New pickup is Volkswagen's big bet in a segment in which Fiat has never really been threatened, that of compact and intermediate pickup trucks
Volkswagen revealed, under heavy camouflage and with little technical information, its new Tukan pickup. It is the successor to Saveiro — the last model derived from the Gol line that is still in production — and will enter a segment in which Fiat has a wide advantage with the Strada and Toro; Renault Oroch and Chevrolet Montana have never had sales volumes close to those of the Italian duo.
VW has a history of arriving late in some segments, but still managing to achieve good results. This was the case with the T-Cross, Nivus and Tera SUVs. Now, with Tukan, the German automaker hopes to repeat this formula. The new pickup will hit the market in early 2027, produced in São José dos Pinhais (PR)
But why can Volkswagen succeed where its competitors have not? One of the reasons is in the construction of Tukan itself. It will be the first utility made on the MQB modular platform, which is used in practically all models of the brand in the country, with the exception of Saveiro and Amarok.
According to information revealed during the presentation, it will also be the model with the largest wheelbase ever produced with this structural base, although the manufacturer has not released official figures. The scarcity of technical information only ended when data on the rear suspension was released: it can be said that it was copied from the Strada — and this is not a demerit.
The omega-type rear axle is one of the differentials of the Fiat pickup compared to the competition. Due to its shape, it guarantees greater clearance in relation to the ground. And its construction with a spring beam is intended to reconcile comfort with load capacity. In the Strada single cab, the maximum weight allowed is 720 kg. It is to be expected that the VW Tukan will have at least the same capacity.
During Tukan’s preview, it was also disclosed that the model will have a variable thickness beam — from 8 mm to 15 mm where it joins the rigid axle — to, according to information from VW itself, combine robustness and comfort. Finally, Volkswagen’s new pickup will still have a stabilizer bar on the rear axle.
According to the measurements made by journalists during the presentation, the new pickup should be approximately 4.50 meters long, 2.70 m wheelbase, approximately 1.70 meters wide and height varying between 1.55 m and 1.60 m. This is the approximate size of the Chevrolet Montana.
Most of the Fiat Strada’s sales volume is in the so-called “direct sales”, that is, to CNPJ. Volkswagen also has a good performance in this segment: the “moribund” Saveiro, for example, and the Polo have most of their registrations made in the same modality.
In addition, the German brand is keeping an eye on agribusiness, and this was explicit in the speech of an executive of the automaker during the presentation of Tukan.
Unlike the Montana, in which Chevrolet aimed at the public looking for compact pickup trucks as a vehicle with a lifestyle footprint, the VW Tukan should have single cab versions aimed at work and configurations for the urban public.
As engine options, Volkswagen has several engines “on the shelf” to use, depending on the application. No concrete information has been revealed, but the automaker has the aspirated 1.6 option and advances with the 1.0 and 1.4, both TSI — that is, turbo with direct injection. The expectation is that Tukan will also debut an MHEV unit, that is, a mild hybrid with a 48-volt system combined with a 1.5 combustion engine. This would be reserved for the top of the range, which could pinch sales even from the Fiat Toro, a pickup with an intermediate size between compact and medium-sized cars.
