Recently I drove the T-Cross 1.0 TSI 7-spd DSG R-Line, it actually arrived some time back here in SA, to be more specific, just before lockdown.
It has really been a success story for VW so far, selling in excess of 500 units per month.
The compact SUV / Crossover segment is one of the toughest segments to compete in world wide and the T-Cross is a strong competitor for sure.
At first glance I must say I love the styling and I believe it will age well. The interior also looks great, but there are unfortunately a lot of hard plastics. Even though the hard plastics might be a bit overwhelming, its sill solidly built and it feels solid all round.
The DSG automatic gearbox works well with the 1.5 turbo petrol engine which adds to the driving experience.
The 1.5TSI engine produces 110kW/250Nm and the 1.0TSI produces 85kW/200Nm, there is also a 70kW/175Nm version of the 1.0TSI. I managed around 8.5l/100km in the combined cycle which is really not bad at all for a 1.5 turbo petrol.
So my driving experience overall is a bit of a mixed bag, I felt slight turbo lag when pushing it a bit and the seats are not the most comfortable, felt like it was just the same old seats you would find in a Polo Vivo. In the front the seating is also a bit cramped, identical to the Polo and Polo Vivo. Roadholding and handling is great, its easy to maneuver and not bad when pressing on. The boot space is also acceptable coming in at 377litres.
The R-Line I drove was packed with goodies which includes: R-Line exterior styling kit, 18inch alloys, Active Info Display (Optional), AirCon, LED headlights, Charging pad, Apple Car Play and Android Auto as well as USB charging ports.
Verdict:
So here is the thing, if you are a VW lover, you will love the T-Cross, but honestly its just a Polo with a bit more ground clearance, really not much. The Polo has 165mm clearance where the T-Cross has 180mm, so the difference is only 15mm
So here is the logic, The Highline 1.0TSI DSG T-Cross comes in at R457,200 and the Highline Polo 1.0TSI DSG comes in at R380,000 which is around an R80,000 saving if you opt for the Polo.
Then, here is the big one, the T-Cross 1.5TSI DSG comes in at R496,200 and the Polo GTi DSG 147kW little monster comes in at R499,500. So for R3,300 more you can have a motoring icon.
Finally, the T-Cross is still a great little crossover, but keep your options open, if you don’t want a Polo over a T-Cross and you need to have a crossover also look at the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Elite CVT which directly competes with the 1.5TSI R-Line T-Cross, the Tiggo 4 Pro is around R130,000 cheaper and build quality in those are extraordinarily great. The Chery is also a bit larger and seating is very comfortable.
Other options include the Haval Jolion, Hyundia Venue and the Kia Sonet
