The German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen has officially confirmed that they will launch a sub-4-metre sport utility vehicle in 2027 with an internal combustion engine powertrain, whose name is still pending. It is set to be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform and closely related to the Skoda Kamiq, which is already on sale in the Indian market from December 2024 with a starting ex-showroom price of ₹7.59 lakh.
The confirmation regarding it comes shortly after getting the approval from the Volkswagen Group’s global management to proceed with the development and production for its own version of the Skoda Kamiq. Thomas Schäfer, the CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, has confirmed that the upcoming sub-4-metre car is specially being developed for the Indian market.
Notably, a Kyla-based compact SUV with the Volkswagen banner is already on sale in the Brazilian market with the name of Tera; the same nameplate for the Indian model is still uncertain. Reports confirm the upcoming Volkswagen sub-4-metre SUV will borrow the powertrain from the Skoda Kamiq, which gets a 999 cc 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol ICE with two transmission options:
- 6-speed manual
- 6-speed automatic
Of the two gearboxes, the first one is set to offer an upcoming VW car, but the second will be replaced with an 8-speed unit. It is worth noting that soon Kylaq will get a mid-life upgrade with a few changes and upgrades on the exterior and inside the cabin with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox with the same ICE replacing the existing 6-speed unit.
The Kylaq’s internal combustion engine delivers 115 PS power and 178 Nm torque; we are expecting the same for the upcoming Volkswagen SUV with ±5 PS and ±10 Nm. If the power output increases, then the VW car will take less time for 0 to 100 km/h acceleration than the Skoda, and top speed may remain the same, which is 188 km/h.
As the upcoming VW sub-4-metre car is going to be a rebadged version of the Kylaq, it is certain that the design and dimensions will be nearly similar. The one already on sale in the Indian market under the banner of Skoda measures 3,995 mm in length, 1,783 mm in width, 1,619 mm in height, 2,566 mm in wheelbase, and 189 mm in ground clearance.
Besides dimensions and design, platform and underpinning, and powertrain and performance, the features and technology may also remain the same in the VW SUV as in the Skoda car. The upcoming Volkswagen car will sit below the Taigun, a mid-size sport utility vehicle, the entry-level SUV. As of now, there’s not a single nameplate in India with the VW banner that falls under the sub-4-metre segment.
In India, the best-selling sub-4-metre SUV in July 2026 was the Tata Punch with 21,313 sales, followed by the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and Hyundai Venue, with 19,473, 17,471, 12,055, and 11,095 deliveries, respectively. After the launch, the anticipated VW car will compete with them and others too.
In July 2026, the Skoda Kylaq was the model which got the ninth position with 3,727 units. As the upcoming one is a rebadged version of the same SUV, the German automobile manufacturer may also be able to make some numbers in India. After launch, Kylaq deliveries began in January 2025. In the last 19 months, 74,592 units have been sold; the breakdown of the same is in the image below.
