Volkswagen India has made a subtle change by discontinuing the 6-speed manual gearbox option for the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol variants of the Virtus sedan and Taigun midsize SUV. Previously, this manual gearbox was available alongside the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, which now stands as the sole transmission option for the driving enthusiasts interested in the 1.5 TSI engine across Volkswagen’s range.
The 1.5 TSI manual powertrain had been part of the Taigun lineup since its launch and was introduced to the Virtus in June 2023. It provided an attractive entry point for consumers looking for the 150hp variants of the Taigun and Virtus, catering to those with a passion for driving.
The last known price range for the VW Virtus and Taigun with the 1.5 TSI manual powertrain was between Rs 17.09 lakh and Rs 17.33 lakh for the Virtus, and Rs 17.04 lakh for the Taigun. With the manual option now phased out, the starting prices for the 1.5 TSI-equipped Virtus and Taigun are set at Rs 18.80 lakh and Rs 18.95 lakh, respectively.
For those seeking a manual-equipped option, now the only choice available is the less powerful 115hp, 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. Notably, Skoda, which shares the same engine lineup with the Slavia and Kushaq, also phased out its 1.5 TSI manual variants back in September 2024.
All of this has been likely done so the Skoda 2026 Kushaq facelift will bring the manuals or it could come back when the Slavia facelift will be launched and then both cars could become available with manuals. Skoda could be focused on bringing large sales of automatics because it is set to bring 8-speed automatic within a year of the launch of the facelifts. By the time, the VW twins will also be facelifted or they will be facelifted between the launches of Kushaq and Slavia itself. Stay tuned
2026 Volkswagen Virtus, Taigun 1.5 TSI line-up (Rs, lakh)
Virtus 18.80
Taigun 18.95
Virtus 19.00
Taigun 19.19
