Volkswagen Bets on a New Sedan in an SUV World

Volkswagen may be the people’s car, but it’s a bit confounding that the quintessential mainstream German automaker no longer sells a gas sedan in Europe. That’s not to say the traditional body style has vanished entirely from VW’s global lineup. The Jetta is still available in the United States, and the smaller Virtus caters to buyers in South America. In China, however, the sedan portfolio remains strong, spanning multiple segments.

While the new Passat is a wagon-only affair in Europe, China gets a Passat Pro sedan. Too big? Enter the Lavida Pro, a compact sedan that recently passed through the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) office for homologation. It honestly looks like a VW sedan from the 2000s that’s been given a 2025-style refresh: flush door handles, a rear light bar, glossy black trim, and slim headlights.

This three-box VW is brought to life through the SAIC-VW joint venture. To put it kindly, it’s not the most exciting sedan we’ve ever seen, but hey, at least it’s not the umpteenth SUV. That said, the notably generous ground clearance gives off Volvo S60 Cross Country vibes. The Lavida Pro sticks to the same tried-and-true formula as its non-Pro predecessor: a no-nonsense family sedan.

Power comes from a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine making a modest 109 horsepower, sent to the front wheels through an automatic transmission. Measuring 185.8 inches (4,720 mm) long, it’s roughly the same size as the Jetta. Built on a variation of the ubiquitous MQB platform, it tips the scales at 2,910 pounds (1,320 kg). MIIT documents show that VW is keeping things basic, offering 15- and 16-inch wheels.

Would a car like this make sense in Europe? Probably not, given that the VW Group already has the segment well-covered with the ever-popular Skoda Octavia. It’s likely for the best that China keeps the Lavida Pro to itself, though we do wish Wolfsburg would give buyers something to fill the void left by the discontinuation of the Passat sedan and its fancier Arteon sibling. Yes, I know the ID.7 exists, but EVs are not for everyone.

Photo by: MIIT