious to use.
Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 1.5L MPI gasoline engine coupled to a conventional 6-speed auto gearbox. This is the way to go, I believe given the fact that there is no need for immense power on the grocery runs nor breakneck acceleration when cross-province touring. I’d say that the power delivery is superior, given the factors I just mentioned. Note that the compact power block (pop the hood and see how small the engine is, produces 108 hp and 150 Nm of torque.
There is a normal (economy) “D” or drive setting and a “S” for sports (not-very-economical) mode. But even on the economy mode, the throttling is fair and does not underwhelm. Bring the shifter down to “S” the response becomes livelier. Noteworthy too it’s the smoothness between gear and the quietness overall, except when one makes the engine grunt from serious acceleration. Getting to speed from 70 to 80 kph took time in normal mode.
Now the powertrain-weight ratio of the Santana GTS gives it amazing range. Former Malaya Business Insight columnist Ron de los Reyes reported an estimated 18 kilometers per liter cruising back and forth to him Quezon City and Batangas homes. I was also doing 20 km/L on a relaxed sprint on NLEX alone and about 17 to 18 with the trip with my siblings. City driving (both in Las Piñas, Manila and in our little town) was about 9 to 10 kms per liter. Still pretty decent.
Handling is the above-average department, but street-level maneuvering is excellent. I say this because, with a full load of passengers, the handling was of course more precise. It could be the wheelbase combined with the electrically-assisted steering. There is no detachment from the road thus the steering feel was easy but not light providing some feedback up to Tagaytay via the Talisay road. It also makes for easy parking in the tight spaces of Paete in Laguna. Braking is assured but a bit punchy.
Overall, this VW is definitely a good choice as a family car. Or a siblings mobile. My siblings rate it at a four for fuel economy (we split the gas bill) four for space (although we were five), and a five for fun, which we believe is the top score.
