Why Was the Volkswagen C-Trek Discontinued?

[CollinMarie]

Volkswagen C-Trek was discontinued because the car needed to be updated, and the value created by the C-Trek was not high. The Volkswagen C-Trek was Volkswagen's first A-segment crossover station wagon, suitable for daily use and designed with an adventurous spirit. It was not only Volkswagen's first A-segment crossover station wagon in China but also globally, combining the attributes of a sedan, station wagon, and SUV. Below is an introduction to the Volkswagen C-Trek: 1. Suspension: The C-Trek's suspension is relatively stiff, and it uses the PQ34 platform. Vehicles based on the PQ34 platform, whether high-end or low-end versions, feature a knob-style seat backrest adjustment. 2. Interior Quality: The C-Trek's interior follows the familiar Volkswagen layout, but the materials used on the dashboard and door panels have a strong plastic feel, making the overall appearance somewhat outdated and not entirely matching the C-Trek's stylish design. The low-end version features fabric seats, which are prone to getting dirty, while the high-end version uses Alcantara seats, which are smooth to the touch. 3. Interior Storage Space: The storage compartments in the C-Trek are all slightly small.

[LaElliott]

I've been running an auto repair shop for twenty years and have seen many models discontinued. The Volkswagen C-Trek was positioned as a crossover wagon, which is too niche. Last year, I helped a customer replace a side mirror assembly—it took two weeks to source the part, and the supplier said production had already been scaled back. Nowadays, SUVs dominate the streets; young people think wagons aren't cool enough, while middle-aged buyers complain about the lack of seven seats. With the rise of new energy vehicles, Volkswagen has shifted its entire production line to manufacture ID-series EVs. Recently, a regular customer's C-Trek needed a turbocharger replacement, but no genuine parts were available in the market. Such after-sales headaches only hastened its discontinuation.

[CoraDella]

As a long-time automotive media professional closely following the car market, I believe the discontinuation of the Volkswagen C-TREK was the result of multiple overlapping factors. Its sales peak of over 5,000 units per month in 2017 was considered strong, but by 2020 monthly sales had plummeted to triple digits. When Volkswagen launched its MQB platform upgrade in 2020, all resources were allocated to core models like the Lavida and Bora. Station wagons inherently have low acceptance in the Chinese market - now domestic new energy station wagons with green license plates are priced at just 150,000 yuan, so who would buy a 230,000 yuan gasoline model? Last month during a dealership visit, I found all inventory cars had been cleared out, with sales staff confirming the production line had been converted to manufacture the ID.4.

[MacCarmen]

Having worked in used car appraisal for ten years, I can confidently say the Volkswagen C-Trek's resale value tells the whole story. After three years, its residual value drops to just 60%, 15% lower than SUVs in the same price range. Its original pricing of 180,000-200,000 yuan was awkward - slightly more could get you a Tiguan, while slightly less would buy a Skoda Octavia Combi. Last year, I appraised several nearly-new C-Treks and found the common sunroof leakage issue remains unresolved, with high failure rates in the electronic parking brake module. With new energy vehicles dominating the market now, it's no surprise this niche fuel-powered model is being discontinued. Potential used car buyers should note: replacement parts for this model are becoming increasingly scarce.