Volkswagen has more than 10 SUVs on sale worldwide, here’s the complete list
Jerrica · Jul 31, 2021 10:00 AM
0
0
Last week, when we reported that Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) dropped hints that they are looking to launch another SUV in the Malaysian market, we suggested that this could mean 1 of 3 SUVs could be launched here.
But why did we only suggest 3 SUVs when VW has a dizzying number of SUVs on sale worldwide? While there are many other SUVs on the list but not all of them comes with the driver’s seat on the right side.
And we haven’t yet opened the can of worms that is Volkswagen’s 2 manufacturers in China, which are SAIC-Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen. Both companies offer different takes on essentially the same models.
To start things off, let’s talk about VW’s best-selling SUV to date. The second-generation Tiguan was introduced in 2016 worldwide and VW gave the well-loved SUV a twist by introducing a longer wheelbase version known as the Allspace a year later in 2017.
The long-wheelbase version is known globally as the Tiguan Allspace while in China, it is known as the Tiguan L. In the USA, the Tiguan is sold only in its long-wheelbase guise.
In Malaysia, the Tiguan Allspace superseded the short-wheelbase Tiguan when VPCM introduced the new model last year. The car is assembled in the Hicom plant in Pekan, Pahang.
In China, the Tiguan is manufactured by SAIC-VW. The company launched a coupe version of the Tiguan known as the Tiguan X back in September 2020. The coupe SUV is based on the Tiguan L’s platform so both models share the same wheelbase of 2,791 mm.
Volkswagen Tayron
Remember when we mentioned that VW has 2 Chinese manufacturers and both manufacturers will sell similar models in the same segment? This is a good example. The Tayron is known as the Tiguan’s sister model but manufactured and sold by VW’s other Chinese manufacturer FAW-VW.
The Tayron also comes as a coupe SUV guise known as the Tayron X. In fact, FAW actually introduced the Tayron X in April 2020 before the Tiguan X came to life in September 2020.
Get this, Automotive News Europe reported last year that they acquired documents stating that VW AG has plans to start manufacturing an SUV based on the Tayron at the Wolfsburg plant.
So, the Tayron might also make it to Europe and marketed as a model to slot between the Tiguan and the Touareg.
Volkswagen Touareg
Yet another VW SUV that Malaysians might be familiar with is the Volkswagen Touareg. The Touareg was once on sale in Malaysia under the previous management, but with a half-a-million Ringgit price tag, it isn’t a wonder that it only sold in low numbers.
The third-generation Touareg is built on the MLB platform that also underpins the Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, as well as the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga.
From what we understand, the Touareg is positioned as the large premium SUV model by VW. The model was discontinued in the USA and replaced by the more affordable and larger VW Atlas.
Volkswagen T-Cross
The VW T-Cross is the brand’s smallest SUV on offer. Measuring at 4,108 x 1,760 x 1,584 mm in length, width, and height with a wheelbase of 2,551 mm, the T-Cross is 126 mm shorter than the VW T-Roc sibling it is often confused with.
Taigun
This is where it can get a little confusing, the T-Cross is also known as the Volkswagen Taigun in India. Interestingly, the Taigun measures longer by 82 mm in length and has a 100 mm longer wheelbase.
Top: VW Taigun, Bottom: VW Tacqua
Tacqua
In China, SAIC-VW sells this as the T-Cross, while FAW-VW sells the same model as the Tacqua instead. The model is sold alongside the T-Cross as the larger and more affordable version of the two.
Volkswagen T-Roc
Launched in 2017, the T-Roc was the smallest SUV on sale until the even smaller T-Cross came along 2 years later.
The T-Roc is touted as the Golf of VW’s SUVs as the model is built on the same MQB platform as the Golf before the hatch advanced on the MQB Evo platform in its eighth-generation.
VW also played around with the T-Roc and introduced a T-Roc Cabriolet version in 2020.
