VW T-Cross 2021 review - Everything you want to know about Volkswagen's small SUV

The T-Cross SUV is Volkswagen's Golf for a new generation (although it's based on the smaller Polo). A sharply-priced, city-size, five-seat SUV that's ultra space-efficient, and powered by a miserly 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine. It's well equipped, with great active and passive safety, as well as a competitive ownership package.

In terms of price, the VW T-Cross's RRP kicks off at $27,990, before on-road costs, for the entry-level Life variant. And the price list only runs to two models, with the line-up topped off by the Style at $30,990. If you need something slightly larger, the T-Roc sits further up the price range, kicking off at $33,990.

The lack of LED headlights in the base Life model is a letdown. (image: James Cleary)

The T-Cross's engine specifications note the same engine size for all trim levels, with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol motor producing 85kW from 5000-5500rpm, and 200Nm from 2000-3500rpm.

The T-Cross’s engine specifications note the same engine size for all trim levels. (image: James Cleary)

Size is always a key consideration when you're looking at an SUV likely to live in the urban jungle rather than an actual jungle, and the T-Cross is compact at 4.1m long, less than 1.8m wide, and a touch under 1.6m tall. Kerb weight is just 1240kg, and key interior dimensions relate to the cargo floor, which is 748mm long with the rear seat upright, and 1465mm with the rear seat folded.

Size is always a key consideration when you’re looking at an SUV likely to live in the urban jungle rather than an actual jungle. (image: James Cleary)

The T-Cross competes in one of the hottest parts of the Aussie new car market. So, no surprise its standard equipment game is strong, including, alloy wheels (Life 16-inch / Style 17-inch), LED headlights (Style-only), LED DRLs, cruise control (Style - adaptive), air-conditioning (Style - dual-zone), inductive wireless device charging, a leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel, front fog-lights, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers, the 8.0-inch media touchscreen, six-speaker audio, plus Apple CarPlay / Android Auto / Bluetooth connectivity.

The top-spec Style also features keyless entry, push-button start, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, LED interior ambient lighting, front sports seats and chrome roof rails.

The Style comes with sports front seats. (image: James Cleary)

Active safety tech runs to AEB (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), driver fatigue detection, parking sensors, lane-assist/lane departure warning, park assist (Style-only), a reversing camera, and low-pressure tyre indicator. The Style adds blind spot monitoring, auto high beam and rear cross-traffic alert; which along with adaptive cruise, is optionally available on the base Life.

On the passive safety side there are driver and front passenger airbags (front and side), as well as full-length side curtain airbags.

It comes with alloy wheels (Life 16-inch / Style 17-inch). (image: James Cleary)

At the time of the T-Cross's Australian launch in mid-2020 VW Australia planned to add a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder 110TSI version of the car to the line-up, likely to have included even more standard spec like a panoramic sunroof, 18-inch alloys, tinted rear glass, and gloss black door mirrors. But the price equation relative to the next size-up T-Roc didn't work out and the more powerful model was ruled out.

Both versions of the Volkswagen T-Cross include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring. This is a big plus in terms of safety and convenience because these software connections allow you to use the main apps and functions from your phone via the car’s multimedia display screen.

Volkswagen quotes a running clearance for the T-Cross of 185mm. A full-size 4WD will typically have at least another 40mm of clearance, which is enough for serious off-roading. But the T-Cross is still more than capable of ‘light’ dirt road off-highway work.

The T-Cross is only available with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The manual gearbox seems to have gone the way of the Dodo, and in the T-Cross’s natural urban habitat an auto is the logical choice, anyway. 

The T-Cross competes in the boiling hot 'Light SUV' segment of the Aussie new car market, currently dominated by the Mazda CX-3.

It also lines up against popular contenders like the Ford Puma, Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic, Skoda Kamiq, Toyota Yaris Cross, and Nissan Juke.

The CX-3 offers a multitude of models ranging from the low $20K bracket to the high thirties, packs a 2.0-litre petrol engine (only) and is offered in FWD and AWD, the latter a rarity for this class.

The T-Cross is covered by Volkswagen Australia’s five year/unlimited km warranty. (image: James Cleary)

Like the T-Cross it plays a strong hand on active and passive safety, and it's distinctive Mazda design language sets it apart from the VW's relatively reserved look. If your budget starts lower, or is ready to stretch higher vs the T-Cross's narrow price band (high twenties to low thirties) it may be an option worth considering Looking and feeling a bit long in the tooth, though.

