WILD THING

The A-pillars have been made stronger and there’s a pop-up roll bar in case of the unthinkable.

But these features have sent the T-Roc’s weight northwards, with like-for-like versions of the cabriolet weighing around 190kg more than the normal T-Roc.

Our test car weighs 1,540kg – interestingly 145kg lighter than an A3 cabriolet fitted with the same engine and gearbox as this model.

Only two engines are offered – a 1.0-litre three-cylinder with 113bhp and a 1.5-litre with 148bhp featuring cylinder deactivation.

There are also only two trim levels: Design and R-Line. The range starts at £27,410 for the 1.0

Design but by the time you’ve moved up to our car’s R-Line trim and 1.5-litre engine we’re paying £33,135.

That’s not so bad until you start picking a host of options in our car which add £7,000.

There are bright colour options available for the inside trim, but ours is boring grey. Along with the rest of the black leather, cloth and plastic, it makes the interior look dull. Optional blue or yellow trim would lift it.

Apart from that, the interior is well made and attractive. Infotainment

Very appealing, but not much space in the back.

Lighter and better to drive than the VW. Looks more normal, too.

Fun, cool and well priced. It’d be my choice.

and digital instruments are standard on this top spec model and are the same ones you’ll find on posh Polos.

I’d imagine the combination of the car’s kerb weight and a full load of passengers and luggage would give the less powerful of the two engines a hard time.

I’d also not be too surprised if, in the real world, the larger engine wouldn’t match or even better the smaller one on economy.

The engine works well in this car, especially connected to the 7-speed DSG gearbox.

You do not buy a crossover if you want a sporty driving experience – and you certainly don’t buy a crossover cabriolet for that reason due to its weight.

A high centre of gravity makes it feel ponderous and blunt. But I doubt its target customer will care at all – and you can put my wife and our neighbours in that camp.

More importantly the T-Cross cabriolet is comfortable at low speeds around town and feels surefooted on country roads.

This is one of the most ‘Marmite’ cars I’ve ever tested – but I know people who love it.

And, worryingly, I’m married to one of them.

BMW is launching its second fully electric car and it’s an SUV. Instantly recognisable as an X3, the car is badged as the iX3. Despite its looks, the iX3 will only be available with rear-wheel drive and not as a 4x4.

The car is actually going to be built in China as part of a joint venture between BMW and car maker China Brilliance. BMW is talking about a range of 285 miles with the first cars arriving in the UK from March.

There’s no word on price yet but I’m guessing it’s likely to be close to £40k (excluding the PiCG).

A-pillars are stronger and a pop-up roll bar is fitted in case of the unthinkable

Here’s something exciting – the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 – a concept version of the latest Wrangler (launched at the beginning of last year) fitted with a 6.4-litre V8 engine. The 392 bit of the name refers to the engine’s displacement in cubic inches and it produces 450bhp.

Although Jeep is labelling the Rubicon 392 as a concept, I’ll be surprised if the wild machine doesn’t go into production. After all, the mad 700bhp+ Cherokee Trackhawk made it into the showroom.

The last time Jeep made a V8-engined Jeep was the CJ-7 Golden Eagle in 1981 – as driven by Daisy Duke in the TV series The Dukes of Hazzard.

I remember both the Golden Eagle and Daisy Duke very well.