Photo: Mircea Panait
China might be into sedans these days, but Volkswagen has decided that it needs a few hatchbacks here and there. That's why today we say hello to the brand new Gran Santana, offered for the first time as an alternative to the regular Santana sedan.
Now, the Santana is supposed to be a sedan based on Passat technologies from two generations ago. But this hatch is nothing like the Passat. Instead, almost every crease on the Plain Jane body reminds us of the Skoda Rapid Spaceback. You can definitely see it in the side profile, the crease on the door handles and those small mirrors, which are the same as those on a Polo hatch.
We found reports from Brazil suggesting the Rapid Spaceback was going to be used to make a VW Santana model and that it would be marketed as the Santana Quantum in Latin America. No way is this related to the Passat!
There are areas where the Volkswagen design language is visible. For example, the headlights have double boomerang-shaped creases at the bottom, just like we've seen on the 2015 Touareg. The fog lights are similar to the Polo's, and 3D-design taillights have been inspired by the Passat B8.
The interior is filled with familiar VW goodies, including a DSG gearbox that's the same with all the PQ25 models. The infotainment system appears to be a Chinese-spec version of the MIB that made its debut on the Polo facelift. Window switches, steering wheel, air conditioning and all the other buttons are from either the Polo or the Rapid.
But again, there are some original touches, including the wood-trimmed dash (no, it's not real) and the orange leather seats.
There are likely to be other options as well, including a 90 hp 1.4-liter and a 1.6-liter making 110 horsepower. Both are naturally aspirated and come as standard with the 5-speed manual. Production will be handled by the Shanghai Volkswagen joint venture and should start in the coming months.
We found reports from Brazil suggesting the Rapid Spaceback was going to be used to make a VW Santana model and that it would be marketed as the Santana Quantum in Latin America. No way is this related to the Passat!
There are areas where the Volkswagen design language is visible. For example, the headlights have double boomerang-shaped creases at the bottom, just like we've seen on the 2015 Touareg. The fog lights are similar to the Polo's, and 3D-design taillights have been inspired by the Passat B8.
Skoda, Skoda everywhere
According to the manufacturer, this new hatchback is 4,282mm long, 1,706mm wide and 1,475mm tall. It rides on a 2,602mm wheelbase which... surprise, surprise... is the same as the Skoda Rapid Spaceback. 15-inch alloy wheels shod in 185/60 84H Hankok Optimo tires are used for this high-spec model.The interior is filled with familiar VW goodies, including a DSG gearbox that's the same with all the PQ25 models. The infotainment system appears to be a Chinese-spec version of the MIB that made its debut on the Polo facelift. Window switches, steering wheel, air conditioning and all the other buttons are from either the Polo or the Rapid.
But again, there are some original touches, including the wood-trimmed dash (no, it's not real) and the orange leather seats.
The engines
You may have noticed there's a 230 TSI badge on the back of this Shanghai-debuting car. That's because the Gran Santana is powered by a turbocharged engine, though it's not as big as you many think. The 1.4 TSI under the bonnet makes 131 horsepower and can be linked to either the DSG gearbox or a 5-speed manual.There are likely to be other options as well, including a 90 hp 1.4-liter and a 1.6-liter making 110 horsepower. Both are naturally aspirated and come as standard with the 5-speed manual. Production will be handled by the Shanghai Volkswagen joint venture and should start in the coming months.
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