VW is working on an affordable new crossover for South Africa, but it’ll be some time before you’ll be able to get your hands on it.
The new model is only expected to appear in showrooms by 2027, where it will serve as the brand’s new entry-level SUV.
Catering to the South Africa market
Volkswagen South Africa first announced its intention to create a new SUV back in February this year when it was confirmed that the model would be built at the automaker’s production plant in the Eastern Cape alongside the Polo and Polo Vivo hatchbacks.
Since the vehicle (which has yet to be named) will only arrive in showrooms in 2027, there isn’t a lot of concrete information regarding its specifications just yet, but a company representative did share a few details at the recent launch of the updated Polo Vivo.
The first and most important thing to note is that it will be an “A0” segment crossover, which is an industry term referring to the smallest and most affordable size of SUV on the market.
In South Africa, this category includes entry-level units like the Suzuki Ignis, Nissan Magnite, Citroen C3, and Renault Kiger, which start anywhere from R230,900 to R249,999.
The Nissan Magnite is South Africa’s best-selling A-segment SUV.
This should give motorists their first indication of the price bracket that VW’s new offering will target, though given the German carmaker is generally seen as a premium brand, it will likely fall on the higher end of the spectrum.
Also, considering that the new model is still four years away from completion, inflation is likely to drive the showroom sticker up even further, so we’ll have to wait and see what it eventually retails for.
That said, the unnamed vehicle will undoubtedly be placed below the manufacturer’s current entry-level SUV, the T-Cross.
The T-Cross is one of the more popular crossovers in South Africa, but its price tag has grown substantially over the years to the point where even the base Comfortline now asks for R407,600, and this could rise further when the facelifted versions go on sale later this year.
VW is well aware of the fact that its market dominance in South Africa is starting to erode due to its high window stickers, with rivals like Suzuki, Chery, and Haval making rapid gains in the local auto scene thanks to more competitive rates.
To address these concerns, the company is developing a new A-segment crossover that will be tailored to the African marketplace, similar to what it achieved with the Vivo hatchback.
The similarities to the Vivo don’t end with its intended audience, as the company representative mentioned that the SUV could end up sharing the same engines as well.
This makes a lot of sense given that the Polo and T-Cross borrow powertrains, so it’s only natural that the most affordable hatchback and crossover will follow a similar philosophy.
Consequently, the new vehicle will likely have access to the Vivo’s three petrol drivetrains, the specifications of which are:
- 1.4-litre – 55kW/130Nm
- 1.6-litre – 77kW/153Nm
- 1.0-litre turbo – 81kW/200Nm
Also worth bearing in mind is the Vivo’s price tag, which currently goes for between R266,600 and R356,000, so the larger crossover body style is likely to cost a bit more at each trim level when it eventually arrives.
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