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The Volkswagen T-Cross is the youngest and smallest sibling in VW's SUV range. Launched in 2019, used examples of the T-Cross are just starting to filter through to the market, making it an excellent nearly new purchase if you don't want to stretch to a brand new one.
Underneath its tall chunky body is a Polo platform, so if you're looking for an SUV style car with a small footprint, the T-Cross could be just the ticket. Let's find out more about the T-Cross.
The T-Cross is a sensible addition to the Volkswagen range, sitting below the T-Roc and Tiguan, for those who want the SUV looks, but also a car that's easy to park and good for nipping around town. It is front-wheel-drive only, so don't expect your T-Cross to fancy any jaunts off-road.
Inside, there is plenty of room for four people with the tall roofline, but as with the Polo, you might find five a bit of a squeeze. You sit a little higher than in a Polo, giving you a more commanding driving position and making it easy to park and manoeuvre in town.
The T-Cross is practical and flexible inside, with the ability to adjust legroom and luggage space with the standard sliding rear bench and fold down the 60/40 split rear seats to give you an awe-inspiring flat load area carrying more oversized items.
The interior is similar to the Polo, so you'll immediately feel at home. You can also jazz up the interior with optional interior styling packs, which add a little more colour to the dashboard.
As with Volkswagen, ergonomics are excellent; everything is where it should be, feels pleasant to operate and works well.
The T-Cross is pleasant to drive with decent handling and a comfortable, supple ride. Models with larger wheels make the ride a little harsher, so if you prioritise comfort over style, it's wise to avoid big alloys.
Safety is a priority in the T-Cross with a range of safety systems, including six airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounting points, and many braking assistance and stability systems on board as standard.
The T-Cross scored the maximum of five stars in its Euro NCAP crash test, so you can be assured it's as safe as possible for your family.
The T-Cross offers a decent selection of the VW Group's tried and tested engines renowned for reliability and fuel economy. There is also a choice of manual or DSG automatic gearboxes in most versions.
The entry-level petrol version is a 1.0 TSI offering either 95bhp or 115bhp and returning up to 48 miles per gallon. The smaller one reaches 62mph in a casual 11.5 seconds, dropping to just over 10 seconds for the 115bhp unit.
If you want a quicker version, then the top-spec R-Line is available with VW's 1.5 TSI Evo engine offering 150bhp and returning around 43mpg. If you mainly drive around town, then the 95bhp version is refined, but if you like to press on a bit, look for one of the more powerful ones.
There is one Diesel unit available for those who need the enhanced fuel economy, in the form of a 1.6 TDI offering 95bhp and returning up to 54mpg. This will suit higher mileage drivers, but most people will probably be better off with the more flexible petrol engines.
The T-Cross trim options mirror its other VW siblings, so you should feel at home as you browse the options list. The entry-level version is the S, featuring standard equipment including 16" alloy wheels, air conditioning and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The SE offers a multifunction steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, front fog lights, and an extra luggage compartment floor. The luxurious SEL offers 17" alloys, climate control, self-adjusting LED headlights and satellite navigation. The sporty R-Line gives you body-coloured bumpers, a digital cockpit, a leather steering wheel and 18" alloy wheels.
If you're looking for a used model, you might come across the well-specified and snazzy First Edition, which offered only 250 UK examples at launch.
The T-Cross is a reasonably new addition to the stable, so its long term reliability hasn't yet become apparent. Still, in fairness, Volkswagen has its excellent reputation for reliability for a reason, meaning nothing should go wrong!
Your T-Cross will still be under warranty at this point, so make sure it has been serviced on time to keep this in check. Stretch your budget to the higher-spec petrol models with quicker engines if you can, because they will be better long term companions.
Steer clear of cars with signs of heavy family use and neglect. Otherwise, you should have no issues with your T-Cross.
