New 2019 T-Cross Is VW’s Smallest And Cheapest SUV Ever. And It’s Not Coming To America

The teaser campaign for the all-new T-Cross is finally over as VW has officially lifted the veils of its smallest SUV to date.

Revealed in Amsterdam, Shanghai, and São Paulo the T-Cross is a global SUV that uses the same platform as the Polo and therefore doesn’t offer all-wheel drive — not even as an option. Design-wise, it’s a combination between VW’s other SUVs.

From the front, it looks like a smaller Touareg thanks to the similar grille that blends with the headlights. The side reminds a lot of the Tiguan thanks to the strong character line, while the rear end is probably the most original part of the car.

The taillights look like nothing else in VW’s current lineup, and they are connected by a light strip that makes the T-Cross look wider than it really is.

Speaking of dimensions, the MQB platform has allowed VW to locate the driven front axle well forward. As a result, the T-Cross has a relatively generous wheelbase compared to the overall vehicle length. The small SUV is 4.11 meters (161.8 in) long with a 2.56-meter (100.8-in) wheelbase.

As a result, VW says the interior is spacious and offers enough room for five people. Furthermore, it benefits from a sliding rear seat that has 140 mm (5.5 in) of travel, maximizing either legroom or boot volume, depending on the need.

The luggage compartment has a capacity that varies between 385 and 455 liters (13.6-16 cu ft) with all seats in place. If that’s not enough, the rear seatback folds down fully or partially to expand cargo volume to an impressive 1,281 liters (45.2 cu ft).

There are no surprises as far as the interior design goes, as the dashboard betrays its VW Polo origins. The steering wheel is completely new, though, and there are some color and trim differences to the supermini as well.

Connectivity-wise, the T-Cross offers the latest infotainment systems from VW, inductive smartphone charging, and up to four USB ports.

The engine lineup wasn’t exactly a secret from the previous teasers. The T-Cross debuts with four turbocharged power plants: three gasoline and one diesel. There are two 1.0-liter TSI three-cylinder units rated at 95 PS (94 hp) and 115 PS (113 hp), respectively.

The range-topping 1.5-liter TSI four-cylinder unit makes 150 PS (148 hp), while the 1.6-liter TDI diesel produces 95 PS (94 hp). All engines comply with the latest Euro 6d-TEMP emission standard.

Surprisingly for a small vehicle, the T-Cross offers many driver assistance systems as standard. Those include Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking System, Lane Assist, Hill Start Assist, the proactive occupant protection system, and Blind Spot Detection with integrated Rear Traffic Alert.

Optional safety features such as the Driver Alert System, automatic adaptive cruise control and Park Assist help further enhance safety.

Production of the all-new VW T-Cross will begin in Spain, South America, and China later this year, with sales following in 2019.