1 Jun 1995
The Vento was simply a Mk3 (A3) Golf with a huge boot (550 litres) and a new nose, pure and simple.
It was a formula that proved extremely popular in North America (as the Jetta) and in some European markets.
But ungainly styling and high pricing scuttled any chances of any sales success in Australia. VW aligned it to Golf GL specification (85kW/166Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, a four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox, dual airbags, power steering, power windows, central locking), but the Vento was ignored to death by early 1997.
However its prettier Mk4 Golf-based Bora replacement proved more popular since its inception here in December 1999.
