VW’s new entry-level Jetta brand has launched its
first product in China, the VS5 compact SUV. Built by the FAW-Volkswagen joint
venture at its Chengdu plant, the VS5 is in fact a rebadged Seat Ateca and the
dimensions attest that. The SUV is 4,419 mm long, 1,841 mm wide and 1,616 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,630 mm.
Those are almost identical with the dimensions of
the Ateca and Skoda Karoq, but that’s hardly surprising given that all three
models are built on the same MQB platform.
For now, there is a single powertrain choice in
China, the EA211 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine rated at
150 PS and 250 Nm of torque. It’s mated to either a standard
five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transmission supplied
by Japan’s Aisin Seiki. Interestingly, VW has chosen not to fit the Jetta VS5
with the 1.5 TSI Evo unit and the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission,
most likely for cost reasons.
Speaking of costs, the Jetta VS5 is very
aggressively priced in China where it targets mostly first-time car buyers. The
compact SUV went on sale earlier this month with a starting price of 89,800
yuan (US$ 13,050). The range-topping version costs 119,800 yuan
(US$ 17,415).
According to FAW-Volkswagen, this marks the first
time a German-developed crossover is priced below 100,000 yuan (US$ 14,535). The
Jetta brand will have its own distribution network in China, with plans in
place to open more than 200 dealerships by the end of this year.
First deliveries of the VS5 are scheduled for
September. The model will be later followed by the bigger VS7 SUV (a seven-seat
version of the VS5 likely based on the Seat Tarraco) and the VA3 compact sedan
(a rebadged Chinese-spec VW Jetta).
