VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 1,0 TSI 85 kW DSG R-LINE: Cross The T's

The new VW T-Cross small SUV is as complete a crossover as you’d expect from the exacting German carmaker

- Terence Steenkamp

Price: TBA Engine: 1,0-litre, 3-cyl, turbo petrol Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Power: 85 kW @ 5 000 r/min Torque: 170 N.m @ 2 000 r/min 0-100 km/h: 10,2 seconds* Top speed: 193 km/h* Fuel consumption: n/a CO 2 : 112 g/km Rivals: Ford EcoSport; Renault Captur + feels more complete than rivals interior finishes more basic than expected from VW

Isn’t it curious Volkswagen’s taken this long to enter the small SUV/crossover battlefield? Ford’s been playing this game for years with the EcoSport; Renault does a roaring global trade in Capturs; and every second suburban street corner sports a Mazda CX-3. The European market for such vehicles has doubled in the last half decade, a trend mirrored locally as our tastes closely align with those of the Northern Hemisphere.

“We wanted to get it right,” answered a Volkswagen representative somewhat sheepishly at the global launch in Mallorca when I prodded him about the carmaker’s tardiness. I doubt that’s the sole reason. My suspicion is Volkswagen was taken aback by the popularity of this type of vehicle, initially expecting the larger T-Roc (which launches here next year) to successfully plug the demand gap formed as the Tiguan moved upmarket before realising there was another niche it could exploit. Or it was waiting for the current Polo to mature before spinning another vehicle off the MQB-A0 platform.

As much as we may speculate on the reasons for its delay, the Spanish-built T-Cross finally exists and, despite its lengthy gestation period allowing other manufacturers to establish their product offerings and reap the financial rewards, I predict the Volkswagen will be a sales leader.