Highly unusual for a car brand in 2023, Volkswagen has actually reduced the drive-away price of its top-spec T-Cross 85TSI Style ahead of the launch of an updated model later this year.
The T-Cross 85TSI Style is now $1000 cheaper than before at $35,990 drive-away, while the base Life is priced at $33,490 drive-away until June 30.
Volkswagen has secured another 1400 examples of the Style, and it’s among the models it says it has good supply of.
The company also advises the T-Roc, T-Roc R, Tiguan Allspace (in 132TSI Life and 162TSI Adventure guises), Passat, Arteon and Touareg are now available for either immediate delivery or a wait of under three months.
It also says it’s “well-placed” to welcome the Amarok in May.
The company says the extra stock of the T-Cross will “round out the current range” in preparation for an updated model later this year.
Spied T-Cross prototype 
The updated model has been spied testing, with only minor cosmetic tweaks expected like new bumpers and refreshed lighting. It’s unclear what other changes will be applied.
Volkswagen first introduced the T-Cross to Australia in 2020, offering it exclusively in 85TSI Life and Style trim levels with a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
While a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine was slated for Australia, this never eventuated. In Europe, this engine produces 110kW and 250Nm.
Last year, Volkswagen sold 5146 examples of the T-Cross in Australia, putting it ahead of other light European crossovers like the Ford Puma (2408 sales), Nissan Juke (1084) and Renault Captur (1207).
The brand is aiming to increase its overall sales by at least 20 per cent in 2023, even as it still deals with supply chain issues.
“We really have to continue to work through the supply chain restriction. So it’s not about the product and not being able to sell it, we’ve got the demand there,” said Michelle Rowney, head of product for Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles in Australia, late last year.
“Just unfortunately, on some of our crucial models like Tiguan, we’re just falling short of supply compared to demand. So those figures I gave were quite conservative, we’re still planning, we’re still working with the factory and what they can bring in.”
It sold 30,946 vehicles in 2022, just over half its 2015 tally of 60,225 vehicles.
The T-Cross was its best seller, ahead of the Amarok (4514), T-Roc (3627), Tiguan Allspace (3876), Golf (3223) and Tiguan (2658).
