2025 Volkswagen T-Cross overview | CarExpert

The Volkswagen T-Cross is the model’s smallest SUV, but it surely has all the time felt extra mature than a number of the rivals within the mild SUV class.

Having served as the idea of the VW SUV vary for 4 years now, the T-Cross has lengthy been seen as a complicated and sensible mannequin for these on a tighter price range.

However with this latest replace, the pricing has crept as much as new ranges, leaving the T-Cross in a quizzical place relating to the ‘metallic in your cash’ mindset.

Fortunately for VW, although, dimension isn’t all the pieces. That is nonetheless one of many cleverest compact crossover fashions in the marketplace, and on this overview you’ll discover out what’s modified, what’s good about it, and what could possibly be higher.

How does the Volkswagen T-Cross evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen T-Cross in opposition to equally sized autos.

Volkswagen

T-Cross

How a lot does the Volkswagen T-Cross price?

There are three variants within the up to date T-Cross vary, with the R-Line now a standalone mannequin quite than an choice package deal on the Model.

To see how the T-Cross compares to its rivals, try our comparability device.

What’s the Volkswagen T-Cross like on the within?

There have been some adjustments to the inside design and finishes to the T-Cross’s cabin, but it surely’s nonetheless among the best and most ergonomically pleasing small SUVs in the marketplace.

There have been some new trim finishes utilized inside, and the Model grade is the one which stands out most, with its denim trimmed seats and light-weight, smooth finishes on the sprint.

It’s harking back to the Hyundai Venue’s inside in some methods, and there’s additionally the anticipated leather-lined steering wheel, and plush touches like auto-up/down home windows for all.

What isn’t as spectacular for the bottom grade is the turn-key ignition, which – when you’ve had keyless entry and push-button begin – mightn’t be palatable. Mother and father will know it may be a godsend.

Now, VW Australia has referred to as this a ‘nice first new automobile’, or maybe extra soberingly, a ‘terrific final new automobile’. With that in thoughts, right here’s a bit extra data on the ergonomics.

There may be ample adjustment to the seats, and there’s rake and attain adjustment for the steering wheel, too.

However one factor that some consumers might discover to be an issue is the size of the seat base. My mum is a shorty at 4’11 and she will be able to’t get cozy. The steering wheel is on the plump aspect, too.

However for many consumers it’ll be candy, and fortunately the controls within the cabin all fall simply handy for probably the most half. The brand new ambient lighting strip throughout the sprint provides some wow issue at night time as effectively.

The 8.0-inch touchscreen media system that’s commonplace on all grades is likely to be smaller than others, but it surely’s less complicated and smarter in most situations.

There are tuning and quantity knobs, which is a win, and the Model and R-Line fashions include wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to built-in navigation. The Life has wired smartphone mirroring, and no nav.

The controls for the display are seemingly simple sufficient to study, and there’s a secondary panel under for dual-zone local weather management within the Model and R-Line fashions – the Life grade will get knobs for its handbook air-con. That contact panel in greater fashions is susceptible to fingerprints, and it may be simple to bump the flawed factor when you’re driving.

Talking of, there are correct buttons on the steering wheel quite than haptic controls, and the stalks and switches are all easy to become familiar with.

Storage up entrance features a small coated centre console bin, small cup holders between the seats, a storage tray in entrance of the shifter which in all grades incorporates a wi-fi cellphone charger. There are additionally huge door pockets, however they’re not lined – so issues can rattle round.

The largest draw back in regards to the inside is the shortage of directional air vents within the second row, which means these within the again might not get as a lot air as they need for. The arduous plastic armrests on the doorways aren’t nice, both.

However the second row additionally performs host to the T-Cross’s large social gathering trick – a sliding seat base that permits you to considerably enhance the quantity of boot house when you don’t want rear-seat legroom, or if passenger house is the precedence you’ll be able to shrink the boot.

Now, for rear seat house, I set the driving force’s seat to my 182cm/6’0 place and located I had a great hole in entrance of my knees, and a good quantity of foot room. Headroom can be nice for a automobile of this dimension due to its boxy design.

Three adults throughout the again is feasible however gained’t be very good for the center rider, as there’s an enormous transmission tunnel intrusion.

With that intelligent seat slid ahead, I might straddle the seat forward with my knees squished. So, it is likely to be nice when you’ve got a toddler within the again, however not good for hauling large items and a load of stuff within the boot.

