After all that speculation surrounding on a model they teased on social media, Volkswagen Philippines decided to unveil a completely different model instead. Meet the 2023 Cross Santana.
Backtracking on their promise to move away from their “great Chinese experiment,” it seems the German brand badly needed an entry in the growing hatchback/wagon-based crossovers. And so, Volkswagen got a Santana GTS and slapped on black wheel arches and black door claddings as well as a front bumper overrider and roof rails to make an entry-level crossover. It also gets a raised suspension (no mention on how many mm’s it’s gained) and unique blacked out wheels.
At P 1.098-million, it slots below the P 1.340-million T-Cross, but get this, they get the same engine. The 1.5-liter MPI 4-cylinder engine in the Cross Santana produces 110 horsepower and 150 Nm of torque. It’s then mated to a 6-speed automatic driving the front wheels.
Safety features include 6 SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program, and rear parking sensors with a rear camera.
Volkswagen Philippines hasn’t provided any photo of the interior, but based on their description, it’s pretty much the Santana GTS down to the leather/fabric combination seats with red stitching, sun roof, and a 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Like all other Volkswagens, it comes with a 3-year / 100,000 kilometer warranty and a free one-year 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance.
How do you feel about the 2023 Volkswagen Cross Santana?
Lol
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of nutballs
So.. from tharu to t cross facelift to this. 😂😂😂😂 from sad to downright hilarious
ReplyDeleteVW is really scraping the bottom of the barrel to find a car to sell.
ReplyDeleteIf I am not mistaken, this was launched 2016 in China, and based on the current 3rd gen Santana sedan that was launched 2012. How low can VW PH get...
Dude the Santana line is even discontinued in China HAHAHAH. VW is just using us as a dumping ground for unsold China-spec Volkswagens. What a face-palm moment for VW PH and Ayala with controversy after controversy. Although I expect the T-Cross announcement to come at a later date, this is just an announcement that is just unnecessary. If they continue to do these sorts of stuff, might as well close shop.
Deletepretty sure the Cross Santana stopped production in like 2019 lmao
DeleteDafuq
ReplyDeleteEveryone else is eager to launch EVs while VW PH is launching rubbish 😂
ReplyDeleteI'm willing to bet that these are just unsold Santana GTS units that they modified to look like the Cross Santana. VW Philippines is such a failure and at this point, they should just close down.
ReplyDeleteNotice how the official press photo is different from the China-spec Cross Santana. Are they gonna sell these 2018 units as 2023 just like how they sold 2015 dieselgate-reject Golfs and Jettas as brand new 2017 models?
DeleteVolkswagen Philippines isn't a failure as they can still sell a lot of Santana Sedan and T Cross units since last year.
DeleteVW Philippines only sold 604 units last year below Peugeot with 620 units. Premium/Luxury brands even way ahead with VW in terms of sales. VW Philippines strategy is a disaster for the brand in the country.
DeleteMajority of those 604 units are Ayala employees with their car plans.
DeleteVolkswagen Philippines obtained a special permission to SAIC to produce more units of the Santana Sedan and Santana Cross since last year for Philippine market which is good..SAIC knows Volkswagen Philippines can still sell Santana units in decent numbers.
ReplyDeleteSantana Cross and Santana Sedan are just fillers while waiting for Volkswagen Philippines to obtain importation and selling rights for the Tharu SUV and upcoming Lavida XR/Virtus Sedan which is the replacement of the Santana Sedan and Lavida.
Where did you get that information? It's been 5 years and they still haven't sold the initial batch so why would they even import more?
DeleteThey've sold some units of Santana GTS hatchback and Santana Sedan since 2019..Only a dozen of old Santana GTS hatchback remains..Volkswagen Santana and T Cross are their volume sellers now.
DeleteBeen talking to a Volkswagen sales employee on Facebook about this.
His source of info is from a VW agent over FB. highly credible.
DeleteSource: Trust me bro
DeleteRIP VW 😵
ReplyDeleteMas makaka benta sila nito compare sa Santana GTS, good strategy for this one hopefully they can sell more units of this model though parang outgoing na din ito at mahirapan ito mag compete sa chinese brands in terms of specs and features in terms of value for money. Nice try na din VW.
ReplyDeleteIt leaves a bad taste with consumers. You're selling EOL units. if you're keeping the cars for 5-10 years, how about the parts and support?
DeleteIts easy to get parts of China made Volkswagen vehicles compared to Germany made Volkswagen vehicles
DeleteVW Philippines have so many bad decisions with their models they offer to the market. They never learned to lose potential sales momentum.
ReplyDeleteMaybe their bosses are no longer hungry due to fat bonuses and benefits
ReplyDeleteAt this point, the only reason VW Philippines exists is it's a big tax write off for the Ayala Group. Impossible they're earning money when not even one Ayala subsidiary uses VW as fleet cars or even service vehicles. This is like the auto industry version of the Mel Brooks movie The Producers.
ReplyDeleteThey're earning huge profits in selling Volkswagen vehicles as the prices of it got high markups
DeleteThe Santana sedan, sold here as some premium "German engineered" small car, has always been the "pang-Taxi" car in China.
ReplyDeletePero kahit doon tinigil na yan. Phase out na since 2018 ang Santana Taxi.
Production of the Santana Sedan can still continue for export markets under the request of Volkswagen Philippines to SAIC.
DeleteNaniwala ka naman sa Wikipedia na panay fake information ang laman na gawa-gawa nang mga @utistic trolls.
so masmaniniwala ang tao sa sinasabi mo na magre-retool ang SAIC para gumawa ng DISCONTINUED model para sa Pilipinas na nakabenta ng 604 TOTAL units of VW? hahahahahaha sana binabayaran ka ng VW para sa ka ta nga han mo, boi.
DeleteJust bring in VW IDs.
ReplyDeleteAre you buying one huh?
DeleteKeep on bringing in more made in China and affordable Volkswagen vehicles huh Volkswagen Philippines 👍👍Good luck and more power to Ayala Group and AC Industrials
ReplyDeleteDon't mind these peasants and gawkers who keep on requesting Volkswagen vehicles from Germany but in reality they CAN'T AFFORD IT as they can only afford a Wigo,Celerio,MG5,L300,Vios,S-Presso and Bajaj Maxima 😂😂
I still believe in AC Industrials and Volkswagen Philippines
ReplyDeleteKeep up bringing in affordable value for money Volkswagen vehicles from China
No to Brazilian and Mexican Volkswagen vehicles
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DeleteI don't reply nor talk to PWD people here!
ReplyDeleteVolkswagen Santana Cross is much better than the Toyota Yaris hatchback and Raize G.
Volkswagen T Cross and Santana Cross are miles better than the Toyota Raize and Hyundai Creta 👍👍
ReplyDeleteIf they were miles better why only 604 units, hmm something’s wrong here.
ReplyDeleteMaybe what he mean is bitter😂😂😂
DeleteI hope Volkswagen drops their local distributor, because this is just embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteYeah, just like what hyundae korea did to hari, now hyundae sales in ph is resurging
DeleteAyala Group got more money and connections so I doubt Volkswagen AG would drop it.
DeleteVolkswagen AG won't spend its money to be a direct distributor in the Philippines as its a very small market
Hula hula and assume pa more👶👶👶
Delete