Volkswagen Nivus crossover coupe debuts in South America

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the most notable things about compact crossover is that it brings coupe-like styling down to one of the cheapest car segments. To mark its presence in this category, the German automaker, Volkswagen, finally rolled out the new model, “Nivus”, a newest and smallest crossover coupe of its lineup. It is developed in Brazil for sale in South America and other international markets, including Europe. 

Volkswagen Nivus is based on a smaller version of the MQB platform, adopted from Virtus, Polo, and T-Cross. Dimensionally, it is 4,266 mm long, 1,757 mm wide, 1,493 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2,566 mm. It is longer than Polo and T-Cross. The trunk space measures 415 litres, which is bigger than both the models.

The five-seater Nivus stands out from its competitors with a low roof and coupe-like proportions. Other features like SUV styling cues, windswept body lines, LED headlamps, big rear spoiler, and 17-inch alloy wheels complement its look.

Inside the cabin, the coupe crossover’s dashboard is dominated by a large 10-inch touchscreen above the center console, which is combined with the 10.25-inch Active Info Display digital instrument cluster for a high-tech appearance and increased connectivity. The Nivus infotainment system is called VW Play and pronounced "Volks" Play. It is based on an interface developed in Brazil and will soon be available in all new Volkswagen cars.

Under the hood, the Volkswagen Nivus houses a 1.0 litre TSI turbocharged three cylinders engine producing 128 PS of maximum power and 200 Nm of peak torque. Power is sent to the front wheel through a six-speed automatic transmission. Nivus safety features include automatic emergency braking, electronic stability control, adaptive cruise control, and fatigue detector. 

Volkswagen has still not revealed any information about pricing or equipment; however, the dealers disclosed some of the details. As per them, it would be available in three variants - 200 TSI, Comfortline, and Highline at a starting price of R$79,990 (RM 64,327).

The Nivus will go on sale in Brazil in the coming weeks, followed by Argentina later this year and in Europe in 2021. For Malaysia, Volkswagen has not yet announced any plans.

Also read: Volkswagen plans to expand Jetta sub-brand outside China