Volkswagen Tharu vs. the competition

Volkswagen Philippines recently launched the all-new Tharu, introducing a promising contender in the local crossover market. The company regarded the Tharu as the “bridge to its electrified future,” as its design elements and technologies were derived from Volkswagen’s global electrified models.

It is equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen display with Apple Carplay connectivity, premium leather seats, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, and a panoramic sunroof.

The Tharu is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired to a seven-speed direct-shift transmission.

To ensure the safety of its passengers, the Volkswagen Tharu coms with six SRS airbags, anti-lock braking system, electronic parking brake, traction control, anti-slip regulation, slide assist, intelligent parking assist, and a 360-degree camera.

You can enjoy all these features for P1.808 million to P1.945 million.

The local crossover market is a highly competitive one, as most carmakers equip their five-seater models with a slew of comfort features and advanced technologies that will make driving convenient for beginner and experienced drivers alike.

Among the popular models in this segment are Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Ford Territory. Let’s see how a newcomer like Volkswagen Tharu can stack up against these tried-and-tested models.

Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V features an aggressive exterior designed enhanced by premium and sporty touches.

Its cabin is designed to be human-centric with excellent ergonomics, high-quality materials, and premium features such as an eight-inch touchscreen display audio with Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, a six-speaker sound system, one push start system, and single-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents.

Under its hood is a 1.5-liter dual overhead cam i-VTEC engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The HR-V comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assist technologies, which includes collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist system, road departure mitigation system, auto high beam, and lead car departure notification system.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Volkswagen Tharu, you may consider the Honda HR-V as it is priced for only P1.389 million to P1.739 million.

Toyota Corolla Cross

Unlike the Volkswagen Tharu and the Honda HR-V, the Toyota Corolla Cross is also available in a hybrid variant. All Corolla Cross trims are equipped with a 1.8-liter engine and CVT.

Comfort and convenience are guaranteed inside the Toyota Corolla Cross as it is equipped with leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents, a nine-inch infotainment display with Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charger, and push start system.

The Corolla Cross comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes advanced driver assist features such as pre-collision system, auto high beam, lane tracing assist, lane departure alert, and dynamic radar cruise control.

You can get a Toyota Corolla Cross for a lower price than the Volkswagen Tharu since its pricing ranges from only P1.312 million to P1.844 million.

Ford Territory

The Ford Territory embodies a commanding and smart presence as it is based on the brand’s “Progressive Energy in Strength” design philosophy.

On the inside, the crossover features a horizontal coast-to-coast design to create an open and spacious impression. It comes with perforated and ventilated leather seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat and four-way manual adjustment for the passenger seat. It is also equipped with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charging, and USB Type C and Type A ports.

Power comes from an 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with wet-type dual-clutch engagement system. 

Among the advanced driver-assist technologies that are standard in the Ford Territory are active park assist, 360-degree camera, blind spot information system, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and autonomous emergency braking.

The Ford Territory is the most budget-friendly among the Volkswagen Tharu’s major competitors as it retails for only P1.335 million to P1.599 million.

Photos from Hazel Nicole Carreon, Volkswagen Philippines, Roy Robles, Toyota Motor Philippines, and Ford Philippines

Also read:

What’s inside the Volkswagen Tharu

PH-spec Volkswagen Tharu: what we know so far

Here are the prices for the upcoming Volkswagen Tharu