Volkswagen T-Cross review: affordable, flexible small SUV

Quick review

The Volkswagen T-Cross has all the fundamentals to provide stiff competition in the compact crossover segment. Among its many attributes are a practical cabin with a sliding rear bench seat, and a strong engine line-up, which provides enough performance and decent fuel-efficiency. However, it’s not quite capable of toppling the best in the class.

Many of the T-Cross’ rivals are much more eye-catching, for instance. The VW is rather plain inside and out, and as a result, lacks the fun factor most alternatives offer. It’s as refined and as easy to drive as you’d expect a VW to be, although that comes at the expense of the T-Cross not being the most exciting behind the wheel. 

Pricing and specifications have been altered throughout the life of the T-Cross to address concerns of it being undercut by rivals, to the point where the T-Cross is one of the more affordable options in the sector. Indeed, our preferred entry-level trim is so well equipped, that it makes more expensive trims look redundant.

Our choice: Volkswagen T-Cross Life 1.0 115 TSI manual

About the Volkswagen T-Cross

The Volkswagen T-Cross started from a rather left-field concept called the Breeze that was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The Breeze looked pretty much identical to the production-spec T-Cross, aside from not having a roof. The T-Roc Convertible filled VW’s drop-top SUV niche a few years later, and the T-Cross took on the popular small SUV segment, first going on sale in March 2019. It’s been well-received by buyers, and has only needed minor updates to keep it relevant in 2024.

Used - available now

2023 Volkswagen

T-Cross

37,410 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,395

View T-Cross

2023 Volkswagen

T-Cross

25,096 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £21,785

View T-Cross

2023 Volkswagen

T-Cross

23,572 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £14,499

View T-Cross

2023 Volkswagen

T-Cross

21,210 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,997

View T-Cross

The majority of the VW T-Cross line-up is powered by a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine that produces either 94bhp or 113bhp, while higher-spec models can also be had with a 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine. The 1.0 motor comes with a five-speed manual in 94bhp form, or can be paired with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission in 113bhp form; the 1.5 is auto-only.

There are four trim levels available for the T-Cross: 

1. Life
2. Match
3. Style
4. R-Line

How much does the Volkswagen T-Cross cost?

Life kicks the range off at just under £24,000 new. Despite being the base model, it’s well equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an eight-inch digital driver’s display, an eight-inch central touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus several safety features including front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and driver fatigue detection.

For a little over £24,000, Match trim adds 17-inch rims, tinted windows, a reversing camera, and keyless entry and start. 

The Style trim, which costs around £2,600 more than the equivalent Match trim, and adds different wheels, silver roof rails, two-zone climate control, a built-in sat-nav, and matrix LED headlights. 

For around £900 over the Style, the range-topping R-Line adds 18-inch alloys, a host of interior and exterior styling upgrades and a standard 10.25-inch fully-configurable digital instrument cluster, and slightly more supportive sports front seats.

Engines, performance and drive

As you’d expect with most new cars, the Volkswagen T-Cross is a car that you can just get into and instantly feel comfortable with. All of the control weights are nicely matched to one another; the clutch engages smoothly when you press the pedal, the throttle response is consistent through the rev range, and the steering is light and precise. Throw in the compact dimensions, and the T-Cross causes little stress when driving around town.

Head out onto the open road, and the handling is safe rather than entertaining like the Ford Puma. There’s plenty of grip and the balance is neutral, but the steering offers little in the way of feedback. The higher centre of gravity is noticeable when compared to the Polo on which the T-Cross is based, but the driving position is much more like an SUV, so it gives you a good view out.

The ride is smoother than in a SEAT Arona, but the 18-inch wheels of R-Line models make the T-Cross fidget over low-speed bumps more than the smaller wheel sizes, although the VW does settle down the faster you go. The big wheels increase road noise, too, so refinement on a motorway cruise is better with the smaller 16- or 17-inch wheel sizes certain models get. The six-speed gearbox of the more powerful 113bhp 1.0-litre engine contributes to noise reduction by keeping the revs lower than they would otherwise be with the entry-level engine, which only gets a five-speed gearbox. The brakes, meanwhile, feel strong and inspire plenty of confidence for emergency stops.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

The T-Cross’s engine line-up is straightforward: there’s a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine offered with two power outputs (94bhp and 113bhp), and a 1.5-litre petrol unit with 148bhp.

