Volkswagen Small SUVs Coming: Based on Up! and Polo

Small SUVs are heating up faster than a bunsen burner in science class and VW seems happy to provide the gas. According to German publication Handelsblatt, there will be two new models on the way that will be smaller than the Tiguan.

Considering that Audi is also rumored to be considering an A2 small crossover that would compete directly with the Nissan Juke, it would make sense that its parent company would also be thinking of a similar move. In the past, VW spoke of building something along those lines based on the Suzuki SX4, but with ties between the company severed, that dream is dead.

The most recent report is suggesting that a small SUV based on the Volkswagen Up! would be available while a larger version based on the Polo would slot in between the aforementioned car and the Tiguan.

According to Handelsblatt, the Up!-based vehicle would sell for well under 20,000 euros, wich roughly translates to $26,000. Given that neither of the prospective donor cars are available in the U.S. today, it seems unlikely that whatever spawns will swim across to the American market — a traditional standpoint with German automakers and the small cars each produces.

Despite that old attitude, the growing demand for more fuel efficient cars and success of cars like the Nissan Juke might be enough to sway German opinion. Audi already committed to building a plant in Mexico to assemble the Q5 in North America for 2016, which represents growing dedication to the customer base.

While the Q5 is nothing like the two future vehicles that seem possible here, the fact that the company is pouring more money into reducing American production costs is probably the first seed of a growing commitment in the country.

[Source: Automotive News]