Reviews of the Volkswagen T-Cross

The Volkswagen T-Cross is a stylish compact SUV that appeals to small families looking for a versatile and practical lease car. With its spacious interior, advanced technology, and economical engines, the T-Cross is a great choice in the crossover SUV market. 

Rivals to the Volkswagen T-Cross include the Ford Puma, Peugeot 2008, Seat Arona, and Nissan Juke. 

Our Volkswagen T-Cross review covers:

• Compact exterior design 
• Refined interior that's perfect for a small family 
• 385 litres of boot space
• 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre petrol engines available 
• Four trim levels available 

Pros:

• Practical and spacious interior 
• Plenty of equipment as standard 
• Good to drive 

Cons:

• Rivals seem a bit more exciting 
• Top-spec trims are pricey 
• No hybrid or electric option 

The Volkswagen T-Cross shares its underpinnings with the Polo, so it's no surprise that the exterior looks good. At the front, there's a slick front grille complemented by nice-looking headlights, while at the back, the lights merge into the boot panel, which is a nice touch. 

Although classed as a compact SUV, it's a bit of a misnomer as there's plenty of room inside the T-Cross. The two front seats offer loads of space for a pair of adults, and the seats have plenty of adjustment, including height and lumbar support. There's space for three passengers in the rear, and although shoulders might be touching, there's decent headroom to make up for this. 

Boot space comes in at 385 litres for the T-Cross, which is roughly on par with its rivals, albeit slightly below both the Skoda Kamiq and Seat Arona. However, a handy feature is that you can push the rear seats forward to increase it to 455 litres, and you can also fold them down in a 60:40 arrangement to provide 1,281 litres and a flat load area. 

The T-Cross received a facelift in 2023, and much of this was focused on the interior. The cheap feel of the interior has been replaced by a much more luxurious feel, with high-quality materials aplenty. The look and feel of the cabin is very good and is certainly on par with its rivals like the Ford Puma. 

The entry-level T-Cross has an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, but if you upgrade to R-Line, you'll get a 10.25-inch screen. Regardless of size, the system is good to use and displays clear graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the range, while sat-nav is available in the Style trim and above. 

Four trims: Life, Match, Style, and R-Line. 

Life comes standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a DAB radio, an eight-inch display screen, ambient lighting, high-beam assist, dynamic road sign display, and adaptive cruise control. 

Match adds to this with 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera displays via the audio system display, keyless access, and rear-tinted glass from the B-pillar backwards.

Style has 17-inch alloy wheels, an IQ.Drive package that includes semi-automated driving assistance, a navigation system, and silver roof rails. 

R-Line has 17-inch Galvano grey alloy wheels, chrome plated radiator grille inserts, sports comfort seats in the front, a 10.25-inch display, driving profile selection, and an eco function. 

The Volkswagen T-Cross Estate is available with either a 1.0-litre petrol engine with 95hp or 110hp or a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150hp. All models have front-wheel drive, and a manual or automatic transmission is available. 

The entry-level 95hp version comes purely with a manual transmission and will shoot from 0-62mph in just under 12 seconds. The 110hp is slightly quicker and gets to 0-62mph in under 11 seconds and is available with either a manual or automatic transmission. For both the 1.0-litre versions fuel economy comes in at just under 50 mpg. 

Our pick of the bunch is the 1.5-litre 150hp version. Available purely with a seven-speed DSG automatic, it gets to 62mph in 8.5 seconds, which is pretty impressive for a compact SUV. Fuel economy does slightly drop to the mid-40s which is worth bearing in mind if you're sticking to a budget. 

If you're looking for a compact SUV, you want it to be three things on the road: comfortable, a bit of fun, and easy to drive. You're in for good news because the Volkswagen T-Cross ticks all three. 

When driving around town, the T-Cross is easy to drive thanks to its compact dimensions. You'll have no issues nipping through tight city streets, and it feels like you're driving a hatchback. Ride quality is also good, especially on the lower trims, meaning those all too frequent potholes shouldn't cause too many issues. 

As you increase the speed, the T-Cross remains comfortable, but it's probably suited to near-lane cruising rather than outside-lane overtaking. There's a fair amount of wind and road noise at higher speeds, so we'd avoid accelerating to overtake mid-conversation. If a bit of power is what you're after, we'd recommend going for the 1.5-litre engine. 

Prices for the new Volkswagen T-Cross start from £22,495.00 OTR* or to lease from £242.11 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Volkswagen T-Cross? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.