It may be the smallest sUV in VW’s range, but the brand thinks it will attract kiwi buyers.

Once upon a time it was called the Polo Cross by Volkswagen (or as I called it A Cross Polo) but the German brand has given the small SUV a makeover … so meet the T-Cross. 

The smallest member of the VW team joins the likes of the Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and big sibling Touareg with the T-Roc to join the family later this year.

Volkswagen New Zealand says the T-Cross is the “ideal small-SUV for small families, urban dwellers, first car buyers and tech-savvy buyers”.

All but the R-Line are powered by a 1-litre, three cylinder petrol engine producing 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque.

The R-Line gets a 1.5-litre, four cylinder petrol engine (100kW/200Nm). All have a seven-speed DSG transmission. 

The all-new T-Cross starts from $34,240 for the entry-level TSI Life, $38,490 for the Style, $39,990 for the 1st Edition or $43,490 for the R-Line version.

When it comes to size, the T-Cross may be the smallest in the VW family but that doesn’t affect performance or safety.

The T-Cross was given a five-star safety rating thanks to AEB, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear traffic alert.

Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles’ general manager, Greg Leet, said the T-Cross will be a good performer in New Zealand.

“It may be Volkswagen’s smallest SUV, but it has what it takes to become a great one. The T-Cross not only allows us to play in one of the largest segments of the automotive sector but it has a lot to offer our Kiwi customers,” he said.

“We are confident that this model has what it takes to become one of the best small SUVs in the country.”

The T-Cross sits on the dependable MQB platform that  VW Group spent €60billion (NZ$100b) to use as the underpinning of a huge array of vehicles, from hatchbacks to SUVs. 

MQB allows VW to assemble any of its cars based on this platform across all of its MQB ready factories, so it can shift production as needed between its different factories.  The MQB is used extensively; from Audi to SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen itself.

The VW T-Cross is effectively a taller, beefier-looking Polo. Revealed as the drop-top T-Cross Breeze Concept at 2016’s Geneva motor show, it uses the same three-cylinder engine as the Polo and is built in the same Spanish factory as the Polo, but is 54mm longer (at 4235mm) and 138mm taller (at 1584mm) while you sit 100mm higher up.

But it’s more practical than a Polo thanks to increased overall length, and VW claims it’s the most spacious and therefore practical car in its class.

But it’s more practical than a Polo thanks to increased overall length, and VW claims it’s the most spacious and therefore practical car in its class.

Those looking for something easy to drive in town will find the T-Cross's light steering a bonus especially when trying to park or weave through chicanes. 

AutoMuse had the Style with the stunning exterior colour of Makena Turquoise metallic ($750 extra). To add an SUV element to the car, it had front and rear ‘skid pads’.

The cabin is very Volkswagen and I appreciated the infotainment system that is throughout the brand, giving it a touch of class. Another great touch was the different materials and patterns used in the T-Cross interior.

I loved the punchy 1-litre engine with those 85kW working hard. Sure on the motorway you aren’t going to dominate the traffic, but you can easily pick up pace when needed.

It’s steering hardens up nicely when you pick up the pace, with great balance equally between the front and rear wheels.

Due to its height you get a little bit of body roll when maneuvering at speed, but nothing like the Suzuki Jimny. Don’t get me started on that SUV.

But herein lies the issue T-Cross; if you look outside of its European siblings such as the Skoda Kamiq then you are facing tough competition price-wise. In my opinion Kia NZ did a smart job pricing the Seltos at $27,9990, while you can get Toyota’s CH-R is from $33,490.