Used Volkswagen T-Cross 2019-present review

You know what it's like – you wait ages for a bus and then several come along at once. It's the same with Volkswagen and small SUVs, because hot on the heels of the firm's admirable Volkswagen T-Roc came this Volkswagen T-Cross.

It's slightly smaller than the T-Roc, but otherwise, the two are pretty similar. Its arrival in 2019 meant car buyers had the choice of not one but two diminutive SUVs from the Wolfsburg manufacturer.

Adding fuel to the fire, Volkswagen then launched the sharply styled Volkswagen Taigo in 2021, in effect a sportier-looking version of the T-Roc and the T-Cross.

Engines: Much like the T-Roc, the T-Cross has a 1.0-litre petrol engine in 94bhp and 114bhp flavours, along with a 148bhp 1.5, the latter being available only with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. There's also a 94bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine for those who dedicate their lives to long-haul motorway driving.

Trims & equipment: There are five trim levels, starting with S, which has 16in alloy wheels, driver and passenger seat height and lumbar adjustment, air-con, and 8in infotainment system with a DAB radio and automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection and lane-keeping assistance. SE is better equipped with 17in wheels, a variable-height boot floor, adaptive cruise control, auto lights and wipers, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

Alterations in 2020 brought in the United trim, which is based on SE. It actually has smaller 16in alloys but adds front and rear parking sensors. SEL has these, too, plus LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and sat-nav. For sportier looks both inside and out, choose an R-Line. This model also gets bigger 18in wheels and a 10.3in digital instrument cluster.

Ride & handling: To drive, the T-Cross is a paragon of ease; the steering is light at low speeds to aid with parking, yet weights up in a natural fashion as the pace rises to give you a good idea of what the front wheels are doing. Grip levels are also high and it'll hang on well in the bends (as long as you're not being stupid) without running wide. However, it never feels as much fun as the firmer and more agile Ford Puma, nor is it as refined as the T-Roc when it comes to road or wind noise at motorway speeds.

Those who happen to be blessed in the height department will find there's plenty of room in the front of a T-Cross. Large door pockets can be found all around that'll take a litre bottle of water, plus from SE spec upward, there are multiple USB charging sockets front and rear.

Interior & practicality: The only major downside is that interior quality appears to have taken a nosedive because there isn't a soft touch plastic in sight, unlike the less expensive Volkswagen Polo upon which the T-Cross is based. Also, unless you find a T-Cross with a Design Pack fitted, the dashboard has no coloured highlights at all and looks very drab as a result.

Much like the Renault Captur, the rear bench seat in the T-Cross can be slid forwards or backwards to either increase leg room or boot capacity. With the bench slide all the way back, there's as much space as the Suzuki Vitara and, due to the straight roofline, enough head room for a 6ft adult.

That said, a Skoda Kamiq is better still, and the Kamiq has a bigger boot, even when you slide the seats in the T-Cross as far forward as it'll go.

If you're interested in finding a used T-Cross, or any of the other small SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Prices for a used T-Cross start at around £10,000 for a 1.0-litre petrol, most like in 94bhp form; the more powerful 114bhp version is a bit more expensive. Spend between £12,000 and £15,000 on a T-Cross from 2020 or 2021, and between £15,000 and £20,000 on one from 2022 or 2023, a little bit more for a 2024 model.

To keep up to date with used prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Check the value of a used Volkswagen T-Cross with What Car? Valuations

MPG

There isn't much difference between the two 1.0-litre petrol engines because the 94bhp version has a combined figure of 47.9mpg, while the 114bhp one gets 46.3mpg. The more powerful and larger 1.5 has a figure of 44.1mpg.

The economy champion is the rare 1.6 diesel with 54.3mpg.

Road tax (VED)

All T-Cross' will fall under the current taxation scheme, so each version will be charged the same flat rate fee since no T-Cross cost more than £40,000 when new. The current tax VED rate is £190 a year. You can find out more about road tax costs here.

Servicing

Early versions of the T-Cross should now be old enough to take advantage of Volkswagen's offer of cheaper servicing once outside of warranty, and you can also purchase a plan (usually 24 months) and pay for each service in instalments. Plans cost, at the time of writing, £16.09 per month for cars less than a year old, and £20.69 for anything older.

Reliability

The Volkswagen T-Cross is praised for its reliability, according to What Car?'s 2023 Reliability Survey, which includes real-world owner reviews. Most feedback is positive, with few reports of significant mechanical issues. However, some owners have encountered minor electronic problems, particularly with the infotainment system and the reversing camera.

Dealer service has received mixed reviews. Many owners appreciate the professionalism and efficiency of Volkswagen dealers, especially during routine maintenance and warranty services. Yet, some have experienced delays in repairs and part replacements and noted variability in service quality across different dealerships.

Explore further details about the used Volkswagen T-Cross reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

Most will find that the 94bhp 1.0-litre provides them with enough performance, plus it has decent fuel economy to make it our preferred choice. However, if you regularly drive on the motorway, the 114bhp version might be a better choice since it has a six-speed manual to keep the engine revs down at higher speeds.

The diesel is only worth it if you do lots of miles, and the 1.5 petrol isn't as common as the 1.0-litre.

Specification

Aside from the annoyance that it doesn't have parking sensors, the SE trim level comes with plenty of kit to give it the edge over the rest of the range. Until there are more United versions on the used market, it shall remain our pick of the range.

Our favourite Volkswagen T-Cross: 1.0 94bhp SE

If you can do without the additional few centimetres of the height of the T-Cross' driving position, the Seat Arona makes for an excellent used small SUV. The boot is big by class standards and the Arona drives really well.

The Suzuki Vitara certainly has that SUV driving position that people are looking for, right down to the clamshell bonnet you have to look over that's a dead ringer for what you'd find in a Land Rover. Most engines provide lively performance and equipment levels are high, especially in SZ-T form.

On balance, your money is perhaps better spent on a Volkswagen T-Roc because it's more refined and feels sharper to drive than the T-Cross, with less body lean in corners and a slicker feeling gear change.

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