Volkswagen has announced that it build a low-cost seven-seat SUV based on the next generation Passat. This new vehicle will be underpinned by the MQB platform and will be slotted below the Touareg price-wise in VW’s SUV range.
VW is likely to aim this SUV mainly at the US market where it has revealed that the Touareg competes with many vehicles of similar design which are bigger than it but cost less. Since this is a segment with big numbers in the US market, it would only seem logical for the German automaker to make inroads into the sector. Volkswagen says the SUV will be ready in the next three years.
It is likely that this model will come to India after global launch, to be the German automaker's entry into Rs 30-45 lakh SUV category which is populated by models like the Audi Q3 and the Land Rover Freelander 2. The only true seven-seat SUV in the price range is the Mitsubishi Montero and the Land Rover Discovery 4, and that is also slightly more expensive than Rs 45 lakh. A proper three-row, seven-seat VW will no doubt be very popular with the Indian public and emerging markets in general.