The lesser 94bhp petrol model is okay, particularly if you only intend to drive around town. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 11.2 seconds, and pulls smoothly from around 2,000rpm, even in fifth gear. It will struggle below that point, so steep uphill sections on a country road may need a downshift. Officially, the top speed stands at 112mph.

For most people, we’d recommend the more powerful 113bhp unit. At 200Nm, its maximum torque is 25Nm higher than in the cheaper model, and is available across the same rev range. It’s a similar story when it comes to power: both variants hit peak power at 5,000rpm, but the 113bhp unit can maintain its figure for a further 500rpm. As a result, the engine feels stronger at any speed, as shown by its 10.0 second 0-62mph time and 120mph maximum. The automatic version has a marginally slower acceleration time of 10.3 seconds.

The 1.5-litre petrol is only available with Style and R-Line trims, and unsurprisingly has the best performance figures of the lot. It takes 8.4 seconds for the 0-62mph sprint and the top speed is 124mph. The SEAT Arona and Skoda Kamiq both offer this engine, with the SEAT trailing the VW to 62mph by 0.1 seconds, and the Skoda having a matching 8.3-second sprint time. 

Both the five- and six-speed manual ‘boxes shift smoothly and are paired with a light clutch pedal, which makes driving in heavy traffic easy. The DSG dual-clutch auto, on the other hand, isn’t the best in the business: it can be jerky when parking, and is often slow to kick down when accelerating out of a corner.

MPG, CO2 and running costs

The running costs of the Volkswagen T-Cross are likely to be a major consideration for small SUV buyers. The T-Cross isn’t available with a hybrid powertrain like the Renault Captur, or as an EV like the Peugeot 2008, but both current petrol engines provide good fuel returns. 

The T-Cross engine range starts with a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet. The entry-level 94bhp version is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and manages a claimed maximum of 49.6mpg, with CO2 emissions from 128g/km. 

The 113bhp model gets a six-speed manual gearbox, and has slightly better fuel economy at 50.4mpg, and emits 127g/km of CO2. If you opt for the DSG auto, claimed fuel economy drops to 48.7mpg, while CO2 emissions increase to 132g/km.

When we tested the pre-facelift T-Cross Move with the 108bhp engine and manual ‘box, and managed to average well over 40mpg with ease, and got into the fifties when driving more gently on A-roads. 

If you need more power, choose the 1.5-litre three-pot turbo petrol engine. VW says this motor will average 47.1mpg and emits 135g/km of CO2, both of which aren’t far off the smaller 1.0-litre engine with the same gearbox. That’s because this engine has clever cylinder deactivation technology that saves fuel when cruising by shutting off two of the engine’s four cylinders when they’re not needed.

Insurance Groups

The Volkswagen T-Cross will be relatively cheap to insure, like most of its rivals. Life trim with the lower-powered engine is in group 11, while those fitted with the 113bhp engine are in group 14. On the other end of the spectrum, an R-Line model with the most powerful engine and automatic gearbox tops out at group 19. Equivalent versions of the SEAT Arona are in similar insurance groups.

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Depreciation

Our experts predict that the T-Cross will hold onto between 50 to 54 per cent of its value after 36,000 miles or three years, with the 1.0 115 TSI Match trim expected to retain the most.

These figures are above average for the class, most likely thanks to the cachet of the VW badge. By contrast, the Skoda Kamiq is expected to retain around 50 per cent of its value, and the Renault Captur is projected to retain between 40 to 48 per cent on average.

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Interior, design and technology

According to the manufacturer, the Volkswagen T-Cross is intended to sport a more funky design than the brand’s larger SUVs. There are elements inspired by the rest of the VW family, such as the side crease that’s reminiscent of the Polo supermini, and the foglight surrounds mimic those on the T-Roc small SUV. Meanwhile, the full-width reflector around the back is designed to emphasise the car’s width. Cars equipped with the optional IQ light package (standard on Style trim) get a more arresting X-wing design in the rear lights.

