BMW first pioneered the stylish coupe SUV with the launch of the X6 way back in 2008. Since then, the BMW X6 has faced stiff competition from the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Coupe and Mercedes GLE. Now, VW wants to capitalize on this trend. Designed for the South American market, the new Volkswagen Nivus represents the German automaker's first coupe SUV as a more stylish alternative to the Volkswagen T-Cross.

Built on VW's MQB platform, the Nivus is one of VW's most stylish SUVs yet, adopting a low sloping roofline and coupe-style proportions.

Despite these proportions, the VW Nivus still offers a generous amount of cargo space since it's one of the largest vehicles in the small SUV segment. VW claims the Nivus offers a luggage compartment capacity of 14.66 cu.ft, an improvement over the T-Cross's 13.17 cu.ft capacity.

Inside, the VW Nivus features a 10-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support and a 10-inch digital instrument cluster. VW's first coupe SUV is also generously equipped, with standard tech and safety equipment including six airbags, air conditioning, LED rear lights, a rear parking sensor, cruise control, and a multifunctional steering wheel. The range-topping Highline includes 17-inch wheels, automatic post-collision braking, front collision alert, rain and twilight sensors, and leather trim.

Like the T-Cross, the Nivus is powered by a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 128 bhp, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Volkswagen Nivus will initially go on sale in Brazil this month before arriving in Argentina later this year and Europe in 2021.

Since VW doesn't offer the T-Cross or T-Roc small crossovers in the US, don't get your hopes up about the Nivus coming to America. In the US, the smallest SUV that VW currently sells is the Tiguan, so think of the Nivus, which measures 168 inches long, as the Tiguan's forbidden little brother.