Volkswagen T-Cross review - Interior & comfort

The VW T-Cross is one of the more expensive small SUVs available – for the price of the top-spec model, you could get a bigger and still well-equipped Volkswagen T-Roc – yet, the interior doesn’t feel quite as classy as those found in the Renault Captur or Peugeot 2008. There are quite a few scratchy plastics, but everything is logically laid out, including the physical controls for its air-conditioning.

In terms of comfort, the T-Cross surpasses rivals too. It’s incredibly quiet on the move, making the cabin feel serene and relaxing. The T-Cross has supple suspension, ironing out most bumps – only deep potholes will send a jolt through the cabin. There are many larger, more expensive SUVs that don’t manage to be so comfortable.

Volkswagen T-Cross dashboard

Volkswagen is known for its upmarket interiors, which is why many customers don’t mind paying a bit extra for a car with a VW badge. While there are some hard plastics on show, the dashboard design lifts the cabin. If this silver trim doesn’t appeal, you’ll be able to choose a range of different options and even match the dashboard to the exterior paint colour.

Just like in the Volkswagen Polo, the build quality in the T-Cross is impressive. Even though this car will be one of VW’s least expensive models, it feels solid and well built, and the controls feel reassuringly chunky. There are stylish silver inserts on the steering wheel and a gloss black surround for the lower centre console, which adds to the feeling of quality. VW has also chosen to stick with a manual handbrake, instead of switching to an electric version.

Equipment

The T-Cross does well for standard equipment, with an eight-inch full-colour infotainment system fitted across the range. The entry-level Life trim offers a full suite of connectivity including Bluetooth, USB and Apple CarPlay, plus DAB radio, as well as 16-inch alloy wheels. 

For just a few hundred pounds more, though, you can step up to Match trim, which gets 17-inch alloys, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and start and privacy glass as well as other goodies – that’s much better value than the entry-level model and worth springing for.

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Style is a bigger step up in price, however, but you get semi-automated driving tech, a sat-nav system with a larger display, heated front seats, and silver roof rails giving a more upmarket look. Above this sits the range-topping R-Line, which gets a sportier design with more body-coloured exterior elements, sports seats, a larger 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and multiple drive modes.

Options

There aren’t too many optional extras to choose from in the T-Cross brochure, perhaps because it’s rather well-equipped in the first place. However, you can choose from a variety of different alloy wheels (on the mid-spec trim levels) and paint colours to personalise the car to your tastes. Design packs are available across most of the range should you wish to add further splashes of colour and different interior upholstery.

Once you’ve chosen these, you can pick options like a reversing camera, park assist and keyless entry. Electric folding door mirrors and high-beam assist can also be picked on VW’s smallest SUV, while packs include a Beats audio pack and a winter pack consisting of heated seats, heated windscreen washer nozzles and a washer fluid level indicator.

Technology

As well as the entertainment technology listed above, the T-Cross gets a lot of safety features as standard. All models feature extended pedestrian and cyclist protection, front assist, auto emergency braking, tyre pressure monitoring and automatic emergency services contact in the event of a collision.

On higher-spec models, you’ll also get blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, a driver alert system, adaptive cruise control and hill start assist, which is an impressive roster of kit.