In a class that’s full of quirky, colourful and interesting designs, the T-Cross is not the most eye-catching small SUV around, but it looks smart in a way that is sure to appeal to Volkswagen’s fan base. If you do want to liven things up beyond the usual array of white, grey and black paint options, the T-Cross is available in a fetching Clear Blue metallic, a pricey Kings Red metallic for £860, or a bold Rubber Ducky Yellow. The general public voted for the latter name as part of a social media pole.

Inside, the dashboard layout is almost identical to that of the closely related Polo. That means there’s an eight-inch infotainment display sitting above a pair of central air vents, simple, logical control layouts and an attractive steering wheel design. Life and Match trims have a bit of silver trim across the dash that’s a bit more jazzy than the darker panels of R-Line cars, while Style can be had with a Cosmic Blue interior or contrasting Mistral and Titanium Black interior.

The majority of the T-Cross line-up, including the base model, comes with an eight-inch digital driver’s display, while the range-topping R-Line gets a fully configurable 10.25-inch digital cockpit instead. The latter allows the driver to customise the information presented, choosing a regular-looking speedometer and rev counter, or prioritising trip or navigation readouts. The graphics are sharp, and while it isn’t completely essential, it does make the cabin feel more high-tech than those of many rivals.

There’s little in the way of soft-touch plastic: the large expanse along the top of the dashboard is hard and scratchy, unlike in the Polo, where it’s made of a softer, rubberised material. The cabin doesn’t feel as premium as the Renault Captur or Peugeot 2008’s, but it’s all logically laid out. Entry-level Life and mid-range Match trims of T-Cross feature physical climate controls for the air-con system, which we’re always fond of. Style and R-Line have dual-zone climate control which utilises a touch sensitive set-up that isn’t as easy to use on the move.

While the dash design is pretty much the same as the Polo’s, the driver gets a better view of the road ahead, thanks to a hip point located 100mm higher than in the supermini.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

Every model in the T-Cross range comes with an eight-inch touchscreen as standard. In Life and Match models, this includes Bluetooth and a DAB radio, but no built-in satellite navigation, which is a £600 option unless you stretch to an Style or R-Line model. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard-fit, so we don’t expect many people will bother forking over the extra cash, and just use a navigation app from their phone instead.

The infotainment system itself is still one of the best in its class. The graphics look clear and sharp, while the touch-sensitive shortcut buttons surrounding the display are big enough not to be distracting on the move. The two physical dials – one for volume and one to adjust the navigation zoom – are quite small and fiddly, though. Spring for the larger 10.25in screen that comes as part of the Discover Pro package and these dials are removed altogether in favour of a pure touchscreen setup.

Programming the navigation system is easy, thanks to a large on-screen keyboard. Loading times are quick enough, and you can pinch and swipe on the display to preview a route.

The audio experience is the one area of the VW infotainment system that lets the side down. Sound quality from the standard speakers is nothing better than okay; the speakers lack clarity and punch. A six-speaker, 300-watt Beats sound system is among the optional extras available, though. A wireless phone charging pad is a £200 option across the range.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

When it comes to practicality, the Volkswagen T-Cross is competitive within its class. Available in just the one five-door compact crossover bodystyle, the car’s boxy dimensions and high roof translate into plenty of cabin space.

It scores big points for versatility, too, thanks in no small part to the sliding rear seat bench that’s standard across the range. Up front, it’s just as impressive, with a comfortable driving position that has enough adjustment to accommodate drivers of all shapes and sizes.

In addition to plenty of room, there are lots of spaces to keep items up front. A rubberised tray on top of the dash is ideal for small, lightweight items, while the huge cubby ahead of the gear lever has space for big smartphones and USB cables. The door bins are deep and wide enough to hold a large water bottle, and there is further storage space beneath the centre armrest. Passengers in the back can make use of similarly generous door bins and a pair of USB ports.

Dimensions and size

The Volkswagen T-Cross measures 4,235mm long, 1,799mm wide (including its door mirrors) and 1,584mm tall, so it’s a similar size to its VW Group siblings. The T-Cross is 54mm longer than the Polo supermini which sits on the same platform, but that’s still comfortably shorter than a Golf, so it’s an ideal size for city driving.

Legroom, headroom & passenger space

Up front, the T-Cross feels very spacious. Headroom is generous, and the seat offers a wide range of adjustment (the height, in particular, can be varied by a huge amount.)

