Volkswagen South Africa looks to introduce new models for 2025

by Aphiwe Lungelo Nzimande

Volkswagen South Africa held its annual Indaba event at the famous Kariega plant, which produces and manufactures cars for global consumption. As always, the event is set up to track and analyze such stats as produced units, best sellers, how many vehicles, economic factors, breaking records, and most of all, share new plans for the future of our market with such things as price revisions, model introductions, etc. This year's hosting was nothing short of great as it had a lot to discuss in terms of new energy vehicles, industry updates, debunking rumors, but most of all, sharing the new introductions for 2025.

It is certainly going to be a busy year for VW as they have plans to take on the challenging trading environment and competition gunning for their spot. VW looks to introduce a handful of vehicle models while expanding local production as a way of putting up a fight and staying at the top. After losing its reign as the top seller to Suzuki, 2024 proved to be unsettling for the big brands as the inclusion and rapid introduction of Chinese brands had shaken the game. In fact, Volkswagen Group Africa’s passenger car sales shrunk by 2.8%, further suggesting that the market is very competitive for legacy brands like VW.

It seems well-received because VW has set up an interesting lineup of models to be introduced in 2025 to help continue their growth and success in both local and global market sales. These are:

The Volkswagen Tayron

Picture the new gen Tiguan but with 7 seats, so it’s the All-Space? Well, yes and no, because yes, this is the 7-seater version of the new current gen Tiguan, but instead of being called the All-Space, it is now formally referred to as the Tayron. The powertrain of the Tayron will most likely be the 1.4 and 2.0 liter turbodiesel engines found in the new Tiguan.

The Tayron is expected to make its local debut around September.

The Volkswagen Golf 8 1.4 TSI

After not being considered for our market in its pre-facelift form as just a normal Golf due to some concerns, VW has decided to let us have a go at the new Golf. Expected to make its way to our dealer floors soon, this Golf will be offered with a 1.4-liter turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine good for 110 kW and 250 Nm. The Golf GTI and R, however, were not confirmed for our market due to some ongoing investigations of market conditions, but fingers crossed it gets approved, we hope.

 You will have 8 gears in your automatic gearbox and have a total of 4 trims to choose from :  

VW Golf 1.4 TSI 110 kW Life – R580 900

VW Golf 1.4 TSI 110 kW Life+ – R604 500

VW Golf 1.4 TSI 110 kW R-Line – R660 00

VW Golf 1.4 TSI 110 kW R-Line+ – R688 100

Volkswagen Group Africa has yet to announce warranty and service/maintenance plan details for this model.

The Volkswagen T Cross

The T-Cross facelift had already made its way to our shores late last year, but Volkswagen felt the need to further expand its lineup by adding a more affordable trim as a way of competitively situating itself in the market and also appealing to more consumers. The T-Cross is driven by a turbocharged 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder petrol engine with 70/85 kW and 175/250 Nm. Buyers can choose between a 5-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. 

A total of 4 trims are available, Pricing for the facelifted T-Cross is as follows :

VW T-Cross 1.0TSI 70 kW Base MT – R400 700

VW T-Cross 1.0 TSI 85 kW Base DSG – R418 200

VW T-Cross 1.0 TSI 85 kW Life DSG – R471 400

VW T-Cross 1.0 TSI 85 kW Style DSG – R511 300

VW T-Cross 1.0TSI 85 kW R-Line DSG – R543 800

The Volkswagen Transporter

The expansive Transporter will feature the Kombi, Crew Bus, Panel Van, and in 2026, the Transporter Double-cab. The Transporter will be offered with a long wheelbase or a short wheelbase (depending on application). There will be just three 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines to choose from, with power figures ranging from 125 kW, 81 kW, and 110 kW. Pricing should be revealed around launch time.

The Volkswagen Crafter

A very renowned and versatile offering by VW in the commercial and business market, it has gone through some subtle revisions on the inside by offering more storage space than ever, upgrades to the infotainment system, and now being equipped with a digital driver's display as standard. On the outside, there are visible yet minimal revisions to the headlights, alloys, bumpers, and rear taillights.

VW says that this new Crafter will be more versatile to serve a wide range of needs. It will be offered in either short wheelbase or long wheelbase form. Powering the Crafter 35 will be a 2.0-litre, 130KW, Bi-Turbodiesel engine, while the Crafter 50 will employ a 120KW 2.0-litre Bi-Turbodiesel engine paired with an 8-speed auto box. Pricing will be revealed closer to launch.

Some rumors showed us that the I.D. Buzz will be introduced somewhere around the second quarter of 2025, but maybe you may have already seen one on the road as a DHL delivery van. The half-ton bakkie segment still has a vacancy, and brands have been quick to pounce on the opportunity. The latest to join the fray is VW with their Volkswagen Polo Xpress, which is essentially a Polo that has been customized to have a load bin area where you would generally have your back seats and boot area. It will have the 1.4-liter petrol engine with 55 kW and 130 Nm paired to a 5-speed manual that we all know.  

Volkswagen also showed off 2 special editions, one in the form of a Polo Vivo Edition 15 that will be made in a limited run of 500 units to celebrate Volkswagen Group Africa making the Vivo nameplate, and the Polo GTI Black Style, which will gain additional black exterior details to embolden its look, such as black alloy wheels, black rear diffuser, and black and red badging, to name a few, to distinguish it from the standard Polo GTI. Pricing for these two will be announced at a later date.