Stylish new VW T-Cross SUV revealed

Volkswagen has unveiled the smallest offering in its SUV range – the all-new T-Cross.

It’s a stylish city slicker based on the same underpinnings as the VW Polo and will arrive in the UK early in 2019.

The T-Cross is VW’s first real foray into the compact SUV sector – a large market segment dominated by the likes of the Nissan Juke, Citroen C3 Aircross, Kia Stonic and the Seat Arona. Until now, the closest VW has come is the T-Roc – a rather larger offering – and the Taigun concept, which was based on the Up! city car.

The T-Cross brings strong off-roader styling cues to its tiny frame, with chunky wheel arches and a large, upright grille. Roof bars give a rugged aesthetic while the rear sees a full-width light bar extend across the boot lid.

The SUV bodyshell isn’t just for style, though – it improves practicality over the similarly sized Peugeot hatchback. The boot can be as large as 455 litres, courtesy of a sliding rear seat. Move the seat forward for greater passenger room and boot capacity drops to 385 litres, which is still larger than the boot of a VW Golf.

The T-Cross will be available with a choice of two petrol engines. The entry-level unit is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder, producing 94bhp. The same engine is also available with 113bhp. Both use a six-speed manual gearbox as standard but will be available with an optional seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

No performance or economy stats have been unveiled just yet, but Volkswagen says all engines comply with the latest Euro 6d-Temp regulations for carbon dioxide and particulate emissions.

Buyers on the continent will also be offered a 1.6-litre diesel engine as well as a higher-powered 148bhp petrol, which VW will make available in the UK if it believes demand is high enough.

VW will offer S, SE, SEL and R-Line trims in the UK, although full specifications haven’t been finalised. High-end kit such as wireless smartphone charging and keyless entry will be available on more premium models though, as well as an optional eight-inch touchscreen to replace the standard 6.5-inch unit. Expect to see digital dial packs, climate and adaptive cruise control on the options list plus lots of opportunities to add a personal touch.

There will also be plenty of standard safety kit. All T-Crosses will get autonomous emergency braking that can spot pedestrians as well as cars, lane-keeping assist, hill start assist, blind-spot warning and rear cross traffic alert. A driver attention system and park assist will be available as options.

The VW T-Cross will be built in Volkswagen’s factory in Navarra, Spain, alongside the Polo and will arrive in the UK early in 2019. No prices have been revealed yet.