What is the Volkswagen Salus?

[TravisDella]

Volkswagen Salus is the Sagitar. The Sagitar (SAGITAR) is a model launched by FAW-Volkswagen in the Chinese market on April 9, 2006. Its English name is "SAGITAR," and it is positioned as a "German high-performance sedan." The Sagitar was developed based on the fifth-generation Jetta sold by Volkswagen in North America. Positioning: The latest Sagitar is a compact 4-door 5-seater sedan with body dimensions of 4753mm in length, 1800mm in width, and 1462mm in height, a wheelbase of 2731mm, and a fuel tank capacity of 50 liters. Engine: The latest Sagitar is equipped with a 1.2T turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum power of 85kW and a maximum torque of 175Nm, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

[LilaMarie]

I previously researched Volkswagen's models in the Southeast Asian market. The Salus is a special edition SUV specifically launched by Volkswagen for the Philippine market, built on the Tharu platform. Its debut in 2020 was quite sensational, targeting young family users and positioned in the compact SUV segment. The body lines follow Volkswagen's family design language, with a unique emblem added to the front grille, and the trunk capacity is about 10% larger than the standard version. What's interesting about this car is its special anti-corrosion coating, designed specifically for tropical climates. However, it's only sold locally in the Philippines and can't be found in domestic 4S stores, making it a representative example of a regionally customized model.

[LucilleLee]

Last year, I rented a Salus for a week during my trip to Manila, and my first impression was that it's a practical SUV. The combination of a 1.5T engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is quite stable, with city driving fuel consumption around 7 liters. The most eye-catching feature inside is the 8-inch screen with Apple CarPlay, and the back seat comfortably fits three adults without feeling cramped. The chassis tuning leans towards comfort, handling speed bumps quite smoothly. The trunk can fit two 28-inch suitcases plus a carry-on with room to spare. The downside is the interior has a noticeable plastic feel, and tire noise becomes obvious at speeds above 100 km/h. Overall, it's a worthy family car for its price, offering a more solid feel compared to Japanese cars in the same class, reminiscent of German engineering.

[SanOlivia]

Volkswagen has clearly positioned the Salus to compete with Southeast Asian favorites like the Toyota Corolla Cross. Priced between RMB 150,000 to 190,000, it's 30% cheaper than the Tiguan sold in Thailand. The powertrain directly adopts the Golf's EA211 engine, retuned to prioritize low-end torque. Safety features include 6 airbags and automatic emergency braking, with semi-autonomous driving assist in the top trim. Beyond standard colors, it offers a tropical metallic green exclusive option and two additional wheel designs. Its selling points are the VW badge + localized adaptations, though limited production leads to rapid depreciation in the used car market.

[SanJulia]

From a product lifecycle perspective, the Salus is quite interesting, having undergone two facelifts and one generation change within three years. The initial model was criticized for using traditional halogen headlights, but LED lights were promptly adopted across the entire lineup the following year. The seats were upgraded from fabric to breathable, stain-resistant synthetic leather, and the air conditioning compressor was replaced with a dual-zone climate control system. The latest model now features a 48V mild hybrid system, significantly smoothing out the start-stop function. The infotainment system supports local navigation in the Philippines and emergency rescue calling. However, the occasional lag in the car's system remains an unresolved issue, though there are rumors of a new processor being introduced this year. This rapid iteration reflects Volkswagen's flexible strategy in emerging markets.