The Volkswagen T-Cross has been unveiled, giving us the first full look at the German manufacturer’s smallest SUV. Designed to take on the Citroën C3 Aircross, Nissan Juke and Renault Captur, it’s based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Arona.
VOLKSWAGEN COMPLETES SUV LINE-UP WITH ALL NEW 2019 T-CROSS
Slotting below the T-Roc, at 4.1-metres in length, the T-Cross completes Volkswagen’s SUV range that also includes the Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg. It’s clear to see the lineage, because the T-Cross shares the chunky looks of the Tiguan, with a tall nose, prominent wheelarches and flat bonnet. There are some characterful touches too, including prominent fog light surrounds and a rear light bar that spans the boot beneath a large rear spoiler. Nearvertical C-pillars and a steeply raked rear windscreen liberate extra space inside. Aimed squarely at young families, flexibility is a key feature, and Volkswagen credits its long 2.56- metre wheelbase with making room for five people. The rear seats can be slid fore and aft by 14 centimetres to adjust boot space from 385 to 455 litres, or can be fully folded down to make a flat loading area with 1,281 litres of space. Interior images show the Active Info digital instrument display from the Polo will be available, along with a central infotainment display that’s likely to come in 6.5 and 8.0-inch sizes. Trim levels haven’t been announced yet, but are expected to stick with Volkswagen’s S, SE, SEL and R-Line structure; focussing on luxury in SEL guise and a sporty demeanour for R-Line versions.
Safety should be excellent according to Volkswagen, with “exemplary occupant protection” and active kit like autonomous emergency braking that can detect pedestrians, lane keeping assist, blind-spot warnings and rear traffic alerts. Driver drowsiness detection, adaptive cruise control and self-parking will be available on the options list, too. Inductive charging for smartphones will boost convenience for occupants, along with four USB ports.
Its turbocharged engine range includes a 1.6-litre TDI unit with 94bhp alongside 1.0- and 1.5-litre petrol powerplants that all comply with the latest Euro-6d-Temp emissions standards. However, while European markets will take the diesel engine from launch, Volkswagen in the UK are being more cautious and have yet to confirm that the diesel engine will go on sale here. So if you like the idea of a T-Cross diesel, badger your local dealer and you may get your wish. No official figures have been released for the T-Cross yet, but in its sister model, the Arona, the 1.6-litre TDI model returns 65.7mpg and emits 113g/km, while the 1.0-litre petrol engine manages 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions of between 112 and 115g/km, depending on the variant. Despite its SUV looks, power is sent to the front wheels only, to save fuel and keep costs down.
