It's been a long time coming, and it’s finally here; well, kind of. Volkswagen has released an official design sketch of its smallest crossover, revealing its rear; and also a video that gives us a few more details. The car was showcased at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and is expected to make its debut in 2019. Is this T-Roc baby as impressive as the big brother?

What Is It All About?

For now, the crossover goes by the name “T-Cross.” It rides on the MQB A0 platform - the same platform that also underpins the SEAT Arona and the new VW Polo. The T-Cross’ front will follow Volkswagen’s new design language – the wide grille meeting the headlights. This theme is also seen on the Arteon and the Touareg. At the rear, it gets a faux skid plate and full-width taillights. The T-Cross will be 4107 mm long (161.69 inches), and despite its stout stature overall, it will offer a “surprising amount of room.” The rear seats will take the form of a sliding bench, which can be slid back to get extra knee room, and also be brought forward to free up additional cargo capacity. Wonder why this is not a common feature across hatches and SUVs as well!

Familiar Looks

The T-Cross is expected to get the same engine options as the Polo, thanks to the technical inheritance. A 1.0-liter, three-cylinder TSI, and a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder TSI engine are on the list. A diesel engine may be absent, like in the gasoline-only Skoda Fabia. Following the segment norm, the T-Cross will most likely be a Front-Wheel-Drive only car.

There’s no information on an All-Wheel-Drive system, but it would definitely help T-Cross raise its stakes. The Volkswagen family has been stressing on safety lately, across all its brands, and the T-Cross will be no different. The automaker says it will be one of the safest crossovers in its class, thanks to standard safety tech like Front Assist and Lane Assist.

Our Take

As is with all the marques in the VAG family, the same car (essentially) under a different brand would be priced higher than the former. So, the T-Cross will be slotted above the Arona in terms of pricing, at around £17,000 ($22,500). Apart from rivaling its own cousin - the SEAT Arona - the T-Cross will go up against the Kia Stonic, the Citroen C3, and the upcoming Nissan Juke. Interestingly, the T-Cross is one of the 19 SUVs Volkswagen plans to launch, which will eventually lead to 40-percent of the brand’s overall sales. Given how SUVs in all shapes and sizes are replacing passenger cars, we see no flaw in VW’s ambitious plans. First impressions of the T-Cross look promising and a few more teasers should give us a clearer picture. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2016 Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze Concept.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Volkswagen T-Cross.

Read more Volkswagen news.