Volkswagen T-Cross 2020 review: Life

Priced at $27,990, before on-road costs, the entry-level T-Cross Life we’ve tested here isn’t the most affordable compact SUV on the market, but it does try to justify its relatively high price point with high-end equipment.

As standard, the T-Cross comes with blacked out roof racks, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running and tail-lights, front fog lights, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, cloth interior trim, multi-function leather steering wheel, and automatic wipers and headlights.

We especially like the black-out tail-lights.

However, it’s the features like a wireless smartphone charger and heated side mirrors that elevate it from some of its more budget-focused competitors.

An 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support and Bluetooth connectivity also sits front and centre on the dashboard. And, much to our surprise in 2020, also sports a CD player in the glove box for those who still have their copy of 'So Fresh: Hits of Summer 2001.'

The 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen features Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support.

A black and white driver display is also included providing readouts for speed, fuel economy, vehicle status and multimedia information, but those who want a digital instrument cluster will have to shell out for the $1900 'Sound and Vision' option.

We do have to point out that the T-Cross Life features an abundance of hard, scratchy plastic in the cabin, cheapening the ambience a little, while some features such as digital radio are noticeably absent.

Measuring 4108mm long, 1760mm wide, 1583mm tall and with a 2563mm wheelbase, the T-Cross Life is certainly small in size, but you don’t feel the diminutive dimensions from the inside.

In fact, the T-Cross feels much bigger on the inside than its compact SUV designation would suggest.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have oodles of room, and even the rear seats can easily accommodate our tall 183cm (six-foot) frame without a problem.

Things start to get a bit squeezy in the second-row’s middle seat, but the two outboard seats have plenty of head- and legroom with the front chairs adjusted for our height.

The T-Cross feels much bigger on the inside than its compact SUV designation would suggest.

No doubt, the T-Cross will easily ferry four adults in comfort, which is more than can be said for the likes of the Mazda CX-3 and Nissan Juke.

Storage options also abound with a centre console tray, glove box, two cupholders and door bins that can also accommodate larger bottles.

The wireless device charger does make it a bit tricky to house things in the storage tray, after all, you don’t want to scratch your phone screen by throwing a set of keys on top of it.

However, it’s VW’s cleverly thought out storage solutions that give the T-Cross our tick of approval.

For example, the front passenger seat houses a neat little tray for the owner’s manual, meaning the glove box is completely free for whatever takes your fancy.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have oodles of room.

Likewise, the driver’s seat sports a neat little under-seat storage tray for small handbags or anything you want to keep out of site.

Boasting a 385-litre capacity, the T-Cross is certainly no slouch in boot practicality either.

To put it into perspective, the T-Cross beats out the one-size up Mazda CX-30 (317L) and Toyota C-HR (377L) in boot space.

Even the boot floor can be adjusted to two levels to accommodate taller items, while the second-row can slide forward by 14cm to create a little more space in the back without folding the seats.

If you do want to maximise the space though, the 60/40 split-fold rear seats will expand the T-Cross’ carrying capacity to a cavernous 1281L.

The boot also sports luggage tie down points for items that tend to rattle around and two shopping bag hooks.

Powering the T-Cross is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, which is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Outputs reach 85kW/200Nm and, with drive sent to the front axle, the T-Cross Style will accelerate from 0-100km/ in 10.2 seconds.

The figures might not seem like much on paper, but in the real world, the 1240kg T-Cross’ performance is peppy enough.

The 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder makes 85kW/200Nm.

Peak torque is also available from as little as 2000rpm, meaning the T-Cross is properly punchy around town once it comes away from the lights

Those looking to wring out a bit more performance can also flick the shifter across to manual mode and pick gears themselves, though the T-Cross Life lacks the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters of the higher-grade Style.

The official fuel consumption figures for the T-Cross is 5.4 litres per 100km, while we managed a figure of 7.8L/100km in our relatively brief time with the car.

To be fair, our use was strictly around the stop/start traffic of the inner city and weaving in and out of suburban streets, with just the one quick blast down the freeway.

We also turned off the ultra-aggressive engine start/stop system for reasons we'll explain below, but had we kept it on, no doubt our fuel use figure would be closer to the official claim.

Like all new Volkswagen vehicles, the T-Cross Life comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty, which also covers 12 months of roadside assist and 12 years of anti-corrosion assurance.

Servicing intervals are set at every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Volkswagen offers a three- and five-year service plan with the purchase of a T-Cross, which will cost $990 and $1800 (first service free) respectively.

According to VW, the three-year plan will save $256 compared with the pay-as-you-go service schedule, while the five-year plan with net owners a saving of $645.