2025 Volkswagen T-Cross assessment | CarExpert

The Volkswagen T-Cross is the model’s smallest SUV, however it has at all times felt extra mature than a number of the rivals within the gentle 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 classy and sensible mannequin for these on a tighter finances.

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 on your cash’ mindset.

Fortunately for VW, although, measurement isn’t every little thing. That is nonetheless one of many cleverest compact crossover fashions in the marketplace, and on this assessment you’ll discover out what’s modified, what’s good about it, and what might be higher.

How does the Volkswagen T-Cross examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen T-Cross towards equally sized automobiles.

Volkswagen

T-Cross

How a lot does the Volkswagen T-Cross value?

There are three variants within the up to date T-Cross vary, with the R-Line now a standalone mannequin slightly than an choice bundle on the Type.

To see how the T-Cross compares to its rivals, take a look at our comparability software.

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, however it’s nonetheless top-of-the-line and most ergonomically pleasing small SUVs in the marketplace.

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

It’s paying homage 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. Dad and mom 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 information 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 essentially the most half. The brand new ambient lighting strip throughout the sprint provides some wow issue at evening as nicely.

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

There are tuning and quantity knobs, which is a win, and the Type 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 straightforward sufficient to be taught, and there’s a secondary panel beneath for dual-zone local weather management within the Type and R-Line fashions – the Life grade will get knobs for its handbook air-con. That contact panel in greater fashions is liable to fingerprints, and it may be straightforward to bump the mistaken factor when you’re driving.

Talking of, there are correct buttons on the steering wheel slightly than haptic controls, and the stalks and switches are all easy to familiarize yourself 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 telephone charger. There are additionally monumental door pockets, however they’re not lined – so issues can rattle round.

The most important draw back concerning the inside is the dearth of directional air vents within the second row, that means these within the again might not get as a lot air as they want for. The arduous plastic armrests on the doorways aren’t nice, both.

However the second row additionally performs host to the T-Cross’s huge celebration trick – a sliding seat base that means that you can 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 an excellent hole in entrance of my knees, and a good quantity of foot room. Headroom can also be nice for a automobile of this measurement due to its boxy design.

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

With that intelligent seat slid ahead, I may straddle the seat forward with my knees squished. So, it is likely to be advantageous in case you have a toddler within the again, however not excellent for hauling huge models and a load of stuff within the boot.

There are ISOFIX factors on the window seats and three prime tether factors, too, and whereas there are huge door pockets and map pockets on the seat backs, there isn’t any 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 ground being set within the lowest place, and you will have to be conscious that in case you have the false ground lowered, there’s an enormous step as much as the seatbacks.

However in case you have the false ground in play, and the seats slid all the best way again, you’ve acquired 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 beneath the ground of the boot – very useful.

What’s beneath 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 could have deduced, it affords 85kW of energy and 200Nm of torque.

Energy output is decrease than some rivals, however the torque is among the many finest in school. It comes as normal 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 know-how 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 totally different vehicles, pushed by three totally different drivers – of seven.2 litres per 100km. However hey, we did Mount Wonderful and Mount Nebo, which mightn’t be the way you drive your T-Cross.

Actually, within the earlier mannequin I did a whole lot of freeway commuting and was usually seeing within the fours for that type of driving.

For those who’re pondering you may not be capable of tow with such a tiny jigger, you’re mistaken/ 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 advantageous.

I say that as a result of the T-Cross was already top-of-the-line little crossovers to drive, and that continues to be the case with this up to date model.

The three-pot turbo petrol engine is a corker. It has heaps of torque, that means it feels tremendous thrusty if you need it to, and it’s backed up by the intelligent seven-speed DSG auto which is snappy with its shifts beneath arduous throttle and easy if 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 essentially 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 appropriate 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 would possibly discover there’s some lag if you’re getting transferring.

The mixture 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 aware of kind of powertrain will know that you may largely drive round it, however for the uninitiated, it might sound 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 sensible – it has fairly a protracted wheelbase for the dimensions of the automobile, and which means it has an incredible 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 reasonably well-sorted journey, although you’ll be able to really feel sharp jolts often if the floor isn’t excellent. However when it’s excellent, or not less than near good, it’s a terrific journey.

I drove each the Type – 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 means of corners quicker than you would possibly assume is feasible, and like they are saying it’s extra enjoyable to drive a gradual automobile quick than a quick automobile gradual.

For those who’re extra involved about how it’s to park, you’ll be blissful to know that it’s one of many best little vehicles on the highway in that regard – with entrance and rear parking sensors and a reversing digicam, 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 an ordinary semi-autonomous parking system. Which may even be extra helpful than a surround-view digicam for some consumers, however I nonetheless assume a extra superior digicam system can be welcome right here.

It has terrific braking response, with a extremely constructive really feel by means of the pedal. But in addition, in some conditions within the automobile I used to be driving, I may 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 utterly.

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

Actually my solely huge criticism of the drive expertise is that – whereas the three-cylinder is a corker – it’s not as easy 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 gear stakes have been bettered by the facelifted model of the T-Cross, which has numerous extra options – and some vital new security objects, detailed within the subsequent part.

T-Cross 85TSI Life highlights:

• 16-inch ‘Nottingham’ alloy wheels
• LED headlights – reflector kind (NEW)
• Automated high-beam (NEW)
• Energy-folding door mirrors
• Encompass lighting with gentle 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
• Guide local weather controls

T-Cross 85TSI Type provides: 

• 17-inch ‘Manila’ alloy wheels
• IQ.Mild Matrix LED headlights (NEW)
• Adaptive high-beam (NEW)
• Illuminated daytime working gentle 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 bundle
• 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, based mostly on assessments performed in 2019.

The VW scored 97 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 85 per cent for little one occupant safety, 81 per cent for weak highway consumer safety and 80 per cent for its security help programs.

Normal security gear consists of:

• 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 digicam
• Journey Help
  • Adaptive cruise + lane centring

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

How a lot does the Volkswagen T-Cross value 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 alternative can be to go for a pay as you go service plan, or Care Plan as VW calls them. That method you’ll be able to roll your upkeep prices into your finance repayments, and escape the dreaded invoice shock.

For those who determine to do this, the associated fee 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 affords 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 a 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’re feeling like you might be getting greater than your cash’s value – particularly within the mid-level 85TSI Type, which stands out because the choose of the pack when you can justify the associated fee.

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