Volkswagen Tharu to make its Philippine debut this year

The Volkswagen Tharu or known in the US as the Taos, will extend the German automaker’s Philippine lineup. This news was confirmed by Autoindustriya.com from a few Volkswagen personnel, with them claiming that the compact crossover is slated to enter the Philippine market this year. 

Like most of its vehicles, the Volkswagen Tharu will be sourced from China. As part of its rebranding phase, Volkswagen Philippines is bringing in the compact crossover in order to achieve its globalized lineup. Last May 2021, the German automaker launched the Volkswagen T-Cross. Apart from that, the brand has also answered the request for a German-made Volkswagen, with them bringing in the Multivan Kombi which should compete with the likes of other luxurious vans in the market like the Toyota Alphard.

Two years ago, Volkswagen Philippines chief, Felipe Estrella mentioned their plan of launching a few crossovers to the country. One of which includes the subcompact T-Cross, which serves as their first step towards the globalized Volkswagen.  Now, the German automaker is inching towards the launch of the Tharu. 

Perhaps the compact crossover shall occupy the position above the T-Cross, though that doesn’t mean it will serve as the direct replacement of the outgoing Tiguan. For reference, the Volkswagen Tharu is still smaller compared to the long-wheelbase Tiguan that VW got from SAIC.

Exterior-wise, the Tharu features a Volkswagen-fashioned look, with boxy dimensions and coupled with a set of well-pronounced character lines. While its Philippine specifications have not been confirmed just yet, the Chinese-spec Tharu is is packed with features such as a digital instrument display, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, a 9.2 infotainment system, a Beats sound system, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, and many more.

As for its powertrain, the source did state that the Philippine-spec model will be powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that churns out 148 hp and 250 Nm of torque. Most likely, Volkswagen Philippines could skip the manual option and just stick with a 7-speed DSG instead.

Things are getting quite exciting with the German automaker. It seems that its rebranding phase has been sailing smoothly, with Volkswagen Philippines releasing new models back to back earlier this year.