By Ian Strachan
After the success of the Golf-based T-Roc SUV it was almost inevitable that Volkswagen would repeat the trick with an SUV based on the Polo.
And so the T-Cross was born. This good-looking small SUV is shorter than its big brother, but it is undoubtedly a welcome addition to the fast growing SUV sector, with plenty of space, good specification and high seating giving excellent all-round visibility.
A smart front grille and anodised roof rails give the T-Cross rugged good looks, while inside you get sliding rear seats which fold flat to give you 1,281 litres of loadspace.
The interior of the T-Cross is modern and well laid out. You get pleasant trim and seat materials and clear, well-lit instruments with easily accessible controls.
Specification on the SE trim level which I tested is pretty good, with air conditioning, all-round airbags, eight-inch touch-screen navigation system with DAB radio plus Bluetooth compatibility, USB ports front and back, and adaptive cruise control. You also get 17 inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, all round electric windows and door mirrors, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, lane assist, automatic windscreen wipers and dusk-sensing lights. Oddly on this spec you don’t get any front or rear parking alerts.
Extras on my test car included an up-rated and connected navigation system (£725), carpet mats (£85) and pure white paint (£275).
I test drove the 1.0 litre three cylinder 95 horsepower petrol version which gives a respectable 48.6 miles to the gallon in mixed driving, and is a smooth unit. A 1.0 engine doesn’t sound powerful enough for an SUV, however small, but with a turbocharger fitted it is surprisingly brisk. It gives a 0-60 mph time of a shade over 11 seconds. At motorway speeds it feels comfortable and unfussed.
Handling is good, with crisp steering, and no body roll on cornering. My test car had a pleasant five-speed manual gearbox and never felt as if it needed a sixth gear
The T-Class looks good, has a nice driving environment and good performance. Plus it won’t break the bank. The T-Cross SE 1.0 TSI 95 PS manual which I tested comes in at a competitive £18,805 on the road, and will probably hold its value well.
