Volkswagen Tera subcompact SUV makes global debut, India launch on cards? – Car News

If and when launched in India, Volkswagen Tera will compete against the likes of Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Tata Nexon, and its own cousin Skoda Kylaq.

Volkswagen was initially apprehensive about making its presence in the subcompact SUV/crossover segment. However with Skoda readying and launching the Kylaq in November last year followed by a market launch in India last month, Volkswagen might make a U-turn.

The German carmaker has introduced a new subcompact SUV in Brazil called Tera during the Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro. This model has been designed and developed by VW in Brazil. This entry-level SUV made its first public appearance in a camouflaged avatar back in September last year.

Volkswagen Tera has been positioned as an affordable SUV in Brazil, rivalling Fiat Pulse and Renault Kardian in the R$ 100,000 – R$ 140,000 price range (Rs 14.8 lakh to Rs 20 lakh). Underpinned by the familiar MQB A0 platform, the Tera will be manufactured at Volkswagen’s Taubaté plant in Brazil.

Volkswagen Tera (Image: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen Tera: Design

The influence of the other VW models is very evident in Tera following the brand’s latest design philosophy. Up front, it gets a familiar sleek grille housing the large VW badge at the centre, flanked by sweptback headlights with integrated LED DRLs. The bumper houses a large central air intake system with angular side vents on each side. 

Coming to the sides, the circular flared wheel arches are wrapped in black plastic claddings. Sharp creases on the body panels, black pillars, and 17-inch diamond-cut black alloy wheels lend the SUV a sporty appearance. Further, the blacked-out roof gives it a floating effect. The gentle slop of the roofline accentuates its sporty profile. At the rear, the Tera gets taillights with black inserts which are connected by a black bar with silver accents. 

Volkswagen Tera (Image: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen Tera: Interiors & Features

Inside the cabin of Volkswagen Tera, the layout feels similar to its Czech cousin— Skoda Kylaq. It gets a multi-layered dashboard design featuring a free-standing touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. Like Kylaq, the central AC vents sit below the touchscreen whereas side vents are large rectangular units positioned vertically. The infotainment and instrumentation are embedded with VW Play Connect system, offering full connectivity.

Other features include wireless smartphone charging, ambient lighting, and an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) suite. The India-spec version is likely to retain some of the features mentioned above, although most of them are likely to be reserved for the higher variants to keep a competitive starting price.

Volkswagen Tera interiors (Image: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen Tera: Expected powertrain & India launch

Volkswagen hasn’t officially revealed the powertrain specs, but given the fact the Tera shares so many elements with the Kylaq, it is most likely to be powered by the same 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine. This motor kicks out 114 bhp and 178 Nm of peak torque. Transmission duties are carried out by either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT automatic unit.

Although Volkswagen is yet to reveal its official dimensions, the Tera is most likely to measure just over 4 metre in length. For this model to make it to India, Volkswagen has to tweak it to bring the SUV under 4 metre, in order to avail tax benefits for vehicles smaller than 4 metre. As of now, Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed an India launch but given the craze around subcompact SUVs in the country, the company could very well want to grab a share of this pie in the future.

Discover the latest in the auto world with new cars and new bikes … Read More , explore upcoming cars in India, and find your perfect match with cars under 5 lakh, 10 lakh or 15 lakh. Stay updated with the latest auto news and the rise of electric vehicles.

This article was first uploaded on March three, twenty twenty-five, at fifty-five minutes past four in the afternoon.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}