There are four 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol competitors, and all are FWD-only. Namely, the Ford Puma (circa $23K-$35K), Kia Stonic (circa $21K-$30K, and also available in 1.4 non-turbo form), Nissan's Juke (circa $28K- $36K), and the Skoda Kamiq (around $28K-35K, and also offered as a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol).

The Kamiq, A VW Group T-Cross twin, got the nod in our recent three-way comparison test between it, the Ford Puma and Toyota Yaris Cross, based mainly on its classy interior, driving dynamics, practicality and value-for-money. So it's a worthy alternative.

There's no surprise the T-Cross' standard equipment game is strong. (image: James Cleary)

The Hyundai Venue bested the CX-3 in another recent, three-car back-to-back test, so it's got a lot going for it. The Kia Stonic put its nose in front of the CX-3 in another recent comparison. And Nissan has recently expanded and upgraded its Juke line-up. Told you it was a hot market segment.

But overall, the T-Cross measures up well in terms of standard features, safety tech, fuel-efficiency, practicality, and ownership costs. It's a less confident call on performance and drivetrain refinement, though.

Volkswagen's official fuel economy figure for the T-Cross, on the ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban cycle, is 5.4L/100km, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol triple emitting 123 g/km of C02 in the process.

Over a week of city, suburban, and some freeway mileage, the T-Cross Style on test averaged 6.7L/100km (at the pump).

The T-Cross is fitted with a 40-litre fuel tank. Using the official combined cycle fuel economy figure of 5.4L/100km, that translates to a range of 740km. For the majority of city and suburban T-Cross driver’s that will be plenty of time between fills, and handy for the occasional road trip getaway. 

Attach a tow bar to your T-Cross 85TSI, and VW says it’s capable of hauling 1.1 tonnes with a braked trailer (630kg unbraked). That fits perfectly with the T-Cross’s ‘lifestyle’ brief, as it’s enough capacity to hitch up a small to medium camper trailer, and even the heaviest jet ski weight less than 550kg, a suitable trailer adding around 150kg.

Even with the badges covered it's a fair bet a majority of people would recognise the T-Cross as a VW. From the familiar, elongated shape of the headlights, bold horizontal slats on the upper and lower grilles, to the hard shoulder line along the car's flanks, and signature tail-light treatment, the T-Cross exterior is every millimetre a Volkswagen.

Inside, the design pack won't be a surprise to any recent VW owner, although a more geometric approach to the dash graphics adds a hint of more adventurous flair.

A close to unique interior design element is a handy sliding tray under the driver's seat.

The T-Cross scored a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, the assessment coinciding with the car's 2019 Australian launch. Highlight of the compact SUV's active safety features is city and interurban speed AEB (5.0-250km/h), with cyclist and pedestrian detection (4.0-80km/h).

In support are a reversing camera and parking sensors all around, enabling 'Manoeuvre Braking', which is VW-speak for low-speed rear AEB.

There's also lane departure warning, lane keep assist, fatigue detection (and reminder), and tyre pressure monitoring.

If a crash is unavoidable, six airbags (driver and front passenger front and side [chest], and full-length curtain) are on-board to help minimise injuries.

At the time of writing the T-Cross had been on the Australian new car market for less than a year, so making a call on longer term reliability is tricky.

What we can say is there have been no product recalls affecting Australian T-Cross production, and the current generation Polo, which shares much of its engineering DNA with the T-Cross (and has been available locally since 2018) has a reasonably solid reputation for reliability.

With only two models in the range, a call on which version of the T-Cross is the best could be a flip of a coin. (image: James Cleary)

Although non-factory suppliers offer Volkswagen owners manuals for download online, Volkswagen Australia does not. The only genuine owners manual provided is the one sitting in the car's glove box when you take delivery.

The T-Cross is covered by Volkswagen Australia’s five year/unlimited km warranty. And VW’s ‘60-Day Policy’ means that, “If your vehicle suffers a manufacturing defect that renders the vehicle immobile and no longer driveable within 60 days of the date of the purchase, Volkswagen will allow you choose either a refund, replacement or repair of your vehicle without having to prove that a major failure occurred.” Worth noting, and not surprising, that some conditions apply.