In-depth reviews

Volkswagen T-Cross review - Engines, performance and drive

Simple engine lineup works well; driving experience safe and easy rather than thrilling

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.5 out of 5

Engines, performance and drive Rating

3.7 out of 5

Price
£22,750 to £31,560
Find your Volkswagen T-Cross
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

As with most new Volkswagen models, the 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 thrilling. 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 while it’s not bad for the class, refinement on a motorway cruise is better with the 16- or 17-inch wheels certain models get. 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 108bhp), and a 1.5-litre petrol unit with 148bhp. The 1.6 TDI diesel with 94bhp that was offered at launch has since been withdrawn. 

The 94bhp petrol and the old diesel models came with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 108bhp petrol version has a six-speed manual; all have the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is standard for the 148bhp variant.

The lesser petrol model is okay, particularly if you only intend to drive around town. It accelerates from 0-62mph in 11.6 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, top speed stands at 112mph.

For most people, we’d recommend the more powerful 108bhp 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 108bhp unit can maintain its figure for a further 500rpm. As a result, the ‘bigger’ engine feels stronger at any speed, as shown by its 10.8-second 0-62mph time and 117mph maximum. That acceleration time is the same whether you choose the manual or the automatic gearbox.

The 1.5-litre petrol is only available with SEL and R-Line trims, and unsurprisingly has the best performance figures of the lot. It takes 8.5 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 beating the VW to 62mph by 0.1 seconds and the Skoda taking 10.3 seconds in comparison. 

Partnership
Need to sell your car?
Find your best offer from over 5,000+ dealers. It’s that easy.

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.

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland is an ideal family SUV for £210 per month
Vauxhall Grandland front cornering
News

Deal of the Day: Vauxhall Grandland is an ideal family SUV for £210 per month

Vauxhall’s largest SUV can be had for the same price as most superminis, making it our Deal of the Day for 1 December
1 Dec 2023