It looks familiar, but it doesn’t have a combustion engine.
In 2018, the Volkswagen Group introduced the Tharu as part of a joint venture with SAIC. This partnership aims to create a compact crossover that is MQB A1-based in China’s highly competitive segment. Mechanically, the model is similar to Euro-focused models such as the Skoda Karoq or SEAT Ateca. Not to mention the newly launched Taos in North America.
The electric punch allows the Tharu to travel at 50 km/h (31 MPH) in 3.7 seconds. It can also reach 150 km/h (1 MPH), which should be sufficient for most people. The electric crossover is a vehicle that was built on a platform designed for cars with combustion engines. It doesn’t have a trunk in the front. This is where the electric bits are located, and the battery pack is under the rear seats.
Although the interior cabin of the e-Tharu does not have a digital instrument cluster like that in the Taos’, it does feature VW’s new climate controls. The dashboard’s touch-sensitive module was inspired by recent models such as the Tiguan or Arteon facelift. The touch-sensitive module replaces the traditional buttons and knobs that the company used since the fifth-gen Golf and Passat B6.
VW-SAIC listed the e-Tharu at a starting price 194,800 yuan. This works out to approximately $29,000 at current exchange rate