Cross purposes

Volkswagen has got the SUV business well covered with six different sizes to choose – from the smallest, the T-cross, to the Touareg on whose platform the Porsche Cayenne is based.

Several have recently been facelifted, including the Tiguan which we wrote about a few weeks ago, the Touareg itself and most recently the T-cross.

The latter faces a lot of opposition, some of it tough to beat, particularly with the likes of the Peugeot 2008, Toyota Yaris Cross and Vauxhall Mokka. The VW isn’t that eyecatching but there are some quite striking colours available including one that’s been introduced with this facelift (pictured above) called

Rubber Ducky Yellow by Volkswagen. Well, rather by VW’S customers who chose the name in an online competition.

There’s also clear blue metallic that looks nice and an expensive (£860) optional King’s Red metallic.

You have four trim levels to choose from: Life, Match, Style and R-line, as well as a selection of powerplants.

Most T-crosses come with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with either 95 or 115PS but the higherspec cars can also come with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that has 150PS.

That’s the motor that powers our

Style-trimmed test car together with a seven-speed DSG auto ’box (you can’t have a manual gearbox with this engine).

Without options it costs £30,740 which is a lot to pay for a car that’s based on the VW Polo.

At the other end of the range you get much better value for money.

Right at the bottom is the Life with the lower-powered 1.0-litre engine and five-speed manual gearbox which is a smidgeon under £24,000. It’s well equipped with LED headlamps, alloy wheels, an 8in central touchscreen, smart phone mirroring and cruise control. Do you need much more?

If you’re after some fun then the Ford Puma is the best choice in the compact crossover class but most drivers will be looking for a good all-rounder that’s easy to drive and live with – and the T-cross is certainly that.

The handling is safe, the steering light, but with not much feel, and you can tell that the centre of gravity is higher than it is in a Polo. Again, the extra performance provided by the more expensive engine option isn’t really needed but the DSG is a plus as it’s so easy and smooth.

You also get space in the T-cross. Those extra dimensions over the Polo give more room for passengers, especially in the back where six-footers will be comfortable, and for luggage.

For general storage there are vast door bins, a recess in the dashboard with a rubber liner so things don’t slide about and a handy drawer under the passenger seat plus a cubby under the climate controls that includes wireless charging for your phone. The rear bench seat, as well as splitting 60/40, can be slid back and forth, and you can order a passenger seat that folds flat in case you want to carry longer objects in the back.

The Volkswagen T-cross is not greatly changed by this facelift, it’s still a practical and easy-to-live-with motor. We’d recommend spending less by going for the entry-level models that are still well equipped.

And go for that Rubber Ducky Yellow paint.