Which 2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variant Should You Buy? [Comparison Guide]

Volkswagen Philippines has launched the all-new 2024 Tharu crossover for the Philippine market. It sits as a larger alternative to the Volkswagen T-Cross, and it offers plenty of safety and convenience features. 

The 2024 Volkswagen Tharu SEL

The 2024 Volkswagen Tharu has two different variants available locally. There’s the 300 TSI DSG SE and the 300 TSI DSG SEL. So which of the two is the right one to get? Let’s find out by looking at the differences in specs between the two Tharu trims. 

2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variants: Exterior

On the outside, the SEL sports offers more style as it sports a black-colored illuminated grille, matrix LED headlamps with dynamic turn signals, exterior ambient lighting, overfenders, a black rear spoiler, and black-colored roof rails. Its headlamp cluster also comes with integrated front fog lamps and cornering lamps. 

Tharu from the rear (SEL trim shown)

The SE also gets LED headlamps, but these do not have integrated lighting elements. Its grille, in turn, gets chrome accents, while its roof rails and rear spoiler are colored-keyed with its body. 

For exterior features common between the SE and SEL, both get LED daytime running lamps, chrome-accented door handles, rain-sensing front wipers, a panoramic sunroof, a rear foglamp, and LED taillights. Both also have an electronic tailgate, but the one on the higher-spec SEL has a hands-free function. 

Only the Tharu SEL's wheels come with red-colored accents

The two Tharu versions also get the same identical dimensions. They both have a length of 4,458mm, a width of 1,841mm, a height of 1,632mm, and a wheelbase spanning 2,680mm. The two trims also ride on 18-inch wheels, but the set on the SEL gets red accents. 

2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variants: Interior

Both Tharu trims offer plenty of comfort features for all five occupants. Found within the SEL are a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and front passenger seat that both come with a heating function. The SE meanwhile, also gets a 12-way power adjustable driver’s seat, but its front passenger seat is six-way manual adjustable only. Also, the SE’s front seats lack a heating function. 

The SEL and SE, both get 60:40 split-folding rear seats with center arrests, a glove box with a cooling function, ambient lighting, a leather shift knob, a keyless entry system with a push-to-start button, and a two-zone automatic air-conditioning system.

Tharu SEL's cockpit

On top of all those, the higher-spec SEL’s ambient lighting system is extended to its front and rear door handles and interior trims. Exclusive features of the SEL meanwhile, include an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. 

Last but not least, the SE gets leather seats with fabric inserts, while the SEL gets full leather seats. Both do have 455 liters of default cargo space, with 1,543 liters with their rear seats folded down. 

Depending on the trim and exterior color, the Tharu likewise gets different interior colors. For units in Pure White, Mangan Grey, and Petroleum Blue, the SE version gets deep blue/light grey with copper accents. 

The Tharu's trunk

The SEL in Pure White and Mangan grey meanwhile, gets a deep blue/light grey interior with red accents.

One special color combination goes to the SEL in Polytech Blue. Its interior gets a deep blue/pine green interior with silver accents. 

2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variants: Tech & Safety

Handling onboard entertainment for the Tharu SE is an eight-inch touchscreen headunit with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. The one on the SEL meanwhile, gets the same connectivity options, but it might be more legible as it is a larger 12-inch screen. Sound for both screens though, might be identical as they are outputted by a six-piece speaker system. 

Likewise more legible on the SEL is it’s digital gauge cluster. At 10.25 inches in size, it is far larger compared to the SE’s eight-inch display. 

A closer look at the Tharu SEL's touchscreen display

Powering up one’s devices on both the SE and SEL is done easily thanks to a wireless charging pad. Both trims also get type A and type C USB ports for their rear cabins. The SE’s front cabin, however, gets a type A USB port, while the SEL’s front cabin gets a type C USB port. 

Concerning safety equipment, both trims are pretty much on par with each other. Both have what you’d expect from a modern vehicle like anti-lock braking, stability control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, tire pressure monitoring, engine immobilizer, a reverse camera, traction control, etc. Both trims likewise get access to a cruise control system with a speed limiter. 

The VW crossover's multi-function steering wheel

Both versions of the Volkswagen crossover also get dual front airbags, front side airbags, as well as front and rear head curtain airbags. 

The SEL though does get more parking-oriented features that are not present on the SE. This comes in the form of a front and rear parking distance control, an around-view camera, and an intelligent parking assist system. The latter allows the Tharu SEL to automatically park itself. 

2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variants: Price

2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variants: Engine

When it comes to powertrains, the two Tharu trims are identical as both use a 1.5-liter inline-4 turbocharged gasoline engine making 158 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. Both also utilize a seven-speed direct-shift gearbox (DSG) sending power to their front wheels. 

Do note though, that the Tharu SEL does get a drive mode selector with an eco mode, normal mode, a sport mode, and a custom mode. As such, a driver might be able to squeeze more power out of the SEL than the SE. 

Tharu's 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine

For suspensions, both variants are the same. Up front, the SE and SEL use a MacPherson strut suspension, while their rear gets a four-link suspension. Braking for these two trims is then provided by disc brakes for all four wheels. The Tharu also comes with an electronic parking brake with auto-hold. 

2024 Volkswagen Tharu Variants: Conclusion

In choosing the right Tharu trim, the higher-spec SEL might be the one to go for if a buyer wants to stand out more style-wise. On top of that, the SEL also gets much larger screens. That said, they might be more legible compared to the screens on the SE. Parking might also be easier on the SEL thanks to its parking assist system and around-view camera. 

The all-new Tharu from the front

On the flip side, the SE already has the chops to be a stylish ride but without the black-colored exterior bits. On top of that, it mostly carries over the same mechanical specs so it is up to par with the SEL performance-wise. Drivers who feel that they don’t need the extra parking assistance may lean towards this trim instead. 

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