2024 Volkswagen Tharu First Impressions Review: Introduction
Five-seater compact crossover vehicles are continuously gaining popularity in the Philippines, which is why car brands in the local market are launching their respective challengers. A testament to that is the Ford Territory’s popularity, a compact crossover that managed to register almost 5,000 units sold in the first half of 2023.
This is what Volkswagen Philippines is banking on with the 2024 Tharu, available in two variants: entry-level SE and top-of-the-line SEL. It wanted to capitalize on the local market’s demand for five-seater compact crossovers, and the Tharu is Volkswagen PH’s challenger to shake up the said segment. The question is, does it have the arsenal to go up against its segment rivals? Here’s Philkotse’s 2024 Volkswagen Tharu First Impressions Review.
2024 Volkswagen Tharu First Impressions Review: Exterior
The Tharu is unmistakably a Volkswagen even at first glance due to the prominent horizontal lines and the straight character details that come along with it. It stays true to Volkswagen’s design roots, which emphasizes the play of straightforward lines as seen on its other vehicles such as the Lamando, Santana, and T-Cross.
The Tharu is larger than the T-Cross, making it the bigger sibling of the latter Volkswagen crossover. Despite having broader dimensions than the T-Cross, the 2024 Volkswagen Tharu is still a tad smaller than the next-generation Territory but it’s bigger than the Geely Coolray.
The Tharu’s front end has an assertive demeanor and its LED headlights create an illusion that the vehicle is slightly squinting or staring at you in a serious manner. It also shares a bit of similarity with the T-Cross but I find the Tharu’s fascia bolder thanks to its black mesh grille that’s complemented by a robust bumper.
The two Tharu variants have an identical front end with the difference being seen in the color pattern on the bumper. The entry-level SE trim has a silver-colored fish hook-like design while the top-spec SEL features a silver-colored surround on the lower bumper.
I prefer the trim integrated on the top-spec Tharu SEL since it gives an impression that it has a goatee as compared to the mustache-like appearance seen on the SE variant.
Turning at the side, both Tharu variants almost look identical. However, the top-spec trim comes with two-tone alloy wheels that feature red accents. The roof rails, roof, and spoiler of the SEL trim all come in black. On the other hand, the entry-level SE variant comes with silver roof rails and a body-color finish on the roof and spoiler.
The straightforward exterior continues at the rear, which I find refreshing when compared to the current compact crossover vehicles sold in the Philippines. The play of straight lines is still evident at the Tharu’s rear, which is highlighted by the LED taillights. It also has a light bar that extends on the VW emblem, which is illuminated when you turn on the Tharu’s light system.
However, the illuminated VW emblem is currently not my cup of tea since I find it too trendy or too playful. I think it would be better if the carmaker had chosen a dimmed white-colored illumination for the VW rear badge instead.
I also prefer the Tharu emblem on the tailgate to be placed on the left side rather than on the center to prevent leaving a black space on the lower left part of the tailgate.
2024 Volkswagen Tharu First Impressions Review: Interior, Tech & Safety
A tri-tone interior theme welcomes you once you step inside the Tharu’s cabin. Of note, Volkswagen Philippines offers different interior colors, depending on the variant and exterior paint of your preferred Tharu.
In my case, the Tharu that I drove is finished in Polytech Blue exterior paint, which comes with an interior color scheme of Deep Blue with Pine Green and Silver accents. At first, I thought that my preference would lean towards the more conservative interior colorway, which is Deep Blue with a Light Grey accent. But, I find the Pine Green accent refreshing since most cars I have tested come with a black interior theme.
The driver-oriented dashboard has a modern appeal and it doesn’t come with tactile buttons for vehicle controls. The climate control, for instance, has touch-sensitive controls wherein you need to swipe or slide left and right to adjust the blower speed. The Tharu also comes with a wireless charging pad.
The integrated controls on the steering wheel are seamlessly placed, creating a smooth surface. It also comes with touch-sensitive controls as well as a haptic function. I appreciate having the option to slide or swipe the controls without having the need to apply pressure on the interface. But if you prefer the conventional way, you also have the option to press the integrated controls on the steering wheel.
The top-spec Tharu has a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay but it has no Android Auto. The infotainment screen comes with a crisp resolution. It also has a Gesture Control where you can wave your hand in front of the screen to access a different page or menu. The said feature works most of the time but it doesn’t respond in some instances when I was trying it out.
The infotainment touchscreen also serves as your view monitor for the top-spec Tharu’s 360-degree camera. The cameras give you multiple angles to ensure safer maneuvers when you’re parking or when you’re driving through tight streets. But, I do wish that the camera image resolution to be a bit better considering the price tag of the Tharu.
Now on to the seats. The top-of-the-line Tharu has 12-way power adjust seats for the driver and front passenger. It also has a heating function by the way. I like the seat’s cushioning as well as its bolstering as it kept me comfortable while driving the Tharu in the urban jungle.
The Tharu’s rear seats can accommodate up to three passengers. But, two individuals seated at the back is the way to go for maximum comfort. The legroom and headroom of the Tharu are generous, especially for individuals standing 5’5”.
The Tharu also has good cargo space. When the rear seats are up, you can easily fit up to five overnight bags.
2024 Volkswagen Tharu First Impressions Review: Driving
The 2024 Volkswagen Tharu is powered by a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine that delivers 158 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission while power is sent to the front wheels. The top-spec Tharu SEL also comes with four drive modes: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom.
Power delivery from the 1.5-liter turbo engine is adequate although it feels a bit sluggish when accelerating from standstill. But once it picks up, the Tharu cruises smoothly and gives enough power resulting in a pleasant drive. The dual-clutch transmission relatively adapts to the city’s stop-and-go traffic but I noticed minimal shift shocks, especially at low gears but it’s not that bothersome.
I also like the suspension tuning of the Tharu as it absorbs road impacts within reason. However, the roads where I test-drove the Tharu are limited to the paved streets of Bonifacio Global City and some parts of Makati. It would be interesting to know if it can still hold its ground when driven on the dilapidated roads of EDSA or C5.
The steering wheel gives a light feel, which has been the usual setup in modern cars. Despite its light feel, the Tharu’s steering wheel still gives enough road feedback. It also comes in handy when you’re parking the vehicle as you can effortlessly steer the vehicle right into the parking spot.
Among the things that I appreciate about the Tharu is its notable cabin insulation as outside noise is significantly reduced to a minimum. And oh, it also comes with a parking assist system.
In terms of fuel consumption, the Tharu returned 6.5 km/l while driving at an average speed of 14 km/h. Expect a more detailed fuel consumption rating once we fully review the 2024 Volkswagen Tharu.
2024 Volkswagen Tharu First Impressions Review: Initial Verdict
The Tharu is a compact crossover that comes with a well-styled exterior design, which unmistakably makes it a Volkswagen. The straight character lines and the straightforward layout on its exterior can help the Tharu stand out when compared side by side to its segment rivals.
The interior layout also looks nice, which is complemented by features such as the large 12-inch infotainment touchscreen and digital gauge cluster. The Pine Green accent further adds to the Tharu’s uniqueness.
The only hurdle that the Tharu could encounter is its pricing. The entry-level Tharu SL is priced at Php 1,808,000, which is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum when compared to the next-gen Ford Territory. The top-spec Tharu SEL, on the other hand, retails at Php 1,945,000. I understand that Volkswagen Philippines is marketing the Tharu as a more premium option than the likes of the Territory but if you go that route you’re looking at competing with the likes of the Mazda CX-5.