The Polo sized SUV is popular (300 000 units produced yearly) with young, eccentric buyers and VW is not intent on just that but wants more and it has given the model a refresh.
From the outside, the updated T-Cross is immediately recognisable by the new design of its front with revised designs for the front bumper. There are new integrated LED headlights and LED daytime running lights with the latter placed on the side air intakes of the bumper. The LED strip that connects both headlights has been installed on the new T-Cross bringing it in line with recent VW designs.
The IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights are a completely new Volkswagen development and are offered for the first time on the T-Cross. Three new, fresh colours have been added to the model range: the solid colour Grape Yellow (a crisp, sporty yellow), Clear Blue Metallic (an elegant and friendly light blue) and Kings Red Metallic (a vivid, striking red).
There are new alloys varying in size from 16 to 17 inches depending on model with the R-Design getting unique sporty alloys. Privacy glass for higher spec models is also retained with roof rails for the adventure buyer. No mention is made of the sunroof which locally is not available as an option.
At the rear, there is a new bumper but the most obvious change with the new model getting LED taillight clusters.
The central element in the interior of the new T-Cross is the free-standing infotainment display. The standard touchscreen measures 20.3 cm (eight inches) across the diagonal; the top-of-the-range version has a 9.2-inch display with a diagonal of 23.4 cm. A manual air conditioning system is on board as standard, and the Air Care Climatronic automatic air conditioner with back-lit touch sliders is available as an option.
In addition, all versions of the four-door five-seater will now be fitted with digital instruments as standard. The dash panel in the T-Cross has also undergone a complete redesign: as in larger VW models, the dash panel features soft-upholstered and significantly higher-quality surface materials. The same applies to the front door trims of the Style and R-Line versions.
The new T-Cross impresses with its proven operating concept, well-arranged space for up to five people, a rear bench seat that can be moved by 140 mm and an extremely flexible luggage compartment.
When all the seats are occupied, the T-Cross offers a luggage compartment capacity of between 385 and up to 455 litres when loaded up to the height of the rear bench seat. When the rear bench seat is folded down (60:40 split), this creates a flat load area with a stowage volume of up to 1,281 litres (loaded up to the height of the front seat backrests).
VW has retained its trusted TSI engine line up meaning the 1.0 Turbo 3 cylinder engine in either 70kW or 86kW tune. This engine gets a 5 speed manual for the lesser power with the more powerful getting a 6 speed manual. The DSG auto is available on the 86kW motor. The top spec 111kW 1.5 Turbo 4 cylinder is also retained linked to the DSG transmission. The DSG transmission has 7 speeds. All models drive the front wheels.
The top versions are the Style (for more elegance) and R-Line (with sporty accents) specification packages. The model is a definite for Mzansi with dealers taking pre-orders and a local launch happening in 2023.