Volkswagen’s smallest car in the SUV category was presented in the fall of 2018, and the premiere itself was special. The ceremonial debut took place simultaneously in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Shanghai, China, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. There is a reason for this, the T-Cross is a global model known to non-European customers as Tacqua or Taigun.
And although it may not seem like it next to all the Golfs, Passats and Tiguans, in Wolfsburg this little guy is a joy. It is one of the brand’s best-selling models ever. In four years, 1.2 million units were sold, and although an average of 300,000 units are produced per year, the quota for the entire year 2023 is hopelessly sold out. We’re not just talking about a global trend, because even in the Czech Republic last year, the T-Cross took the position of the brand’s second most popular SUV. Unsurprisingly behind the Tiguan.
It only lights up with diodes
The modernization of the T-Cross is evident at first glance. In addition to the redesigned bumper, there are new headlights for all trim levels. In the lowest ones, diodes replace halogens, while in the higher ones, the creators opted for Matrix LED headlights that carefully conceal oncoming vehicles.
Of course, the light line connecting the main headlights at the front, but also the lamps at the back, must not be missing. The light signature has also been tweaked there, and Volkswagen says you should be able to spot the branding even with the logo obscured. Also new is the protection of the lower part of the body in gray color, an innovative design of sixteen- and seventeen-inch wheels and a towing device, the vertical load of which has increased from the original 55 to 75 kilograms.
Photo: Volkswagen
The improvement “on the ball” means, among other things, that the car can also transport more robust e-bikes.
Pain removed
Major modifications have taken place in the cabin. From the very beginning, the T-Cross earned criticism mainly for the hard and unsightly plastics inside. Volkswagen should have worked on this shortcoming and spread softer and more pleasant to the touch materials across the cabin.
Hand in hand with this comes multimedia news. The digital instrument panel in the hood is standard for all trim levels. The same goes for the multifunction steering wheel, which retains traditional buttons instead of the tactile and sensitive touch surfaces we know from larger Volkswagens. The infotainment with a central screen in the middle is eight or ten inches depending on the equipment and runs on a modern system of the last generation. The pursuit of a minimalistic cabin has had its effect on the temperature setting. This is still done via a separate panel below the main screen, but intuitive rotary controls replace the less practical touchpads.
Photo: Volkswagen
The cabin mainly attracts more valuable materials and rich standard equipment. Note the absence of temperature dials.
Still practical
As one of the few small crossovers, the T-Cross also offers exceptional practicality and variability. The rear bench can be moved in a range of fourteen centimeters, which can increase the volume of the luggage compartment from 385 to 455 liters. By folding down the bench (in a ratio of 60:40), you get up to 1281 liters of space, and thanks to the adjustable boot floor, you can create an ideally flat bed surface. The front passenger seat can also be completely folded down, creating space for transporting objects up to 2.4 meters long.
The constellation of safety and assistance systems was not forgotten either. The previous T-Cross already earned a five-star rating in EuroNCAP tests for its army of helpers, while it even scored more than the required number of points. New after the facelift is the optionally available Travel Assist 3, which can make long journeys more pleasant by accelerating and braking on its own, and can also assist when driving through bends or roundabouts. Cars with automatic transmission can even come to a complete stop in a traffic jam and start again.
Engine standard
Anyone who has at least a cursory overview of Volkswagen’s current offer will not be surprised by the composition of the power units. The car, sitting on the modular platform of the “small” cars MQB A0, receives exclusively gasoline engines. The basis is a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI with an output of 70 kW, which is only available with a five-speed manual transmission.
The alternative is a more powerful liter with 85 kilowatts with a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. For more demanding customers, a 1.5 TSI unit with 110 kW is available, for which coupling with a DSG dual clutch is mandatory. In all cases, the front wheels are turned, you would look for a turbodiesel or an electrified alternative in the menu in vain.
As the VW T-Cross is completely sold out for next year, customers will receive cars ordered on the basis of the current configurator in a rejuvenated package. The new one will be launched in the autumn of this year (when we will also know the official Czech prices) and the first cars will arrive at the beginning of 2024.
Photo: Volkswagen
2023-07-04 22:01:39
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