5 Volkswagen T-Cross accessories you didn’t know you needed

Most of these accessories are meant to protect your T-Cross against the damage that typically occurs in day-to-day use, thus keeping it looking newer for longer, and helping to preserve its resale value. You don’t even need to visit a dealership to have them fitted, although we’d definitely recommend that you ask for help if you’re not comfortable with some minor do-it-yourself work. 

Related: Shop for new and used Volkswagen T-Cross cars for sale here.

1. Mud flaps

It’s quite baffling that a crossover, with all its “active lifestyle” bluster, doesn’t feature mud flaps as standard equipment. Volkswagen isn’t alone in this, of course: It is a trend across the motoring industry, but it’s also easy enough to rectify. 

These rubberised plastic mud flaps are styled to mesh neatly with the T-Cross’s wheel arch cladding and bumpers, and protects the underbody and rear bumper against damage resulting from flying stones and sand. You could fit them yourself, but the dealership will have all the right tools to make sure that their fitment matches the excellent build quality of your T-Cross.

 

2. Tailgate sill protector

Like most modern cars, the T-Cross’s upper rear bumper surface forms part of the luggage compartment’s sill. Unfortunately, the rear bumper top isn’t protected by any kind of plastic insert or cover, which leaves it vulnerable to damage from a carelessly-handled suitcase or even an errant mountain bike fork. 

To remedy this problem, Volkswagen sells a hardy tailgate sill protector, to cover up the horisontal part of the rear bumper, beneath the tailgate. It even extends to the first vertical section of the bumper to protect the entire area, and is transparent to avoid clashing with your T-Cross’s dashing styling. 

 

3. Floor mats

Front- and rear floor mats form part of the T-Cross’s basic specification, but these standard-issue mats aren’t as good-looking or as durable as they could be. To fix this, Volkswagen offers heavier-duty floor mats, complete with locating tabs, to make the floors of your T-Cross more resistant to harsh operating conditions. 

Two types of OEM floor mats are available for the T-Cross: a plush-looking full width design with a contrasting border and embroidered logo, or rubberised “all-weather” floor mats to keep any dirt or moisture from reaching the carpet underneath. These floor mats can be fitted by literally anybody: lift out the original items (and store them safely for future use), insert the upgrade mats, clip them into position, and you’re done.

 

4. Luggage compartment net

Shopping bags or backpacks in your T-Cross’s boot will stay securely in place, with this neat luggage compartment net keeping them just where you put them. Thanks to the flexibility of its synthetic fibre construction, this net will take on the shape of the goods it’s meant to secure, and easily attaches to the load lashing rings fitted in the corners on the T-Cross luggage compartment. The added bonus is that the boot’s inner lining panels won’t take a hammering from hard objects slamming against them, which will leave them looking pristine for much longer.

5. Inside rear-view mirror

This gadget could be either super-cool or curiously retro, depending on your point of view, but it does solve a problem that’s plagued parents since the first time someone put a child in the rear seat: How do you know what the kids are doing when you’re looking at the road ahead?

A wide-angle (convex) mirror is attached to a suction cup-equipped stalk, to mount on the windscreen just above the dashboard. By glancing at this mirror, you’ll get a picture of the goings-on in the back seat without taking your eyes off the road for too long or even turning your head. In fact, this inside mirror is so useful that we’d recommend it even for parents who don’t have a T-Cross...