Polo substitute: Volkswagen Lavida XR sedan presented, which can be brought to Russia

You can't call a completely new «four-door» — this is a kind of model that is now presented in many poor markets. Lavida with the prefix will be offered with a non-alternative «aspirated», while the source has a turbo version.

The compact Volkswagen sedan on the MQB “trolley” has been in service since 2017, initially it was positioned as an “exclusive” for Latin America: the car is called Virtus, production for this region has been launched in Brazil. But since last year, Virtus has also “registered” in India, and immediately in a restyled form (the South American “four-door” was then also updated), from there it began to be delivered to other poor markets. By the way, in South Africa, the model was given the name Polo Sedan. But once the Brazilian VW Virtus was considered the prototype of the next Russian Polo sedan, but our state employee in the new generation has become a liftback based on the Skoda Rapid. So now the “four-door” has reached China, and also under a different name: there it is the Volkswagen Lavida XR (the Chinese name is Lavida Xinrui). Recall that in the Celestial Empire there is also “just” Lavida — an analogue of the global Jetta. SAIC Volkswagen JV is responsible for the production of the sedan with the attachment (it also makes Lavida-Jetta).

Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 1/3 Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 2/3 Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 3/3

Externally, the VW Lavida XR generally repeats cars for other countries, but the Chinese “four-door” still has some features. So, the radiator grille has its own pattern, in addition, there may be shiny “dots” on the front bumper. In addition, the rear bumper has been retouched. The length (4561 mm) and wheelbase (2651 mm) of the Lavida XR is the same as the Virtus. Volkswagen Lavida XR for China

The interior is almost the same as that of other versions, except that the sedan for the PRC is not supposed to have climate control with a touch control unit, instead of it — a regular air conditioner and washers. The Chinese “four-door” already “in the base” has a digital instrument cluster (8 inches), a multimedia system, six airbags, an auto-braking system and tracking markings. The model also has a sunroof, a rearview camera, a keyless entry system and an engine start button.

Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 1/4 Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 2/4 Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 3/4 Volkswagen Lavida XR for China 4/4 .s., which is combined with the classic six-speed «automatic». The range of Virtus (depending on the market) includes a naturally aspirated engine 1.6, a «turbo engine» 1.0 and a «turbo four» 1.4 and 1.5, in other countries there are also «mechanics».

The current Volkswagen Virtus for Latin America 1/3 Current Volkswagen Virtus for Latin America 2/3 Current Volkswagen Virtus for Latin America 3/3

Prices of Lavida XR have not yet been announced, sales start in China is scheduled for June. Subsequently, one of the Russian dealers may well bring this sedan under the parallel import scheme. By the way, you can already buy a simple “four-door” of the Volkswagen concern, made in China: this is the Jetta VA3 (the model of a separate Jetta brand is based on the same platform as the deceased Russian liftbacks VW Polo and Skoda Rapid).