Is the 1.2T engine of the Sagitar powerful enough?
2 Answers
From the parameters, this 1.2T engine has high power, with 116 horsepower and 175N·m of torque. Such power is very strong for small or mini cars, but the Sagitar, as an A+ class sedan, has large dimensions and consequently high wind resistance, and the body mass is not light either. Driving slowly in the city is not a big problem, but it may feel somewhat underpowered on the highway. From a technical perspective, the 1.2T engine features: Electronically controlled turbo wastegate: The Sagitar's 1.2T engine has reintroduced the electronically controlled turbo wastegate. The word 'reintroduced' indicates that Volkswagen had used this technology before but abandoned it in the middle. The reason for abandoning it was that the electronic control system near the turbo had to withstand extremely high temperatures, leading to frequent failures of the electronic control system. Now that this technology is being used again, given that Volkswagen cars are so advanced, a failure in the electronic control equipment could render the entire system inoperable. Timing belt: On another note, this 1.2T engine uses a timing belt. Although timing belts can age, they can also be designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle without maintenance. Moreover, timing belts have their advantages over timing chains, such as lower noise levels.
As a dad who often drives to pick up and drop off kids, I find the Sagitar 1.2T perfectly adequate for daily use. My daily commute is 30 kilometers, and it handles overtaking and lane changes in the city with ease. The turbo kicks in quickly at startup, and the 200 Nm of torque lets me surge ahead when the light turns green. On weekends, taking the whole family out with five people and the AC on, it climbs hills without issue—though passing large trucks on the highway requires stepping on the gas earlier. Fuel consumption is around 5.8L, saving me about a hundred bucks a month compared to my friend's 1.4T. However, if you prefer aggressive driving, you might feel it lacks punch when fully loaded on mountain roads, but for regular family use, it's more than enough.
