Volkswagen Tarok – Meet Germany’s answer to the Suzuki Jimny

Volkswagen is widening its pick-up appeal, with the launch of the Tarok. The compact 4x4 will go on sale in 2019 and be offered with the choice of diesel or petrol power.

The Volkswagen Tarok will initially be sold in Brazil, but could make it to Europe in late-2019 and rival compact 4x4 workhorses like the Suzuki Jimny. However, while prices are still to be confirmed, the Tarok will almost certainly exceed the Jimny’s expected £17,000 starting price. It will also be a metre longer in length.

The Tarok gets four seats and a clever variable loading area that can be extended, thanks to a rear hatch that allows long items like planks of wood, ladders and copper pipes to be pushed through into the cabin. The rear seats also fold flat, which means you can load items to the front seat backs. Or flatten the front passenger seat, to make full use of the pick-up's length.  

The engine line-up features Volkswagen's familiar 1.4-litre TSI petrol and 2.0-litre TDI diesel, with both units producing 150PS. The TSI gets a six-speed DSG automatic transmission as standard, while the diesel will be provided with a six-speed manual. There's no word on fuel economy or CO2 emissions, but Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive will be supplied as standard to all models.