New Volkswagen Saveiro Bakkie Revealed

author: FutureCar Staff    

Volkswagen has unveiled the latest version of its Saveiro bakkie, a half-tonne pickup truck. However, this new model will not be available in South Africa.

Previously, we reported that the Brazilian-built Saveiro would not be sold in South Africa due to its left-hand drive configuration and the excessive costs of developing a right-hand drive model for the market. Volkswagen South Africa confirmed this decision, stating that the low volumes in South Africa would not make business sense for the company.

The Saveiro is available in both single-cab and double-cab configurations. The single cab has a payload capacity of 664 kg, while the double cab variant has a slightly lower payload capacity of 638 kg. The Saveiro range includes the following models: Robust Single Cab, Robust Double Cab, Trendline Single Cab, and Extreme Double Cab.

The range-topping Extreme model stands out with its 15-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery in Oliver Gray, a Composition Touch multimedia system, and various exterior elements that match its Extreme nameplate.

The 2023 iteration of the Saveiro features a redesigned front with a taller bonnet, new grille, and Tiguan-Esque headlights. The rear of the vehicle has darkened taillights connected by a matte black stripe, and the redesigned rear bumper improves the departure angle. The Saveiro measures 4,474 mm in length, 1,521 mm in height, and 1,893 mm in width, with a wheelbase of 2,752 mm.

Under the hood, the Saveiro is powered by VW's petrol 1.6-liter naturally aspirated EA211 engine, delivering 85 kW and 157 N.m of torque to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The front suspension has been raised by 10 mm to improve ground clearance.

With the discontinuation of the Nissan NP200, the Saveiro could potentially fill the void in the half-tonne bakkie segment.

If you're in the market for a new or used Volkswagen bakkie, you can browse over 26,000 options on CARmag's website.

FutureCar Staff