00:00In the chess game of the automotive market, where every move is coldly calculated,
00:05Volkswagen has decided to put another piece into play.
00:09Its name is Terra, a short, direct name that christens the brand's new BSUV,
00:15designed to compete in the most brutal and competitive segment existing today.
00:20The proposal is clear.
00:22To be the gateway to the VW utility vehicle universe,
00:25strategically positioned just below the Nevis.
00:28A bold gamble, or simply filling a gap that was already echoing in the factory yard.
00:34This isn't a global project, one of those we see driving around Berlin or Shanghai.
00:40The Terra was conceived, developed, and born for the South American reality,
00:44more specifically for Brazil.
00:46Forget the United States, Europe, or Asia, the focus is here.
00:51It's part of an offensive of 17 new vehicles promised by the brand by 2028.
00:55A promise that, if fulfilled, will flood dealerships with more options than a pizzeria menu.
01:02We'll see.
01:03Let's get to what matters, the mechanics.
01:06The entry-level version, simply named 1.0 MPI, comes with a familiar engine.
01:11It's a naturally aspirated three-cylinder, delivering 84 horsepower on ethanol.
01:16Yes, 84.
01:19The 0 to 100 km per hour acceleration takes almost 14 seconds.
01:24This means that on a hill or with a full car, patience will be an indispensable standard feature.
01:31The transmission is a five-speed manual, to the delight of purists,
01:35or anyone who wants to save money at all costs.
01:37Stepping up a notch, we find the Comfort Line and High Line versions.
01:42And here, the story changes.
01:44Both abandon the anemic engine and adopt the acclaimed 1.0 TSI.
01:49The turbo and direct injection boost power to 116 horsepower and torque to 16.8 kilograms of meter,
01:57available from just 1,750 RPM.
02:00The result is a completely different car, with 0 to 100 km per hour dropping to around 10 seconds,
02:07and decent power for highways.
02:09The transmission in these versions is always the six-speed automatic.
02:14It's the powertrain that this car's chassis truly deserves.
02:18Volkswagen seems to have focused its efforts on safety and technology to differentiate the Terra.
02:24From the most basic version, it leaves the factory with six airbags,
02:28stability and traction control, and LED headlights.
02:31An honest package, it must be admitted.
02:34In the more expensive versions, the light show begins.
02:37The VW Play multimedia system, the digital instrument cluster,
02:41and in the High Line version, the ADAS package with adaptive cruise control and emergency braking.
02:47Also, you can be distracted by pretty screens,
02:50while the car worries about not hitting the one in front of you.
02:53In terms of dimensions, there's no revolution.
02:55With its 4.19 meters in length and 2.56 meters in wheelbase,
03:01it aligns perfectly with its main competitors.
03:04The 350-liter trunk is average for the category.
03:07It won't make you get rid of your pickup for heavy work,
03:10but it handles monthly groceries and weekend luggage without major dramas or acrobatics.
03:15It's a rational package, without outlandish promises of infinite space.
03:20The direct battle, of course, will be with the Fiat Pulse and their Renault Cartien.
03:24Against the Pulse, the Terra has an advantage in standard safety,
03:28with its six airbags versus the rival's four.
03:31However, the Fiat's engine is more powerful, delivering 130 horsepower.
03:36Against the Cartien, the Terra bets on the brand's solidity and the acclaimed VW Play,
03:42while the Renault bets on a bolder design and a slightly stronger engine, with 125 horsepower.
03:48It's the old battle between German rationality and Italo-French emotion.
03:53In the end, the Volkswagen Terra arrives as a calculated and cerebral option.
03:58It doesn't have the most stunning design,
04:00and the entry-level version requires a dose of resignation from the driver.
04:04However, it relies on solid pillars, a robust safety package from the start,
04:10cutting-edge technology for those who can afford it,
04:12and the proven efficiency of the TSI engine.
04:15Its success or failure will depend, as always,
04:18on how salty the final price of this equation will be.
04:22If this cold and objective analysis was of your liking,
04:25you know what to do with the like button.
04:27Thanks, and see you next time.
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