Volkswagen is already selling its new electric SUV at 13,500 €, which is three times cheaper than the ID. Tiguan and has a range of 520 km.

Volkswagen has realized it needs to cut costs — it has just halted development of the electric ID. Golf in Europe and optimize profits in other markets. While its CEO states they will import vehicles to Europe from China, the company already sells an electric sedan with a 555 km range in that market for just 10,600 €.

But there’s more: in collaboration with SAIC Group, the owner of MG, Volkswagen has developed a compact electric SUV measuring 4.56 meters — only 58 mm shorter than the ID. Tiguan already available in Europe — offering a 520 km range for just 99,900 yuan, or about 13,500 euros at the current exchange rate. This makes it 3 times — 2.93 times, to be precise — cheaper than the aforementioned ID. Tiguan, which costs at least 39,590 euros in Spain.

A compact electric SUV similar to the ID. Tiguan and 3 times cheaper

Volkswagen has just opened pre-orders in China for its latest electric SUV, which uses a platform developed jointly with Xpeng. It will cost starting at 13,500 € and is expected to be a sales success, partly due to its price and partly because of its solid specifications — it’s equipped with a single electric motor producing 155 kW / 210 hp and 270 Nm of torque, which is more than sufficient.

Its range will also be adequate, varying depending on the two battery options available — 45.8 kWh and 58.5 kWh — with ranges ranging from 415 to 520 km.

With this information in hand, it’s impossible not to compare Volkswagen’s latest electric SUV in China to the recently launched ID. Tiguan in Europe. We’ve already seen that the Chinese SUV is 3 times cheaper, and note that this makes sense given that, as several Chinese manufacturers have stated to Híbridosyeléctricos, “importing a Chinese car to Europe can make its cost increase by up to 2.5 times.” Well, the price difference for this ID. Era 5x that of the ID. Tiguan—it’s almost 3 times more expensive.

And watch out, because if we take a SUV with similar dimensions—the latest Chinese SUV from Volkswagen offers a wheelbase of 2,815 mm, just 50 mm more than the ID. Tiguan—and add similar range to it, given the 520 km maximum range offered by this ID. Buzz compared to the 605 km of the ID. Tiguan; the comparison seems obvious.

It’s true that the 520 km range of this Chinese-made electric SUV was achieved under China’s CLTC testing cycle, while the ID. Tiguan’s 605 km maximum range was certified under the stricter WLTP cycle. But still, the comparison is almost inevitable... On the other hand, the ID. Tiguan comes with up to 299 horsepower.

Starting at 13,500 €, an SUV with 520 km range and plenty of features

Setting aside comparisons with its European counterpart, the ID. Tiguan; Volkswagen’s latest electric SUV, despite being 3 times cheaper, doesn’t skimp on features typically found in any SUV from this German manufacturer in Europe.

With a trunk capacity of up to 1,815 L when the rear seats are folded down and measured to the ceiling, this ID. model comes standard with a 10.25” screen serving as a dashboard and another 15.6” central screen, along with a driving assistance system featuring a LiDAR radar.

On the other hand, the most equipped versions of this Volkswagen electric SUV may even come with heated and ventilated seats or an electric steering wheel. It’s a shame that Volkswagen has already indicated that this SUV will ultimately only be sold in the Chinese domestic market.