Volkswagen Tukan Could Be The Fiat Strada's Newest Rival

What happens when Volkswagen turns one of its small SUVs into a pickup? South America gets the Tukan, a new compact truck designed and built in Brazil. It replaces the aging Saveiro and goes after popular rivals such as the Fiat Strada and Chevrolet Montana.

The Tukan comes in two versions. The single-cab focuses on cargo space, while the four-door double-cab gives buyers extra seats and a shorter bed.

VW gives the truck a tougher look with Tiguan-inspired LED headlights, a black lower bumper, squared wheel arches and chunky body cladding. The top Extreme trim adds Canary Yellow paint, dark wheels, full LED lighting and a sports bar.

Underneath, the Tukan uses a modified version of Volkswagen’s MQB platform, shared with models such as the T-Cross. VW also gives it rear leaf springs, a first for an MQB vehicle, to increase payload capacity. Engineers put prototypes through more than 2 million km (1.2 million miles) of testing before production.

The engine lineup includes a mild-hybrid 1.5-liter TSI four-cylinder and traditional flex-fuel options. Volkswagen builds the Tukan at its São José dos Pinhais plant in Brazil, with 76% locally sourced parts. Deliveries across South America start in the first half of 2027 as part of VW’s R$20 billion ($3.9 billion) regional investment plan.