2021 Volkswagen T-Cross Review

The Volkswagen T-Cross is the newest global model to enter the German automaker’s vehicle lineup in the Philippines. It brings with it a unique exterior design for a Volkswagen. It also has a youthful and bright interior that comes with colored accents that helps set it apart from the rest of the competition that will surely get you interested in the vehicle. To add to this the crossover comes with a strong emphasis on safety as it comes with automatic braking which newer drivers will surely be thankful for. With many great features backing it up on the spec sheet, we find out how it really handles in the real world with our review.

The Volkswagen T-Cross carries a similar design language as seen in the rest of the brand’s much smaller and larger vehicle offerings. This can be seen on the crossover’s front fascia that has a large toothy and angled grille that is flanked on either side by rectangular headlights. Think of a much squarer looking Tiguan and this is what the T-Cross will look like. Aside from this, the crossover comes with a nice silver accent on the lower bumper that circles around the foglights help give it a more unique look. It’s sort of like a well-groomed mustache on a well-chiseled face that helps bring it all together. It also pairs well with the faux skid plate that gives the T-Cross a much more SUV-like look. As far as lighting elements go, the Volkswagen T-Cross comes with LED daytime running lights, LED headlamps, and halogen foglights. If there is something that Volkswagen does well is how it sets up its vehicle’s headlights.

Moving on to the side of the T-Cross and you get nice clean lines with silver roof rails at the top which are matched by a slim silver accent across its beltline. It’s nothing too fancy as the crossover goes with a more subtle design approach with only a few creases here and there to add texture to its look. The T-Cross also comes with 17-inch wheels to finish off its side profile.

At the back, the crossover comes with a more rounded rear end that is topped off by a rather large black accent that spans the width of the vehicle terminating at the LED tail lamps. The black accent contains a thin and long reflector that fits the overall design of the rear. Meanwhile, the LED tail lamps come with their own unique design that fits in well with the overall aesthetics of the crossover. While the rear of the T-Cross had us at the office split when it came to its design, it blends in well and helps make the vehicle stand out in a sea of crossovers. 

On the inside, the Volkswagen T-Cross is a breath of fresh air as it comes with a brighter and more youthful look compared to its competitors. While the vehicle still comes with standard analog gauges on the instrument cluster which flanks a digital trip computer, the execution is done well. The crossover also features a large infotainment system at the center that also doubles as a reverse camera and simple to use air controls. 

However, this isn’t the main focus of the interior as it is dominated by a large colored trim that is on the dash. The trim is so large in fact that it extends to the panels on the doors and even to the center console. This is what makes the Volkswagen T-Cross a unique crossover. This trim can be had in multiple colors which help brighten up the cabin of the vehicle. In a segment where most of the cabin color choices are either beige, gray, or black, the T-Cross stands out by giving its cabin a splash of color and a more youthful look. Now to achieve this, Volkswagen had to go with more durable plastics which isn’t a bad thing as you will want this colored accent to last as long as possible.

Moving on to the seats, they complement the overall bright and youthful look of the vehicle. These seats stray away from the typical and formal monotone designs commonly used in other crossovers and add a splash of color to the cabin. The seats come with a white leather outline for the front of the seat, while the center of the seat comes in a gray textured design, further, still, the bolstering of the inner seat also comes in a much darker gray, while the rear body of the seat is wrapped in black. Altogether, it presents a more modern design that fits well with the car’s general aesthetic.

At the rear is pretty much the same story when it comes to the seat design, however, the back does get access to a sunroof as well as to rear air vents found on the center console. Aside from this trunk space is great as the crossover comes with 392-liters worth of space with the rear seats up. Fold the rear seats and cargo space increases further to 1,319 liters which puts the T-Cross on par with the rest of its competition. There is a rather deep lip to take note of when loading and unloading cargo, however, it’s situated low enough that it won’t be a hassle even to the vertically challenged.

With the Volkswagen T-Cross coming in with a more youthful and modern interior and exterior design, we were expecting a more aggressive drive. However, this wasn’t the case with the crossover as it came with a tamer driving characteristic. The suspension takes on the bumps and road imperfections pretty well, however, there will be an occasional pothole that will make its presence felt all the way into the chassis of the vehicle. Despite this, the T-Cross still delivers a smooth and pliant ride.

NVH is also great inside the vehicle as it does well to keep things quiet and comfortable. At higher speeds, however, especially above 80 km/h road noise can begin to creep in but it’s not a jarring experience. Overall a comfortable riding and driving experience that is well suited to the city environment. 

