Volkswagen has opened order books for the wider T-Cross range, with pricing starting from £16,995 OTR.

Volkswagen T-Cross R-Line

It follows the launch of the 250-unit First Edition a month ago and now brings access to the full range, which covers four trims – S, SE, SEL and R-Line – and two launch engines.

Unveiled last autumn in three separate world premieres, the T-Cross sits at the bottom of the VW SUV line-up, under the T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg, and provides a rival to the newly revealed Skoda Kamiq.

The model will play a key role in Volkswagen’s accelerated SUV ambitions; the brand is planning a line-up of 30 models by 2025 and expects them to account for half of its global sales by that point – more than twice their current share. VW is also ramping up for the launch of its first fully-electric SUV, the I.D. Crozz, due from 2020.

The T-Cross has been designed to provide a versatile and practical urban-friendly SUV with a sliding rear bench seat as standard, which can be used to enhance leg room or provide a bigger load area of up to 455 litres.

It’s also designed to offer a claimed high level of equipment. Standard kit includes electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, an eight-inch touchscreen Composition Media infotainment system with VW Connect, rear LED tail lights and automatic headlights.

Standard-fit driver assistance features bring Front Assist with the city emergency braking system and Predictive Pedestrian Protection, as well as Lane Assist with blind spot plus lane keeping system and Hill Start Assist.

SE models add in 17-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails and front fog lights with cornering function, a leather-trimmed, multifunction steering wheel and a variable boot floor, along with adaptive cruise control, app connect and a driver alert system. Prices start at £18,795 OTR.

SEL is priced from £21,650 OTR and brings 17-inch alloys, tinted windows, LED headlights and silver roof rails, as well as front sport seats, carpet mats and an ambient lighting package. Climate control and a Discover Navigation system are also included, while a driver tiredness detection system and front and rear parking sensors also feature as standard.

Top-spec T-Cross R-Line models get 18-inch alloy wheels, R-Line themed exterior and interior styling, and Volkswagen’s innovative Active Info Display. Prices for these start at £23,550 OTR.

Launch engines cover two petrols: 95hp and 115hp variants of Volkswagen’s 1.0-litre TSI unit, available with a five or six-speed manual, or a seven-speed DSG gearbox, depending on the engine and specification.

First UK deliveries are expected to take place in April.