New Volkswagen T-Cross vs Volkswagen T-Roc: practicality

The Volkswagen T-Cross has always been upstaged by its bigger T-Roc sibling, but can it turn the tables after its recent facelift?...

Volkswagen T-Cross rear seats

Space and practicality

Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot

Tall adults won’t have any issues up front in either car; both provide lots of head room, with front seats that slide back far enough to accommodate all but the gangliest of legs. The cars measure up identically for width, so there’s lots of shoulder room in both.

Moving to the rear seats, the Volkswagen T-Roc provides slightly more head room, but it’s not as if a six-footer will struggle in the rear of the Volkswagen T-Cross. In fact, very tall folk in either of the outer rear seats might prefer it; the way the T-Roc’s side windows curve in towards the roof places one side of their head very close to the side of the car.

The knees of six-footers will be well clear of rubbing the front seatbacks in the T-Roc, but the T-Cross has an advantage here: its rear bench can be slid forwards or backwards, and its rearmost setting gives long-legged folk a little more room than the fixed seat in the T-Roc. On the other hand, with the bench right forward to maximise boot space, that leg room all but disappears.

Volkswagen T-Roc rear seats

When you need to load bulky items, the rear seatbacks of both cars split and fold down in a conventional 60/40 configuration. The T-Roc adds a central ski hatch, through which long, slim items such as skis can be carried between two rear passengers.

The T-Roc’s boot is usefully larger, too. It can accommodate seven carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf, whereas the T-Cross can hold only five (albeit with plenty of space left for some smaller soft bags), even with its bench slid all the way forwards.

A handy height-adjustable boot floor is standard in both cars. Setting this in its lowest position frees up extra luggage space
with the load cover still in place, while its highest setting brings it flush with the load lip, helping when you need to heave heavy items in or out.


Boot space

Volkswagen T-Cross

Volkswagen T-Cross boot

Boot capacity 384-1281 litres Suitcases 5


Volkswagen T-Roc

Volkswagen T-Roc boot

Boot capacity 445-1290 litres Suitcases 7


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