When it comes to technology the Volkswagen T-Cross comes well equipped. For starters, at the heart of the dashboard resides a 9.2-inch infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It comes with a familiar design, similar to that seen on the Volkswagen Lamando. Aside from this, it also comes with gesture control which is a feature often seen in higher-end models and is a rarity in its segment. You also get a 4-speaker sound system which does well to pump out the sounds, however, does lack a little bit when it comes to the mid to higher range of the sound spectrum. That being said, it’s still a solid sound system to have despite its minor shortcomings. 

Moving on to its convenience features, the Volkswagen T-Cross comes with an easy-to-use air conditioning system that comes with tactile knobs. It’s a system that just works and works well with no muss or fuss about it. One thing that we noticed, however, is that in the full heat of the sun, you may need to max out the air conditioning system as heat can easily find its way into the vehicle as it has a panoramic sunroof. That being said, the air conditioning system is still capable enough of maintaining a nice and comfortable cabin temperature despite the heat of the sun bearing down on it.

In terms of safety, the Volkswagen T-Cross is yet again well equipped. It comes with the industry standard of having dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, as well as other additions such as front side airbags, head curtain airbags, rearview camera, and ISOFIX tethers found at the rear. It goes to show that Volkswagen has really put an emphasis on safety when it comes to the T-Cross. It also comes with an automatic braking system which is a handy feature to have especially while in traffic. You can also turn up or tune down the sensitivity of the feature so you can have better control of your vehicle. With safety being one of its great selling points, the Volkswagen T-Cross certainly delivers well in this regard. Its automatic braking system is a standout feature in its segment that you will surely appreciate. 

In terms of driving, the Volkswagen T-Cross will leave you wanting a little bit more from it at least in terms of power delivery. The 6-speed automatic transmission feels more like a CVT. While on the highway you will want to stand on the accelerator to get the crossover going. In the city, however, is where the transmission shines as it does its best to give you the best fuel efficiency figures possible. While the throttle response is on the dull side, you can tell that the T-Cross was tuned for fuel efficiency rather than outright sportiness, regardless it’s overall a good base to go with especially for the traffic-heavy streets of Metro Manila. That being said, the throttle responses don’t take anything away from the capabilities of the crossover. 

The steering response of the T-Cross is light, bordering on video game-like, however, is still very communicative, so you will know what the suspension and wheels are doing at all times. Thanks to its light steering, maneuvering the crossover is a breeze as you can make quick work of multiple rotations. 

Handling-wise the Volkswagen T-Cross behaves like a typical crossover. During sudden turns, there is a slight hint of understeer as the vehicle slowly moves to match your input, but aside from that, it’s an overall well-behaved platform. The suspension does well to shield you from the bumps and road imperfections, however, a few potholes will make their way into the cabin. Once you hit these you will really feel them as you can easily sense when the shock absorbers have bottomed out. That said, more sensible driving will reward you with a very comfortable ride even on the bumpier sections of city roads.

In the city and in light traffic the Volkswagen T-Cross was able to score 11 km/L. A definitely great score for the newest global model to enter the local lineup of the German automaker. On the highway, the crossover was also able to deliver a great fuel economy score coming in with 18.5 km/L. This puts it slightly above its competition but nevertheless still great figures to have especially from a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine.

The Volkswagen T-Cross presents itself as an ideal starter crossover. It comes feature-packed with all the modern necessities one might want in a vehicle such as a large infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a good amount of safety features. Its automatic braking system, especially in its segment is a handy feature to have especially for newer drivers who want to be safe as possible. Its 1.5-liter is also a frugal powerplant as it is able to deliver great fuel efficiency figures.

That being said, this brings us now to the price of the crossover. For just P1,198,000 you already get a lot of cars within the same price range such as the Geely Coolray, Kia Stonic, MG ZS, GAC GS, and the Ford Territory. This puts the Volkswagen crossover right in the middle of the highly competitive crossover segment. While other models pack more power and more features, the T-Cross sets itself apart with a focus on safety and fuel efficiency something that owners will surely appreciate especially with the slowly rising gas prices. Not to mention, it also comes with a unique interior that strays away from the gray and black colors of its competition, thus giving it a brighter cabin compared to the other models available within its segment. 

Despite the tough competition, if you do find yourself wanting to get a Volkswagen T-Cross, then you will find a very capable, safe, and fuel-efficient vehicle. It presents itself as an ideal first car or even as a secondary vehicle for those who just want a dependable daily crossover. Whether you are already sold or still on the fencer, the Volkswagen T-Cross is certainly worth considering and being part of your vehicle shortlist.