There are ISOFIX factors on the window seats and three high tether factors, too, and whereas there are large door pockets and map pockets on the seat backs, there isn’t a drop-down armrest with cupholders.

The official cargo capability specs are the identical as earlier than – 385 litres when the again seat is within the conventional place, which expands to 455 litres with the seat slid ahead.

These numbers are for the adjustable boot flooring being set within the lowest place, and you will have to be conscious that when you’ve got the false flooring lowered, there’s an enormous step as much as the seatbacks.

However when you’ve got the false flooring in play, and the seats slid all the way in which again, you’ve bought a large space for storing of 1255L. There are gap-flaps to maintain issues from falling down within the crevice, too.

The cargo space additionally options a few procuring bag hooks and a few cargo tie-downs. Plus, there’s a space-saver spare wheel underneath the ground of the boot – very useful.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The T-Cross vary is solely supplied with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in Australia, known as 85TSI by Volkswagen – as you will have deduced, it gives 85kW of energy and 200Nm of torque.

Energy output is decrease than some rivals, however the torque is among the many finest at school. It comes as commonplace with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto (DSG), and the T-Cross is front-wheel drive solely.

The T-Cross quotes a powerful official gas use determine of simply 5.4 litres per 100km, with a 40-litre gas tank capability and the strict requirement for 95 RON premium unleaded petrol. To assist it save gas it has idle start-stop expertise too, and there’s a button to show it off simply close to the gear selector.

Now, the testing I did mightn’t be consultant of what you do every day, however I noticed a displayed return – averaged throughout three completely different automobiles, pushed by three completely different drivers – of seven.2 litres per 100km. However hey, we did Mount Superb and Mount Nebo, which mightn’t be the way you drive your T-Cross.

In reality, within the earlier mannequin I did numerous freeway commuting and was repeatedly seeing within the fours for that sort of driving.

When you’re pondering you won’t be capable of tow with such a tiny jigger, you’re flawed/ It has an unbraked towing capability of 630kg, and braked towing is rated to 1100kg.

How does the Volkswagen T-Cross drive?

There haven’t been adjustments to the drive expertise, and that’s completely nice.

I say that as a result of the T-Cross was already among the best little crossovers to drive, and that is still the case with this up to date model.

The three-pot turbo petrol engine is a corker. It has heaps of torque, which means it feels tremendous thrusty whenever you need it to, and it’s backed up by the intelligent seven-speed DSG auto which is snappy with its shifts underneath arduous throttle and clean whenever you’re simply tootling alongside.

It isn’t afraid to make use of the excessive gears at low speeds, both, and permit the engine’s torque to do the work if that’s probably the most environment friendly path ahead.

However for the fanatic, there are additionally paddle-shifters and a handbook shift mode for the stick, too, which is a little bit of enjoyable in the proper state of affairs. There’s additionally a Sport mode when you simply need it to carry revs longer and shift extra assertively.

I’ll simply say that, just like the final mannequin, in stop-start conditions you may discover there’s some lag whenever you’re getting transferring.

The mix of the small turbo engine, DSG and start-stop system can imply it has a little bit of that ‘lag and lurch’ sensation – anybody who’s conversant in type of powertrain will know you could largely drive round it, however for the uninitiated, it may appear a bit unusual.

Now, it’s removed from a efficiency SUV, and I wouldn’t say it’s sporty to drive. However it’s a heap of enjoyable.

A lot of that comes right down to the chassis tune, which is good – it has fairly an extended wheelbase for the scale of the automobile, and meaning it has an awesome stance and highway really feel with a squared-off drive expertise that makes it really feel like there’s a wheel at every nook.

Round city it means a fairly well-sorted experience, although you’ll be able to really feel sharp jolts sometimes if the floor isn’t good. However when it’s good, or at the least near good, it’s a terrific experience.

I drove each the Model – which wears 17-inch wheels with in 205/55 R17 Hankook Ventus Prime3 rubber – and the Life grade which has, ahem, chubby 205/60 R16 Giti GitiSynergy E1 tyres. These Giti tyres aren’t as grippy because the Hankooks, however they do supply a bit extra sidewall cushioning over smaller inconsistencies.

