The Volkswagen T-Cross arrived locally late in 2019 and has since become popular in the crossover segment. The T-Cross is built on the same MQB platform the Volkswagen Polo find itself on, however, with a few tweaks to increase the ground clearance. The compact crossover is offered in seven derivatives but comes in three trim levels: Comfortline, Highline and the range-topper R-Line.
The entry-level 70 kW Comfortline model only comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission. If you want access to the 7-speed automated dual-clutch or DSG gearbox, you must look at the 85 kW Comfortline models. But before we take a closer look at the engine line-up, remember that you can search for new or used Volkswagen T-Cross models on AutoTrader here and even sell your car quickly and easily through our Instant Offer tool here.
Related:Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0TSI 70kW Comfortline R-Line (2021) Review
Engines
| Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0TSI 70 kW | Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0TSI 85 kW | Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5TSI | |
| Engine | 1.0-litre, turbocharged, 3-cylinder petrol | 1.0-litre, turbocharged, 3-cylinder petrol | 1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual | 7-speed automated dual-clutch | 7-speed automated dual-clutch |
| Power | 70 kW | 85 kW | 110 kW |
| Torque | 175 Nm | 200 Nm | 250 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 10.8s | 10.2s | 8.5s |
| Top speed | 180 km/h | 193 km/h | 200 km/h |
| Fuel consumption | 4.8 L / 100 km | 5.3 L / 100 km | 5.5 L / 100 km |
| CO2 emission | 110 g/km | 126 g/km | 127 g/km |
*This table was completed with information sourced from www.duoporta.co.za
The Crown
The 1.0-litre engine in the 70 kW T-Cross is the same engine in the 85 kW variant, however, some tweaks have been applied to deliver the additional power. This does not come without any negative effects as the more powerful unit naturally sips slightly more fuel. In the case between these two, the 85 kW model consumes 0.5-litre more fuel than its slightly lower-powered counterpart.
The power jump between these two models are 15 kW and 25 Nm of torque, however, the power increase between the 85 kW variant and the 1.5TSI is 25 kW and 50 Nm of torque while only utilising 0.2-litre of additional fuel. Although it might be easy to conclude that the 85 kW is the most efficient, that is not the case.
The 1.5TSI offers a lot more power and torque for an incremental change in fuel consumption. This is not an uncommon phenomenon, because the vehicle produces more power, less fuel is required to achieve the national speed limit. Thus, the most efficient engine is the 1.5TSI found in the Volkswagen T-Cross R-Line.