Volkswagen Nivus
The Nivus is VW’s smallest coupe SUV. It was introduced in 2020 as part of VW’s SUV offensive in South America. The model was developed in Brazil and was only just launched in Europe as the Taigo in July 2021.
Even on its debut, VW heavily hinted that the Nivus will one day make it to the European stage. It wasn’t long until it was revealed that when the Nivus goes on sale in Europe, it will be sold as the Taigo instead.
Since the model has only just made its European debut, it would be some time before we see VW introduce a right-hand-drive version of the Nivus.
Volkswagen Taos
This model was first launched in China as the Volkswagen Tharu back in 2018. But VW launched the model as the Taos in October 2020 as part of their South America SUV offensive.
At the same time, the Taos was also launched in North American markets to fill the spot that the VW Golf left vacant after it was discontinued.
Volkswagen Atlas/ Teramont
Developed with North America and China in mind, the Volkswagen Atlas first made its world debut in mid-2017 in the USA and Canada. At the same time it went on sale in China as the Volkswagen Teramont by SAIC-VW.
Technically, the model should be better known as the Teramont as the name Atlas is used only in North America. But many are more familiar with the name Atlas rather than Teramont despite the wider use.
At the time of writing, the Atlas/ Teramont is the largest SUV that VW has on sale worldwide as the even larger Talagon has yet to officially go on sale. Although the Atlas and Teramont is larger than the Touareg, the SUV rides on the MQB platform rather than the MLB platform.
Atlas Cross Sport/ Teramont X
VW also introduced a coupe version of the Atlas/ Teramont. Known as the Atlas Cross Sport in the North American region and the Teramont X in China, the coupe version drops one row of seats so it only seats 5 while the standard Atlas seats 7.
SAIC-VW also introduced a facelifted version of the Teramont and Teramont X earlier this year at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show.
Volkswagen Talagon
Measuring at 5 metres long, the Talagon is the largest SUV built on the MQB platform as a whole. The 7-seater SUV only just made its world debut at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show.
For now, the large SUV is only on sale in China by FAW-VW. Technically, the Talagon is considered the sister model to the Atlas/ Teramont that is sold by SAIC-VW.
But the Talagon is slightly larger and said to feature more premium upgrades over the Atlas/ Teramont.
ID.4
Like Hyundai and Kia, VW too, has a full-electric vehicle (EV) that the company marketed as a crossover but looks nothing like an SUV. The ID.4 is the second model in VW’s new all-electric ID. Series.
The ID. Series is VW’s worldwide EV offensive as an answer to the tightening emission regulations around the world including China. The small SUV was launched in September 2020 and already, it has picked up the 2021 World Car of the Year award.
Standing at 1,612 mm, the ID.4 matches the Taos/ Tharu in height and is taller than the T-Cross, T-Roc, and the Nivus/ Taigo.
ID.6
The latest member of the ID. Series family is the ID.6. The large full-electric SUV made its world debut at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show alongside the Teramont X and the Talagon.
Here is where it gets confusing, the ID.6 is one model but sold as the ID.6 Crozz by FAW-VW and ID.6 X by SAIC-VW. Both offer seats for 6 to 7 passengers and has a maximum distance range of 580 km based on the China NEDC cycle.
But both models differ slightly in terms of size. The ID.6 X is just a smidge shorter than the ID.6 Crozz based on our research.
At the moment, the ID.6 is only on sale in China.
Conclusion
Out of the entire list we have mentioned, only the T-Cross/ Taigun, T-Roc, Tiguan, and Touareg have right-hand drive models as these models are sold in the UK, India, Japan and also Australia.
There isn’t a time in memory that doesn’t involve staring at cars. After discovering the excitement of watching Schumacher vs Hakkinen, Formula 1 became a major part of life. The love for cars and F1 ultimately led to a job with CAR Magazine. The untimely death of the magazine meant a hiatus from cars at lifestyle women’s magazine Marie Claire before another opportunity came knocking again.
