The Polo gave Volkswagen life in the Indian market. Unfortunately, due to the rise in SUVs, the premium hatchback is now a tough field to master, and it is unlikely that we will see the sporty hatchback make a comeback. But Volkswagen won’t let its icon die yet and seems to have bigger plans for the Polo badge. Here is what you should know about it. Attention Readers! Join us on the WhatsApp Community for daily auto news updates.
Will The Polo Make A Comeback
Bringing back iconic names seems to be the trend lately, and Volkswagen could follow suit. However, Volkswagen seems to have moved on from hatchbacks, so the Polo won’t be back in the small hatchback guise. Instead, speculation suggests that the Polo will be brought back as an SUV. And we expect the Tera, which is currently sold in South American markets, to don the Polo badge.
It is important to note that the Tera is a 4.1-m long SUV, which would make it ineligible for the SUV-4 m taxation rule in India. We expect Volkswagen to cut down the length to comply with the regulations.
VW Tera – Powertrain
The 1.0-litre TSI (114bhp & 178Nm) could be utilised in the India-spec Tera. Gearbox options could include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter unit. To cater to the loyal Polo GT fanbase, Volkswagen could also introduce a sportier trim for the Tera. Skoda is currently evaluating the Kylaq with a 1.5-litre TSI engine, and the sportier versions of the Tera could also be offered with the same 1.5-litre engine mated to a 7-speed DSG. However, the powertrain details are still in the speculation stage, and Volkswagen could simply boost the power figures of the 1.0-litre TSI on the GT trim.
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Features
The feature list could be identical to Kylaq’s. Some of the expected features include –
Automatic climate control
Electric Sunroof
8-inch digital driver’s display
10-inch infotainment screen
Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
Electrically adjustable ORVMs
Powered front seats with a ventilation function
6 airbags
Wireless charging
Interestingly, the Brazil-spec model misses out on an electric sunroof. Indians love this feature, so Volkswagen could potentially introduce it here.
VW Tera – Pricing & Launch
It’s a Volkswagen, so it won’t be cheap. It would be one of the more expensive cars in its segment and could be priced between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 17 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). While it may share its underpinnings with the Kylaq, you would be paying a small premium over it for the Volkswagen badge.
Volkswagen seems to be done with the 2026 launches. It was set to launch 3 new SUVs this year, and all 3 have been revealed: the Tayron R-line, Tayron Life, and the Taigun facelift. The Tera (or the Polo) is expected to debut next year.
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