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Volkswagen Philippines brings back the essence of the People's Car with new offerings

By Gerard
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May 19, 2018

Volkswagen, as many car enthusiasts may note, is German for "people's car”. True enough, the Type 1 Beetle was meant to provide decent transport for the masses. Over the years, however, the lineup has become a bit more premium in terms of pricing and specs.

Volkswagen Philippines hopes to bring back the essence of the People's Car as it unveils its 2018 models that are meant to cater to more Filipinos via their more competitive pricing and value-for-money specifications.

Thanks to the recently implemented ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), VW will be able to source more competitively priced vehicles from VW China. The new range includes the Volkswagen Santana MPI M/T Trendline, Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline, Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline, Santana GTS MPI AT Comfortline, and the Lamando 280 TSI DSG Highline.

When we say competitively priced, we're talking about something like less than P800,000 for a decently-spec'd VW. More specifically, the VW Santana MPI M/T Trendline starts at just P686,000. For that money, one gets a 1.4-liter MultiPoint fuel Injection-equipped engine that produces 90hp and 132Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Santana boasts safety features such as ISOFIX anchorage points for child seats, ABS, electronic immobilizer, and a rigid body shell. As you can see, it offers German engineering in the budget-friendly subcompact segment.

The compact class likewise gets a German-badged competitor to reinforce the Jetta's foothold in the segment. While the Jetta is an oil burner, the new Volkswagen Lavida is powered by a 1.4-liter Turbocharged Stratified Injection mill good for 130hp and 225Nm. Paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission and featuring BlueMotion tech, the compact VW promises both adequate power and  decent fuel economy. It likewise gives buyers comfort and convenience goodies like leather seats, Climatronic airconditioning,  pushbutton start, sunroof, and cruise control, just to name a few. Safety is another strong point with Electronic Stabilization Program, Anti-Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, and Front and Rear Park Distance Control. All this starts at just P1,171,000.

Folks looking for a crossover can check out the Tiguan, which has been touted as the best-selling SUV in China. Wrapped in the previous-generation's body, the Tiguan can be had for just P1,648,000. For this, you get a dual-zone Climatronic aircon, power driver's seat, Vienna leather upholstery, and a panoramic sunroof. Power is courtesy of a 1.4-liter TSI motor with BlueMotion tech, putting out 150hp and 250Nm. It is mated to a 6s-speed DSG. Oh, and you get the whole alphabet soup of safety tech to boot.

As if these aren't exciting enough, VW Philippines also showed off the Santana GTS and Lamando. The former is a subcompact station wagon with a 1.5-liter TSI engine paired with a 6-speed automatic. The latter is a more premium compact with a 1.4-liter TSI mill with a 7-speed DSG.

While these prices are definitely within Japanese and Korean car territory, Volkswagen Philippines likewise addresses another concern of most people shying away from European brands--maintenance costs. VW Philippines will be offering a comprehensive 3-year or 100,000km warranty. This is complemented by another 3-year warranty on paint and corrosion of the steel body.

Moreover, Volkswagen has taken pains to keep service intervals to just once a year or every 10,000kms. This means you can stay on the road longer and save a bit of cash in the process.

So yes, it looks like more Filipinos can now afford to own a Volkswagen. They can now drive home either a Santana, Lavida, or Tiguan. As for the Santana GTS and Lamando, these will be available by November. Stay tuned to this space as we bring you the specs and features of these models once we have them.

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About the Author

Mr. Gerard Jude Castillo
Gerard has been a self-confessed car nut ever since he was a little boy. As a grown-up, he indulges in his passion by collecting toy cars (which he started since childhood) and reading up on the latest cars out there.  As Associate Editor, he will ensure that you get your fill of the latest cars in the market, as well as a load of automotive features.