Since launch, queues for the Volkswagen T-Cross have been out the door. No wonder, when you realise it’s engineered on the same MQB-A0 platform as the Polo. And South Africans don’t half love a good Polo. As such, this entry-level Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI – the most affordable there is at R399 900 – feels a bit like a Polo sibling.
On this extended test – the brand allowed us two weeks with the vehicle – we wanted to see if the base-spec Volkswagen T-Cross has ‘the gees.’ Therefore, we took it on a 1 500 km road trip to the Eastern Cape. Our destination was the Kouga Camino, a five-day adventure into the wilds of the Langkloof mountains. Here’s how the latest compact crossy from VW got on …
2025 VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 1.0 TSI
And the verdict on the entry-level Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI is wholly positive. Its character is entirely unintimidating. Quite often VWs feel a little dull due to this over engineering. But not this plucky little crossover. The cabin, for example, isn’t cavernous by any means, but the ambiance is uncluttered. There’s a pleasant synergy of shapes and paired-back screens to settle the eye.
Every contact surface the driver deals with inside the car is well realised, although there is a liberal use of firm plastics. A soft leather steering wheel and manual gearbox, and comfy cloth seats are your lot in the base crossover. All in all, the ergonomics on offer for its size are second-to-none. The greatest praise we can give the Volkswagen T-Cross is that it does feel like a compact SUV and not merely a jacked-up Polo.
TOUGH AND ROBUST
Moreover, the Volkswagen T-Cross feels robust and well built, as we’d find out on the remote dirt roads of the Langkloof. Everything about it is perfectly predictable when you’re behind the wheel. This model makes just 70 kW and 175 Nm of torque from the lowest output 1.0-litre TSI engine in the range. It doesn’t exactly lift you up, but it won’t let you down either.
Zero to 100 km/h comes up in an adequate time frame of 11 seconds. We thoroughly enjoyed the engagement of the five-speed manual gearbox. Your alternative is the seven-speed DSG, but a simple self-shifter just feels right at home in this Volkswagen T-Cross. In the real world you’re likely to consume around 6.5 l/100 km of fuel. This is slightly higher than claimed as you keep its 1 270 kg body shell motivated.
VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS PRACTICALITY
In terms of practicality, the rear seats can cleverly slide forward by 140 mm to unlock extra boot capacity. A neat trick. However, with nearly a week’s worth of camping and hiking gear for our camino, it was a bit like rearranging furniture in a small bachelor flat. Everything did fit in the boot and on the rear seat eventually.
The Volkswagen T-Cross boasts a 2.5-metre-long wheelbase for stowing any larger items. In total, 385 litres is your lot with the rear seats in place, 455 litres with them forward and 1 216 litres when fully folded flat. For the most part, it was the ideal companion for the Kouga Camino – because it was not shy to get its wheel arches dirty.
INTO THE WILD
Mercifully, the ride quality from its basic 16-inch wheels on passively sprung suspension was excellent. Smooth on the bitumen and not at all choppy on the rocky 30-km dirt mountain pass through the Langkloof. What a stretch of road, too. Undulating and twisting, and with ever-improving vistas beyond each canyon. The front wheels only struggled occasionally to maintain grip on the loose gravel.
Likewise, the Volkswagen T-Cross can claim inch-accurate steering. Something you’ll recall fondly even after vacating the driver’s seat. Of course, like any small capacity turbo engine, there are some laggy spots in the rev range. This may rob you a precious few split seconds before getting up to speed, but you can work around this by being proactive with the gearbox. For the most part, the entry level crossover performs like a seasoned pro in any given setting.
THE VERDICT
So, has the entry-level, sub-R400k Volkswagen T-Cross delivered on its manifesto? Allow us to confirm that it does tick most of the boxes. It’s a cost-effective compact crossover with agreeable performance, clever practicality and a dash of toughness. Of course, the basic execution and general lack of exterior trinketry may not excite everyone. But then they aren’t making the monthly payments, are they!? The latest Volkswagen T-Cross is yet another peoples’ car that looks set to resonate brilliantly with the South African public.
VOLKSWAGEN T-CROSS 1.0 TSI FIGURES
- Engine: 999 cc, three-cylinder turbo petrol
- Power: 70 kW @ 5 000 rpm, 175 Nm @ 2 000 rpm
- Performance: 0-100km/h 11 seconds
- Tyres: 215/50 R16 Giti
- Economy: 6.5 l/100 km (tested)
- Transmission: 5-speed manual
- Price: R399 900
