The Santana Vista's taxi version kept working Shanghai's streets years after this generation ended production, only retired in October 2018 for a fleet of new electric cabs.
Median 201 hp across 318 similar cars
Lead trim: 1.6 EA113 (petrol)
Volkswagen Santana Vista2008–2013
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FactThe Santana Vista's taxi version kept working Shanghai's streets years after this generation ended production, only retired in October 2018 for a fleet of new electric cabs.
On 6 January 2008 Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive released the Santana Vista (Zhijun) and the Santana Vista (Changda) taxi model, featuring front and rear visual updates and minor chassis modifications. The passenger version can be recognized by its mesh grille, chrome accents low on the bumpers and redesigned taillights with circular elements, while the taxi version had a razor-blade-like grille, the same taillights as the Santana 3000 and new wheels. As of May 2011 the original German-designed Santana (both sedan and Variant) was still sold in China alongside the updated Santana Vista, popular with taxi and police fleets and with private buyers. A 1.6-litre version of the Vista (1,595 cc, 70 kW or 95 PS) was added to the bottom of the lineup, and there were 3,213,710 units made since CKD production began in 1983 up until May 2009; Shanghai Volkswagen decided to discontinue the Santana in 2012.
Collectors Spotted in the Volkswagen Santana Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Volkswagen Santana yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
3 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 EA113 (petrol) | 2008–2013 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | 94 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1.8 EA113 (petrol) | 2008–2013 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2.0 EA113 (petrol) | 2008–2013 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Volkswagen launched this all-new Santana in Wolfsburg in October 2012 as a subcompact — while the OLD three-box Santana sedan it was meant to replace kept selling in China for another three months.
The Santana Vista's taxi version kept working Shanghai's streets years after this generation ended production, only retired in October 2018 for a fleet of new electric cabs.
The Santana 3000 was the first car Shanghai Volkswagen's own designers created entirely by themselves, rather than adapting an imported German design.
China's Santana 2000 wasn't engineered in Wolfsburg — Volkswagen do Brasil helped develop it, stretching the wheelbase and adding rear doors beyond its Brazilian cousin.
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Volkswagen de México sent the utilitarian Corsar out in style — a black-and-silver two-tone limited edition with leather trim, released just months before the model was discontinued.
Thanks to VW's AutoLatina tie-up with Ford, the very same Brazilian-built Santana was also sold badged as the Ford Versailles — and as the Ford Galaxy next door in Argentina.
Building the Santana for Japan, Nissan redesigned the whole bonnet just to relocate the wiper pivots for right-hand drive — far more than a simple mirror-image swap.
The Chinese-built Santana jump-started an entire industry — local parts content went from under 6% in 1986 to 89% by 1995.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
It briefly served as senior sibling to Marquette, a GM companion brand cancelled after just one year.
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The G80 Sport brought a 370 PS twin-turbo 3.3 V6, a mesh grille and copper-tinted chrome with copper stitching to match.
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