Headroom is equally good for back-seat passengers, while there’s more than enough foot space beneath the front seats. Legroom depends entirely on the positions of the sliding rear bench: in its rearmost position, the T-Cross is among the most spacious in its class. However, slide the bench forward its full 140mm of travel to maximise luggage capacity, and there won’t be any legroom whatsoever for people sitting behind a driver of average height.

The T-Cross comes with ISOFIX mounting points both in the outer two rear seats and the front passenger seat.

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Boot Space

The T-Cross has between 385 and 455 litres of boot space depending on the seat positioning. The sliding rear bench allows you to prioritise either boot capacity or rear legroom. Even with that in its most rearward position, the 385-litre volume is more than you get from a Volkswagen Golf, and sliding the seat forward all the way opens up the volume to 455 litres. However, this leaves a huge gap between the raised boot floor and the back seats, in which you could end up losing smaller items.

The T-Cross comes with an adjustable boot floor as standard. In its raised position, there’s no load lip to lift items over, and should you need to, there's space to store the parcel shelf beneath it. The boot should be able to swallow a set of golf clubs, although they’ll go more easily in a Ford Puma, which has an innovative ‘Megabox’ system, which is a handy 68-litre tub moulded into the boot floor that you can stand a golf bag up in. It also has a plug at the bottom, making it an ideal place to store muddy boots that you can wash out later.

The rear seat bench splits 60:40, and leaves a completely flat load area. This expands the total storage area to 1,281 litres, which is six litres more than you get in a Renault Captur.

Towing

The 94bhp 1.0-litre engine has a braked towing capacity of 1,000kg, while the more powerful 113bhp version increases this to 1,100kg, much like the Ford Puma. Opting for the 1.5-litre engine only increases capacity to 1,200kg, which is okay, but somewhat shy of the up to 1,700kg you can pull using a four-wheel drive ‘4Motion equipped VW T-Roc.

VW has increased the weight the tow ball can take from 55kg up to 75kg, allowing you to carry up to three e-bikes on a dedicated bike carrier.

Reliability and safety

All T-Cross models have airbags for the driver and front passenger, side impact airbags, and curtain airbags. There’s also a tyre pressure-loss warning system, an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, a lane-keep assist system, plus adaptive cruise control.

Entry-level Life models are equipped with front and rear parking sensors. A reversing camera is a £350 extra, but is fitted as standard to Match trim cars and above. 

Euro NCAP tested the T-Cross in 2019 and awarded it a full five stars for safety, with 97 and 86 per cent scores for adult and child protection, respectively. It also received an 80 per cent score for its safety assistance technology.

T-Cross owners seem pleased with the compact SUV, as feedback from those who completed our latest Driver Power customer satisfaction survey allowed it to finish in 21st place on our list of the best cars to own. It trumped key rivals such as the Renault Captur (34th) and Nissan Juke (64th), and was one of four Volkswagen models to crack the 75-strong list. However, Volkswagen as a brand came 27th (out of 32) in our best car manufacturer rankings, well behind the likes of Skoda (20th), Hyundai (17th) and Kia (6th).

Warranty

The T-Cross, like all other new Volkswagens, comes as standard with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. There’s also a three-year paintwork warranty and 12 years of cover against corrosion from the inside out. 

Most rivals come with similar warranty periods, although the Hyundai Bayon (five years) and the Kia Stonic (seven years) have longer protection.

Servicing

Buyers can choose between Volkswagen’s fixed or flexible service packages. The former is recommended for lower-mileage cars, typically covering less than 9,300 miles per year. Those using their T-Cross for daily mileages of over 25 miles are better served by the latter because it extends the service intervals up to 18,600 miles or every two years.

The car uses a range of sensors to determine when it needs servicing, but Volkswagen claims that the T-Cross can cover anything between 10,000 and 20,000 miles between oil changes on the flexible service package.

Volkswagen T-Cross Alternatives

Rivals include the Citroen C3 Aircross, Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Toyota Yaris Cross and Peugeot 2008, as well as the other similarly sized models from within the Volkswagen Group: the Seat Arona and Skoda Kamiq. The higher-spec Style and R-Line versions of the T-Cross are even priced as rivals to our reigning Car of the Year and Small SUV of the Year, the Hyundai Kona. The T-Cross is the smallest of the six SUVs in Volkswagen’s range, sitting below the Taigo, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg.