Volkswagen T-Cross Review 2024

In the compact crossover class, the Volkswagen T-Cross stands out against the likes of the Nissan Juke and Vauxhall Crossland for its superb cabin space. There’s a surprising amount of room inside for a car with a relatively small footprint and the boot is also a good size. All of this means the T-Cross is capable of being your only car.

The engines in the T-Cross are another attraction. We’d steer clear of the diesel as a used buy and, for new and used buyers alike, head for the 1.0-litre turbo petrol motor that is punchy and smooth. It has low running costs, too.

Another attraction with the T-Cross is the way it drives. The petrol engine offers good performance and refinement, while the ride and handling show the others in this class how to strike the right balance between smoothness and agility.

It’s impossible to consider small SUV crossovers without mentioning the Nissan Juke. It’s a strong contender thanks to bold looks and a well put together, comfortable cabin. However, it’s not quite as good to drive as the Volkswagen T-Cross.

The Vauxhall Mokka is another big hitter in this class and is keenly priced. It also has plenty of choice in trim levels and low running costs, though it misses the panache of the Volkswagen’s fit and finish.

Others to look at also include the Skoda Kamiq, SEAT Arona, Renault Captur, Mazda CX-3 and Ford Puma, or if you’re feeling a bit more flush you could consider the Audi Q2 or BMW X1. You might want to look at the Volkswagen Taigo and T-Roc, too.

Volkswagen’s reputation for classy interior finishing and detailing doesn’t take a hit with the T-Cross, but it’s not quite up to the standards set by the stalwart Golf and larger SUVs in the firm’s line-up. There is some evidence of cost-cutting in here such as the cheap-feeling, hard plastics used for the door panels and around the seat bases. They should last, but they just don’t look or feel as nice as you might expect them to.

The sense of being surrounded by a herd of bland plastic is most prevalent in the lower trim models that do without the more pleasant dash and door inserts of the Style, or the earlier SEL, and R Line versions. However, you can spritz up the cabin with some optional trim packs.

Even so, there are still other areas where the T-Cross doesn’t feel quite as solidly finished as we’d look for in other Volkswagen models. For example, the boot carpets and side panels are not as neatly trimmed and fitted as you will find in a Golf. Still, the T-Cross is free from creaks and rattles and squeaks, and we’d expect it to remain that way for the duration of your ownership.

An 8-inch colour touchscreen is standard in the Volkswagen T-Cross to operate the car’s infotainment. There’s a twin USB connector for your smartphone or device, plus Bluetooth and DAB radio. Every model also has Volkswagen Connect included to pair with your smartphone and access its apps via the car’s screen. The Connect function also allows you to see data about your journey and driving, as well check the car’s location from your phone which is handy in multi-storey car parks.

From mid-2023, the top of the range R-Line model gained a 9.2-inch infotainment screen. At this point, Volkswage also repositioned the screen in all T-Cross models to sit higher up and stand proud of the dash instead of being integrated into the console as before.

The screen itself in any T-Cross is one of the better ones we’ve used and is quick to respond to inputs from your finger. It would be even better if some of the on-screen icons were bigger and easier to prod when driving.

With all but the base S model, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to use your phones sat-nav and music. The Style, or earlier SEL, and R-Line trims come with satellite navigation included, though it’s hard to justify paying the extra for this nowadays when phones are just as adept at providing directions. You can also pay extra for an upgraded stereo with the Beats Soundpack.

Just as in the front of the Volkswagen T-Cross, the rear seat offers up more space than you’d expect of a car in the compact crossover sector. It beats most rivals hands down for the amount of knee room and shoulder space it affords occupants, which allows two adults to sit very comfortably back there. Just as importantly, they can sit there without those in the front having to hunch up with their seats slid as far forward as possible.

Three kids can fit in the back of the T-Cross but two will be happier as the central cushion of the bench has a raised pad. The cubby box also juts into the space where a third passenger’s legs want to spread out. However, there are three-point belts for all rear occupants and there are Isofix child seat mounts on the two outer seats.

Access to the rear of the T-Cross is good as the doors open almost to 90-degrees, so there are no issues with swinging your legs into the dropped down footwell. This lowered floor also contributes to the excellent leg room in the back of the T-Cross. Fitting a child's seat is also easy, helped by the fact the T-Cross' raised ride height means you don't need to bend your back uncomfortably when you're slotting it into position.  

Head to the boot and you’ll find a load sill that’s not too high and the cargo floor lies flush with the opening. It’s not the longest boot floor but with 455-litres of space it can cope with a child’s pushchair. Tip the 60/40 split and fold rear seat down and it frees up a maximum of 1281-litres of capacity, which is more than enough to deal with a trip to the DIY store or the subsequent visit to the refuse tip.

If you sidestep the base Volkswagen T-Cross S and choose any other variant, you get a variable height load floor as standard. It’s a handy detail as it lets you slide in heavier items without a drop to the cargo floor and provides some secure storage for valuables.

Fact fans, take note. The Volkswagen T-Cross measures 4235mm long, 1977mm wide (including door mirrors) and 1584mm in height.

There are two versions of the 1.0 TSI - the entry 95PS model or the more powerful 115PS model which gets a six-speed manual rather than the five-speeder of the 95PS motor. The five speed actually has a slightly better shift, but both are rewardingly positive while the nicely weighted clutch and well-judged throttle response all combine to make this a very pleasant and simple car to drive. Volkswagen dropped the 95PS motor with its update of the range in the middle of 2023.

There is also the optional seven-speed DSG which flicks through the gears quickly and smoothly. There's no hesitation when coming off the brakes and it responds well from a standstill.

Both of the 1.0-litre TSI engines work keenly through the rev range and have more than enough low-rev pull to make you feel they are stronger than their modest capacity would suggest.

Another petrol option is the 150PS 1.5 TSI engine, which is only offered in the Style/SEL and R-Line models. It comes with the seven-speed DSG gearbox as its sole transmission choice and it’s the closest the T-Cross has to a performance model thanks to its 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds.

While the 1.5 TSI engine appeals as the most powerful and flexible option, it’s also the priciest which means you could consider other crossovers, such as the Audi Q2 or A1 Citycarver.

While a 1.6 TDI was added to the range shortly after launch and dropped not long after that, unless you're doing big mileages, we'd opt for the 1.0 TSI. It's a far nicer engine all round and gives the T-Cross some much need character. The 1.6 TDI on the other hand is noisy and lethargic.

This is an area where the Volkswagen T-Cross pulls out quite a considerable lead over the vast majority of its rivals in the compact crossover sector. Even at motorway speeds, there is very little by way of engine or wind noise. A little road noise can be heard in the R-Line with its larger wheels and tyres, but even then it’s more of a distant hum than anything more intrusive.

The only engine we’d steer clear of as far as refinement goes is the 1.6-litre turbodiesel as it can become a little rowdy at higher speeds and you’re constantly aware of what it’s fuelled by. As few will choose this engine, it’s not a hanging offence or one to tarnish the rest of the range with.

In town, the T-Cross is equally well behaved in most of its versions. You don’t hear any whump from the suspension as it passes over speed humps and the steering, pedals and gear shift are all slickly in balance with each other. It’s this sort of linearity to the actions of its controls that imparts a more grown-up feel to the T-Cross than, say, a Vauxhall Mokka.

The Volkswagen T-Cross has scored one of the most impressive results of any car in Euro NCAP tests. It registered a 97 per cent result for adult occupancy safety and a very fine 86 per cent for child passenger safety. This contributed to an overall five-star rating.

As standard in all T-Cross models, there are twin front, side and curtain airbags, as well as a front passenger airbag cut-off switch to allow a rear-facing child seat to be placed there. This can be attached with an Isofix mount and there are a further two Isofix points on the outer rear seats.

All five occupants have a three-point seat belt to secure them safely in place, while autonomous emergency braking helps to ward off potential collisions by warning the driver of impending hazards. If the driver doesn’t react, the system will apply the full force of the brakes.

The T-Cross also has Lane Assist technology to guide tell the driver if the car is wandering over a road marking and it will also guide it back into the centre of the lane. On top of this, there is an e-call system to contact the emergency services in the event of a collision. As you’d expect, ESP traction control, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and ABS anti-lock brakes are standard across the range.

The Volkswagen T-Cross ought to be a very reliable car. We've heard of very few common issues, while Volkswagen as a brand performs reasonably well in the annual HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. In 2023, VW ranked 21st overall out of 29 entries, so it could do better as a company, though this is not an overall reflection on the T-Cross.

It’s not a shock to find the cheapest Volkswagen T-Cross to insure is the base model Life or previous S, which sits on group 8. However, it’s a welcome surprise to find the Match and its SE predecessor with the same 95PS 1.0 TSI engine sits in the same insurance band. The short-lived turbodiesel is another that's very easy on insurance ranking and starts in group 8, too.

A 115PS 1.0 TSI in Match or SE trim resides in group 10, while the Style and SEL version sits two bands higher. A 1.5 TSI Evo in this trim is group 16, while the diesel-engined models are in group 10. Go for the R-Line trim and they all sit one insurance band higher than the Style/SEL models.

For first-year VED, or road tax, the 1.0 TSI engine will see you pay this levy at £220, while the 1.5 TSI attracts a £270 payment.

Beyond that first year, all T-Cross models will pay the flat rate of £190 per year for road tax.

Volkswagen initially offered four T-Cross trims, starting with the S that came with 16-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjusted and heated door mirrors, LED rear lights and automatic headlights. You also get a sliding rear bench seat, air conditioning, electric windows all-round, and the 8-inch Composition Media infotainment touchscreen with Bluetooth and DAB radio.

You can no longer buy a brand new Volkswagen T-Cross S, with the range now starting with the T-Cross SE. This ups the ante with 17-inch alloys, blind spot detection, front fog lights, air con, an alarm, electrically foldable door mirrors, and App Connect.

Ths Volkswagen T-Cross SEL builds on the SE with a different style of 17-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, two-zone electronic air conditioning and a standard sat-nav system.

Lastly, the Volkswagen T-Cross R-Line features 18-inch alloy wheels, unique body styling pack, and R-Line badges. A black headlining is used inside, as well as aluminium foot pedals, Carbon Flag seat cloth, and a 10.25-inch Active Info infotainment screen.

VW then replaced these trims with the Life, Match, and Style but retained the R-Line. The three new trims match their earlier equivalents very closely, but these updated models have VW's Digital Cockpit as standard with its configurable dash display. The R-Line also gained a larger 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen.