Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Philippines Review: Far East German

1. Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Philippines Review: Introduction

I’ve always had a soft spot for Volkswagen vehicles. No, it isn’t because my family used to own one, neither do I have fond memories of playing the sadistic Punch Buggy game where you punch or smack your friend in the head whenever you see a Volkswagen Beetle.

My fascination for VW stems from the fact that I’ve always loved playing the Golf in Need For Speed: Underground; its understated and boxy figure appealed to me, even though the Golf is an entry-level car in the game, making it slower than the other contenders.

Now that Volkswagen models are more affordable, will Filipinos take a bite?

When VW officially arrived in the 2000s, I was excited over its offering of mainstream models. But the lukewarm reception from the market forced Volkswagen Philippines to shuffle its lineup. It now has a range of models that are affordable yet still quite capable cars, with their flagship Lamando compact sedan leading the charge. Will the competitive pricing be enough to win buyers over to the VW brand? Let's find out in this Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Philippines Review

2. Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Exterior

Volkswagen prides itself on understated and functional styling for all its vehicles, and the 2020 Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL is no exception. With strong character lines around the body, it is almost devoid of any curves, save for large wheel arches housing meaty 17-inch wheels shod in 225/50 R17 tires. If your definition of luxury and great car design are straight-as-an-arrow looks and features, you might want to go ahead and read on.

VW has stuck to its bland yet purposeful design language

The slim projector headlamps with handsome daytime running lights are almost flush with the slotted front grille, which features the iconic VW badge. The fascia is a breath of fresh air from current sedans that emphasize curves and funky designs. Sometimes people want their cars to look just like a car: practical and utilitarian.

This design language makes the way to the back with sharp LED taillights. The sloping character of the rear glass might lead people to mistake the VW Lamando for a fastback, if not for the slightest hint of the rear boot. If you squint really hard, you might find yourself asking, "Is that a faux ducktail spoiler?". Nothing about 2020 Lamando's design is by accident; it's deliberately done in a minimalist fashion which sets Volkswagen apart from the pack.

3. Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Interior

The Volkswagen Lamando 2020 cabin showcases an interior design that mirrors the exterior aesthetically. Make no mistake, this is still a German car, although manufactured in China; this means no single button is out of place. Everything is easy to reach and well-laid out.

The massive 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment screen sitting on the dashboard is just glorious, offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The digital gauge cluster is clean and minimalist in nature, the better to deliver relevant information about the car.

The leather seats are also quite comfortable, adequately supporting my lower back thanks to the electronic seat adjustment feature. As an added bonus, the leather material is perforated, helping to add more ventilation, especially on hot summer days.

Volkswagen's interior styling earns high marks with its minimalistic approach

The plastic dashboard is livened up by a carbon fiber-like accent that stretches all the way to the front and rear door panels, contrasting starkly with the predominantly black trim. These plastic parts are all of the hard-touch variety though, so if you were expecting a plusher Germanic approach to luxury, best be looking elsewhere.

If there is one thing the manufacturer has done consistently well these past few years, it's the leather-wrapped steering wheel with chunky handles for almost every VW car; VW has made this the benchmark that all modern cars strive to attain. The Volkswagen Lamando is all about efficiency and minimalism, while still being a visual treat.

4. Volkswagen Lamando 2020 Review: Engine and Performance

The lone engine option for the VW Lamando 2020 in the local market is a 1.4-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine, the same one that powers the SEAT Ibiza Cupra, Polo GTI and Fabia RS. It makes 150 hp and 250 Nm of torque, driving the front wheels. While those figures seem respectable, small turbocharged engines tend to have power figures that look impressive on paper, with the resulting execution of a mixed bag.

The point of having this layout is to let customers have their cake and eat it too; that is to say, striking a balance between relative power and fuel economy. This Volkswagen somewhat misses the mark, as the 1.4L mill struggles against the heavy chassis.

In horrible gridlock traffic, you'll have to stay under 2000 RPM to keep the turbo from engaging. And since the small engine is taxed to pull all that weight, it returns underwhelming fuel economy figures: 6 km/l is the average consumption Carmageddon situations a.k.a. regular EDSA traffic. Once you enter the powerband and the boost starts to kick in, you’ll be burning a hole in your wallet.

VW tries to balance both fuel economy and power

That’s not to say that the Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL is not a compelling drive. The engine can take the car from 0 to 100 kph in just over 8 seconds, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission making good use of every ounce of power and shifting much faster than any human driver can.

Independent suspension all around bodes well for those who wish to take the Lamando for some spirited driving. All in all, the Lamando promises a confident, planted yet comfortable drive both in and out of town.

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5. Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Philippines Review Safety

A decent number of safety features are present on the VW Lamando. There's the standard 3-pt. ELR seatbelts, six airbags, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors with back up camera, stability control, hill start assist, and ISOFIX anchors.

What it does lack is advanced driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, parking assist and forward collision mitigation with emergency automatic braking; quite unfortunate, as VW is pitting the Lamando against rivals which already have the foregoing as standard.

It's nice to see that multiple airbags are now becoming standard equipment

6. Volkswagen Lamando Philippines Price & Variant

7. Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Specs

8. Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 Philippines Review: Conclusion

It's quite hard to watch Volkswagen struggle setting its feet on the Philippine market. They have a great lineup of cars, with the Lamando lead the pack. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be selling that well for one reason or another. 

In this VW Lamando review, VW fancies the Lamando as an executive car with top-of-the-line compact car pricing, going against the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Altis and Hyundai Elantra at a time when the sedan market is not doing so well. Its a shame, really; the Volkswagen Lamando 280 TSI SEL 2020 offers so much in a world that gives so little.

I have so many ideas about how this car can sell, but will VW listen?

Thinking of giving Volkswagen a shot? I’m sure you won't regret it!. More than ever, we’ve got an extensive inventory from our trusted dealers, and make sure to tell them that we sent you, just visit Philkotse.com and everything you need will be in your hands.