Volkswagen T-Cross review
The Volkswagen T-Cross is a super-practical and stylish small SUV that’s surprisingly spacious and packed with big-car features.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
The Volkswagen T-Cross is a brilliant small SUV that proves good things really do come in small packages. Launched in 2019 and based on the excellent Polo supermini, the T-Cross packs a surprising amount of space and practicality into its compact, chunky body. It's a car designed to make life easy, blending the easy-to-drive nature of a small car with the high driving position and versatile interior of an SUV. It's one of the most sensible and well-rounded cars in its class, offering a comfortable ride, efficient engines, and a generous amount of standard safety kit. While the interior might not feel as plush as some other VWs, it’s sturdy, user-friendly, and can be brightened up with funky colour packs. If you’re looking for a practical, safe, and stylish small family car, the T-Cross is a fantastic choice.
Pros
- Surprisingly spacious and practical interior
- Comfortable and easy to drive
- Funky design with lots of personalisation options
Cons
- Top-spec models can get quite expensive
- The interior plastics aren't as high-quality as you might expect
- It's not as refined as some rivals at high speeds
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Inside, the T-Cross is classic Volkswagen – logical, easy to use, and built to last. The dashboard layout is clear and straightforward, with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system taking centre stage. All models come with this screen, which is great, and it’s very easy to navigate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available on most versions, making it simple to connect your smartphone.
While the design is smart, you will notice a lot of hard, scratchy plastics around the cabin. It doesn't have the same premium, soft-touch feel as a VW Golf, but it's important to remember this is VW’s most affordable SUV. Everything feels sturdy and durable, and you can get optional design packs that add splashes of colour to the dashboard to liven things up.
Comfort
The T-Cross is a comfortable car to travel in. Its suspension does a good job of soaking up bumps and potholes, making for a smooth ride around town. The high driving position gives you a great view of the road ahead, and it’s an easy car to see out of and park.
It’s also surprisingly refined for a small SUV, feeling composed and stable on the motorway. You might notice a bit of wind and road noise at higher speeds, but it’s no worse than most of its rivals. It’s a car that’s perfectly happy on both the school run and longer journeys.
Quality
The cabin of the T-Cross feels very solid and well-assembled, giving you the impression it will stand up to the rigours of family life for years to come. While the materials might not be the plushest, the switchgear operates with a reassuring clunk and everything feels built to last. It’s a cabin that prioritises function and durability over flair, which is a sensible approach for a practical family car.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
This is where the T-Cross really shines. Despite being only a little longer than a Polo supermini, it’s incredibly spacious inside. The boxy shape means there's loads of headroom, and even tall adults will find they have plenty of legroom in the back seats. It’s one of the most accommodating cars in the compact SUV class and can easily handle family duties.
Boot space
The boot is another big plus point. It offers 385 litres of space, which is more than you get in the larger VW Golf. A really clever feature is the sliding rear bench seat. You can slide it forwards to increase the boot space to a massive 455 litres when you need to carry more luggage, or slide it back to give rear passengers more legroom. Fold the rear seats down completely, and you get a huge 1,281-litre load bay.
Versatility
With its roomy cabin, clever sliding rear seats, and generous boot, the T-Cross is an incredibly versatile and practical small car. It’s brilliant for young families, offering the flexibility to switch between carrying passengers in comfort and lugging around bulky items. It’s a car that punches well above its weight when it comes to practicality.
Driving
Driving experience
The T-Cross is a very pleasant and easy car to drive. It feels light and nimble around town, and the good visibility makes it a doddle to park. Out on the open road, it handles neatly, with minimal body roll for a car of this type, which makes it feel safe and secure through corners.
The ride is comfortable, and the controls are light and easy to use, making it a relaxing car for everyday journeys. While it’s not as fun or engaging to drive as a Ford Puma, it’s a brilliant all-rounder that will get you from A to B with no fuss at all.
Performance
The engine lineup in the T-Cross is focused on small, efficient petrol units, with a diesel option also available. The range kicks off with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which is available with a few different power outputs – 94bhp, 108bhp, or 113bhp. They are all great little engines, providing a good mix of peppy performance and low running costs.
For a bit more punch, there’s a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 148bhp, which is noticeably the quickest option. A 1.6-litre diesel engine with 94bhp is also available for high-mileage drivers looking for the best possible fuel economy.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
Whichever T-Cross you choose, running costs should be nice and low. The most efficient engine is the 1.6-litre diesel, which can return up to 54.3mpg in official tests. The popular 1.0-litre petrol engines are also very frugal, with most versions capable of around 50mpg. This makes the T-Cross an affordable car to run day-to-day.
Value for money
The T-Cross is competitively priced against key rivals like the Renault Captur and Skoda Kamiq. It offers good value, especially when you consider the generous amount of standard equipment all models come with. Top-spec R-Line models can get a bit pricey, but on the used market, you can find nearly-new examples with significant savings off the list price, making it a very shrewd buy.
Reliability & Warranty
The T-Cross uses many tried-and-tested parts and engines from across the Volkswagen Group, so it should prove to be a reliable and dependable car. From new, all Volkswagens come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. Insurance costs are also affordable, with the entry-level models sitting in a low insurance group, making it a good choice for younger drivers.
Safety
Safety features
The Volkswagen T-Cross is a very safe car, achieving the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP. It scored highly in all areas.
What’s really impressive is the amount of safety technology that comes as standard on all models. This includes autonomous emergency braking, which can help prevent a collision, lane-keeping assist, and even blind-spot monitoring, which is a rare feature on a car of this size. It’s a very reassuring car for you and your family.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The T-Cross is available in a good range of trim levels, starting with S. This comes well-equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, air conditioning, and a host of safety kit. Our pick of the range is the SE model, which adds larger 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, and a front armrest.
The high-spec SEL trim adds features like LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and built-in satellite navigation. At the top of the range, the sporty R-Line trim gets a stylish body kit, larger 18-inch wheels, sports seats, and a digital cockpit display.
Engines
The T-Cross engine range is focused on the excellent 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. This is available in a few power outputs, including 94bhp, 108bhp, and 113bhp. For more performance, there is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 148bhp. The sole diesel option is a 1.6-litre TDI engine with 94bhp. Depending on the engine, you have a choice of a five or six-speed manual gearbox, or a seven-speed DSG automatic. All models are front-wheel drive.