CAMPINAS, Brazil — Volkswagen just gave its Saveiro a major update late August, and now it is time for the popular, car-derived compact pickup to appeal to the adventurous leisure market with the Saveiro Cross. It will do battle here with Fiat's Strada Adventure.
Appearance-wise, the Saveiro Cross gets a new front bumper with headlamp/foglamp combination, a design first seen in the Crossfox that was introduced late last year. The grille also gets a honeycomb motif to differentiate it from the standard Saveiro. The lower bumper is rugged but, with its understated badging in low relief, appears more elegant than the off-roader-style brush guards that are frequently seen on SUVs. The wheel arches have color-coordinated cladding, and there's a rollbar that extends to the cargo bed.
Pirelli Scorpio 205/60R15 ATR tires are mounted on light alloy wheels.
Power is unchanged from the standard Saveiro's 1.6-liter engine that makes 102 horsepower and 112 pound-feet of torque and runs on E100 ethanol. It's an engine first seen in the 2009 VW lineup, first introduced in mid-2008 and dubbed the Volkswagen High Torque (VHT) engine.
No change in the transaxle either, which features lowered 1st and 2nd gears compared to VW's base Gol and Voyage in this market, resulting in a somewhat unpleasant, large gap between 2nd and 3rd.. Surprisingly, there is no ASG, I-Motion automated sequential gearbox on offer.
The Saveiro Cross is a nice little pickup, especially when painted Atacama orange, the same launch color as on the VW Crossfox. It rides comfortably without the category-associated jolts thanks to the progressive-rate rear coil springs on the torsion beam axle, which is in tune with the MacPherson at front. Driving position and feel are typically German and Volkswagen.
The Saveiro Cross is priced at the equivalent of $23,250 and as such, slots in as the top model in the Saveiro lineup that starts with the base standard-cap pickup at $17,800. Air-conditioning will be a $1,580 option — a bargain in Brazil, where it normally costs about $2,800 to add to a vehicle.
Inside Line says: A little fun for small-pickup owners in Brazil. — Bob Sharp, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
debbaranko says:
02:25 PM, 02/27/2010
Any compact pickups like this has never done well in the US. Didn't VW and Dodge try this before back in the 80's? Alhough I do remember a certain Dodge Rampage version with a GLH'S drivetrain that had about 300hp. I would watch it smoke all the wannabe ricer Hondas at nighttime drags by my house in high scholl.
carguru12 says:
10:07 AM, 02/27/2010
Oh. My. God. Is this the next VW Rabbit Pickup? I like the VW Caddy, but it's not available for U.S. market, maybe not yet. I don't like the wheels and tires, exterior color, or the fact that the front end looks just like the Golf VI's. I do, however, like the Audi-inspired leather bucket seats.
charlesb says:
08:51 AM, 02/27/2010
Unibody pickups are kind of silly. Actually the Chevy Avalanche is silly and this thing is ridiculous.
alaskanroads says:
10:22 AM, 02/26/2010
Americans may not like these kinds of small fuel efficient pickups (Subaru Baja) but they better get used to the idea. Whether they like it or not, these car based pickups will be forsale here one day, as well as smaller fuel efficient pickups. The good Old days of 12mpg V8's are dying fast. I hope VW at least sells the Amarok TDI here soon.
autoadviseorg says:
08:30 AM, 02/26/2010
That thing should appeal to school and college kids more than a Scion! But unfortunately no one in the compact pickup truck wants to make a cool truck with decent fuel economy. I am sure this one should give a car like fuel economy.
throwback says:
08:07 AM, 02/26/2010
I would love to get one of these with a TDI engine, but no company wants to build a compact truck for the USA. I will have to pick up a well used Subaru Baja in a year or two.