Volkswagen unveils new T-Cross

Volkswagen is seeking to secure a sizeable portion of the growing global compact SUV market with its new T-Cross – the smallest of German car maker’s dedicated SUV line-up, which also includes  Touareg, Tiguan, Terramont, T-Roc, Tayron and Tharu.

Pictured here for the first time following its unveiling at a media event held in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Thursday evening, the new five-seater is set for Chinese sale during the second half of 2019 at a price that will see it enter the Volkswagen line-up beneath the recently introduced T-Roc.

The front-wheel drive T-Cross is based on Volkswagen’s MQB-AO platform – as used by the Polo and other compact SUV models from the Volkswagen Group, including the Seat Arona and Skoda Karoq.

In China, its main competition is set to come from the likes of the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-3 as well as a host of domestic Chinese rivals.

Production of T-Cross models for the Chinese market is planned to take place at both FAW (First Automobile Works) and SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation).

Three other Volkswagen production sites have also been chosen to build the new Volkswagen for other global markets, including Navarra, Spain, Curitiba, Brazil and Pune, India.

Like its various compact SUV rivals, Volkswagen is targeting its smallest SUV model at urban-based car buyers, providing it with a number of different exterior styling and interior equipment packages, including the sporting R-Line package adopted by the example pictured here.

The T-Cross shares the exterior design of the earlier open top T-Cross Breeze concept car, albeit with a five-door fixed roof hatchback layout that Volkswagen says is aimed at providing maximum practicality within compact dimensions.

Among its key styling elements is a bullish front end featuring a wide grille, angular headlamps and prominent chromed rimmed fog lamps set low within the outer edges of the front bumper. The rear receives a sloping tailgate that opens at bumper level together with a full-width reflector set within the tail lamps and chromed T-Cross identification.

The new Volkswagen model wears 16-inch wheels as standard, though buyers can order it with optional 17- and 18-inch rims.

At 4110mm in length and 1558mm in height, the new Volkswagen SUV is 54mm longer and 112mm higher than the latest Polo but 124mm shorter and 15mm lower than the more expensive T-Roc.

By comparison, the Mazda CX-3 measures 4275mm in length and 1534mm in height.

Inside, the T-cross receives a dashboard similar in design to the Polo. Among its highlights are an optional digital instrument display and an 8-inch touch screen infotainment display.

Taking advantage of its added height, the seats are positioned 10mm higher than those of its hatchback sibling at 597mm and 652mm respectively front and rear. Those in the rear can be ordered with a sliding mechanism, allowing them to be adjusted by up to 140mm fore and aft to vary the amount of legroom and luggage space.

Volkswagen says the T-Cross offers 385 litres of luggage space with the 60:40 configured rear seats set all the way back and 455-litres when they are set all the way forward. This rises to 1281-litres when the rear seats are folded down.

For European markets, the T-Cross comes with the choice of three initial engines, although other units are expected to be added after production of the new compact SUV is ramped up at Volkswagen’s factories around the globe.

The gasoline units include turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder gasoline unit with either 70KW or 85kW and a larger turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 150kW. They are joined by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel boasting the latest Euro 6D-TEMP emission certification with 70kW.

The three engines come with the choice of either a standard five- or six-speed manual and optional seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.