The compact and stylish CUV could one day replace the Polo hatchback.
If a recent release by the company’s Brazil division can be believed, the Volkswagen Nivus is closer to being revealed. The company released images of a VW Nivus lightly camouflaged, along with details about the subcompact SUV coupe-inspired.
Volkswagen South America engineers, designers and architects took over the entire development of the Nivus. It will be made in Brazil. The coupelike, crossover will soon be sold by Volkswagen European dealers, as it is also locally manufactured on the continent. Brazil will be the first to get the VW Nivus in June. Other Latin American markets will follow suit by the end.
This compact crossover is notable because it offers coupelike styling at a very affordable price. Contrary to the more conventionally designed T-Cross Tarek, and Tiguan The Nivus’s rear styling is almost identical to the Porsche Macan. The Nivus, unlike VW’s other SUV “coupe”, is more round and smooth than the sharp. Atlas Cross Sport. The Nivus’s LED taillights, daytime running lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels give it a very upmarket look.
The Nivus is built on the same MQB architecture as several other Volkswagens. It will only be powered by a 1.0-liter Inline-Three, which produces 128 horsepower (94 Kilowatts) & 148 pound-feet (220 Newton-meters). The front wheels will be powered by a six-speed automatic, while the VW 4Motion all wheel drive will not. Although there were reports that a six-speed manual would have been the standard transmission, Volkswagen do Brasil did not mention the slushbox. This powertrain combination has been proven to be very efficient in other VW vehicles, so the subcompact Nivus should follow the example.
The Volkswagen Nivus has a similar footprint to the Polo but offers 415 liters (14.7 cubic feet) of cargo space. This is a significant improvement on the Polo’s 285L (10.2-cubic-foot) cargo capacity. The Nivus might be more appealing to smaller families.
Although U.S. sales prospects are not known, the Nivus would be Volkswagen of America’s most affordable product at $17,000 if it were to be imported (or locally produced). We expect that VW will focus its efforts on a $20,000 crossover, which would be just below the Tiguan, but still more than the Nivus. We expect the small, pseudo-German-Brazilian crossover to fight the Nissan Kicks or Hyundai Venue if it ever makes it to America.