New Tharu SUV Is A Skoda Karoq With A Volkswagen Atlas Face For China

Volkswagen has rebadged the Skoda Karoq for China where it will sell it as the Tharu, with sales starting in the third quarter of the year.

A production version of the VW Powerful Family SUV concept that debuted two months ago, the Tharu looks pretty much like a smaller Teramont (aka China’s Atlas) or a modified Tiguan, if you will.

Measuring 4,453mm (175.3in) in length, 1,841mm (72.5in) in width and 1,632mm (64.3in) in height, with a wheelbase of 2,688mm (105.8in), the VW Tharu is 71mm (2.8in) longer, 27mm (1.1in) taller and has a 50mm (2in) longer wheelbase than the Karoq, while sharing the same height.

Powering the compact SUV at launch will be two engines, including a 1.2-liter and a 1.4-liter, both of them turbocharged, making 116hp and 150hp, respectively. They will be available with a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission.

The Tharu will be built by the Shanghai-Volkswagen joint venture, which also makes the new Grand Lavida, in addition to other vehicles aimed solely at the Chinese market.

Expect the new Volkswagen Tharu to debut officially in the coming months, before going on sale locally towards the end of the year.

Volkswagen might launch the SUV in select South American markets too, according to a previous report, though this version will likely be manufactured in Argentina.