Car makers can’t come up with new SUVs quickly enough, it seems.
The latest is Volkswagen, who have announced a compact model.
Called the Volkswagen T-Roc, this new small SUV will sit below the Tiguan in the range and above an even smaller, Polo-based SUV that’s due next year.
The five-seater VW T-Roc comes with front-wheel or all-wheel drive and is the first Volkswagen SUV available in two-tone paintwork with contrasting roof section (including the A-pillars and exterior mirror housings).
At the start of the T-Roc range sits VW’s zesty 113bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which comes with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox only.
Next is a 1.5-litre 148bhp petrol, which is available with optional four-wheel drive and an optional seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox – although if you want four-wheel drive, you have to have the automatic with this engine.
Topping the petrol range is a 187bhp 2.0-litre, which comes exclusively with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. The diesel options are similar: at the bottom of the range is a 113bhp 1.6-litre engine with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox only.
Step up to the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel and you can have front or four-wheel drive, as well as a manual or an automatic gearbox.
At the top of the diesel range is a 187bhp 2.0-litre engine. Just like the range-topping petrol, this engine comes exclusively with an automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive.
If all five seats are occupied, luggage space totals 445 litres. The backrests can then be folded, increasing luggage capacity to 1,290 litres.
Prices are expected to start at around £19,000 when it goes on sale early next year.