Volkswagen T-Cross spawns new single-cab and dual-cab ute

The Volkswagen Tukan has been revealed as a replacement for the Latin American Saveiro, and it's the first production ute to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB architecture.

The Tukan has been revealed ahead of its market launch in the first half of 2027, and it will be built in Volkswagen’s Paraná plant in Brazil for Latin American markets.

It’s derived from the T-Cross light SUV, though it wears standard LED headlights resembling those on the larger Tiguan, and will be offered as either a single-cab or dual-cab ute.

Unlike the T-Cross, which has a coil-sprung rear-end, the Tukan features leaf springs, as is the case with many utes.

Volkswagen has yet to confirm dimensions or powertrain information for the Tukan, though Brazilian media reports it could be offered with turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol powertrains, the latter likely featuring a 48V mild-hybrid system.

The Saveiro it’s set to replace, in contrast, is offered with a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

The unibody Tukan is part of a US$3.7 billion (A$5.16bn) investment by Volkswagen in South America, and one of 21 new launches planned for the continent through 2028.

It’ll slot in under the body-on-frame Amarok in markets such as Brazil. Instead of being a Ford Ranger-derived model as in Australia, the Latin American Amarok is instead an updated version of the first-generation ute that's superseded here.

This will be replaced in 2027 by a new model developed in partnership with Chinese automaker SAIC Motor and likely closely related to the LDV Terron 9 and MG U9 sold in Australia.

Small dual-cab utes are big business in markets like Brazil.

Fiat fields two car-derived utes there: the Strada, which is closer in size to the outgoing Volkswagen Saveiro, plus the larger Toro.

Other competitors include the Chevrolet Montana and the Renault Oroch, the latter based on the previous-generation Renault/Dacia Duster and set to be replaced by a new ute called the Niagara.

Larger offerings include the Ford Maverick developed in the US, plus the Ram Rampage which was developed for Brazil but is now planned for a US launch.

BYD has been spied testing what appears to be a smaller, car-based ute for Latin America, while Toyota is reportedly working on a ute based on its Corolla Cross small SUV.

These vehicles slot in under traditional, body-on-frame utes like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger which top the sales charts in Australia.

Presently, there’s just one ute offered in Australia with unibody construction: the KGM Musso EV.

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