The darling of the Volkswagen SUV lineup is, without a shadow of a doubt, the endearing T-Cross. Since its introduction in 2019, VW South Africa has moved over 34 000 of these compact crossovers. It's easy to see why. Favourable pricing combined with the practicality of the Polo (on which it is based) and the perceived safety of increased ride height and driving position has made the T-Cross rather desirable.
Related: How much are car repayments on a new (2025) Volkswagen T-Cross?
For the 2025 model year, Volkswagen refreshed the T-Cross to offer more value, comfort, and convenience. A raft of upgrades sees it sport a new face, fresh colours, and high-tech lighting, while the interior is now more tech-laden than ever before.
Exterior
The updates for the 2025 year see the front end reworked with new LED headlights and an LED light bar spanning the width of the grill, connecting the new headlights. On the Style and R-Line model that we tested, the VW IQ.Light system with automatic matrix high beams is standard.
Around the back, stylish new LED taillights with a distinctive X-motif grace the rear corners, again joined by a red LED light strip. For the first time, the T-Cross is available in three exciting new colours: Grape Yellow, Clear Blue Metallic, and Kings Red Metallic. Our test unit was finished in Pure White.
Interior
When you climb on board, a redesigned dashboard with a free-standing infotainment unit awaits you. This dashboard has been treated to soft-touch materials. Volkswagen says that the doors have received a similar treatment, but this is still the weak point, as the door cards still seem to be mostly hard plastic and ill-suited to a vehicle of this price.
The freestanding touchscreen infotainment system is bold and bright and includes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay should you opt for the Discover Media infotainment system. The sound reproduction is excellent for those listening to their music slightly louder. All new T-Crosses get a digital cockpit display now, and R-Line variants get sport seats with embossed ArtVelour upholstery.
Space and Comfort
The T-Cross hasn't changed in size and is still based on the MQB A0 platform used for the Volkswagen Polo. The Polo gives you 351 litres of boot space, but the T-Cross is a little more generous, measuring 385 litres. The folding rear seat of the T-Cross allows you to expand that to 1 281-litres when needed.
The R-Line version that we tested rolls off the factory floor with 17-inch Valencia alloy wheels, but our unit was fitted with a striking set of 18-inch Misano wheels in black with a diamond-cut finish. The 215/45R18 tyres fitted provided a firm ride but nothing too jarring or uncomfortable.
Safety
The T-Cross comes standard with 6 airbags and the usual ABS with EBD, traction, and stability control. With the optional Travel Assist Package, you get Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control with a traffic function, Cornering Assist, Lane Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Pedestrian Monitoring.
The Volkswagen T-Cross carries a 5-star Euro NCAP rating with a score of 97% for adult occupants and a rating of 86% for child occupants.
Performance
The power unit in the T-Cross hasn't changed, and it's still powered by the same 1.0-litre, turbocharged, 3-cylinder engine that produces 85 kW and 200 Nm torque, sending power to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox. This is more than adequate power, even if the T-Cross is a little heavier than the Polo it shares its underpinnings with. The gearbox is still the Achilles Heel of the combination, getting flustered and caught out occasionally, especially when the engine is not on boost or when the automatic Stop/Start is active and you try to pull away quickly.
Volkswagen claims performance figures of 10.2 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint and a top speed of 193 km/h.
Fuel Consumption
Again, Volkswagen's claims seem slightly optimistic, with a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 5.6 L/100km. Using the Eco mode (of which you get four choices: Eco, Normal, Sport, Individual) and only driving in an urban setting, we saw figures of 7.4 L/100km. This will undoubtedly drop when hitting the open road, but the 5.6 still feels like a stretch.
Price
Prices for the new Volkswagen T-Cross start from as little as R462 200, but before selecting options, you can expect to pay R533 100 for the R-Line trim. The price includes a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and a 3-year/45 000 km service plan.
The Drive
Aside from the gearbox concerns, the T-Cross still drives rather well. The R-Line seats are manual, but finding a good driving position is easy enough. It's supple and compliant enough to be comfortable on a longer journey and compact enough not to have to worry about traffic situations.
The 1.0-litre TSI engine has to be in boost (a certain rev range where the turbo is effective) for you to get the most out of it, and any input from low RPMs results in a short delay. I also found the steering too light in the normal setting, so I opted instead to create an individual driving profile where only the steering was in the sports setting to give it a little more weight.
The Verdict
It's easy to see why the Volkswagen T-Cross is the best-selling SUV in South Africa; it blends much of what the public is after. One has to feel for Volkswagen because the competitors are rather aggressive with their pricing, offering similar products for considerably less money: The T-Cross has become rather expensive over the last 5 years. If you're dead set on driving a German-designed crossover, the T-Cross should be high on your test drive list. However, we recommend broadening your horizons because this segment is saturated with many value propositions.