The steering has a terrific steadiness of weighting and directness that makes it extra partaking than most rivals. It’s a hoot to push this little jigger by corners quicker than you may suppose is feasible, and like they are saying it’s extra enjoyable to drive a sluggish automobile quick than a quick automobile sluggish.

When you’re extra involved about how it’s to park, you’ll be blissful to know that it’s one of many best little automobiles on the highway in that regard – with entrance and rear parking sensors and a reversing digital camera, plus good visibility from the driving force’s seat, it’s fairly easy to pilot right into a spot.

However when you’re not assured, there’s a regular semi-autonomous parking system. That may even be extra helpful than a surround-view digital camera for some consumers, however I nonetheless suppose a extra superior digital camera system could be welcome right here.

It has terrific braking response, with a very optimistic really feel by the pedal. But additionally, in some conditions within the automobile I used to be driving, I might hear noise from the brakes in stop-start visitors, which can simply come right down to the brakes of the near-new T-Cross I used to be driving having not bedded in fully.

There’s a little bit of highway noise intrusion to cope with too, notably on coarse-chip roads at greater speeds.

Actually my solely large criticism of the drive expertise is that – whereas the three-cylinder is a corker – it’s not as clean refined, highly effective or easy because the 110kW 1.5 TSI supplied within the sister product from Skoda, the Kamiq Sportline.

What do you get?

The usual tools stakes have been bettered by the facelifted model of the T-Cross, which has plenty of extra options – and some necessary new security objects, detailed within the subsequent part.

T-Cross 85TSI Life highlights:

• 16-inch ‘Nottingham’ alloy wheels
• LED headlights – reflector sort (NEW)
• Automated high-beam (NEW)
• Energy-folding door mirrors
• Encompass lighting with mild projection (NEW)
• Roof rails
• Leather-based multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters
• 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster (NEW)
• 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wi-fi smartphone charger
• Handbook local weather controls

T-Cross 85TSI Model provides: 

• 17-inch ‘Manila’ alloy wheels
• IQ.Gentle Matrix LED headlights (NEW)
• Adaptive high-beam (NEW)
• Illuminated daytime working mild grille strip (NEW)
• Chrome roof rails
• Keyless entry
• Twin-zone local weather management
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster 
• Satellite tv for pc navigation (NEW)
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (NEW)
• Voice management (NEW)

T-Cross 85TSI R-Line provides:

• 18-inch ‘Misano’ alloy wheels
• R-Line inside trim finishes and variations
• R-Line exterior package deal
• R-Line exterior badging
• Rear privateness glass
• A number of drive modes
• Beats sound system

Is the Volkswagen T-Cross protected?

A five-star ANCAP security ranking was awarded to the T-Cross in 2020, primarily based on assessments carried out in 2019.

The VW scored 97 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 85 per cent for youngster occupant safety, 81 per cent for weak highway person safety and 80 per cent for its security help methods.

Normal security tools contains:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bike owner detection
• Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
• Blind-spot monitoring (NEW)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (NEW)
• Parking help (NEW)
• Proactive passenger safety system (activated if an imminent collision is detected, NEW)
  • Home windows and sliding roof closed to a small hole
  • Entrance seat belts tightened
  • Hazard lights activated
• Reversing digital camera
• Journey Help
  • Adaptive cruise + lane centring

And what’s nice in regards to the tech? None of it’s incessantly interrupting the drive expertise like some newer rivals.

How a lot does the Volkswagen T-Cross price to run?

VW backs its mannequin vary with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia.

Servicing is due each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever happens first. The smarter selection could be to go for a pay as you go service plan, or Care Plan as VW calls them. That manner you’ll be able to roll your upkeep prices into your finance repayments, and escape the dreaded invoice shock.

When you resolve to try this, the price for a three-year/45,000km plan is $1500 (a saving of $199), and the five-year/75,000km plan is $2850 (saving you $571).

Past that, VW additionally gives the choice of a assured future worth for the car on the finish of your mortgage time period, which is likely to be engaging for these involved about resale values.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen T-Cross

There isn’t any doubt on this reviewer’s thoughts the brand new Volkswagen T-Cross stands head and shoulders above a number of the bigger low cost SUVs in the marketplace from China.

It mightn’t be as sharply priced as these, however you are feeling like you might be getting greater than your cash’s value – particularly within the mid-level 85TSI Model, which stands out because the choose of the pack when you can justify the price.

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