Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI DSG R-Line (A) First Drive Review

As a motoring writer and a Volkswagen owner myself, I tend to get a lot of questions. And a lot of it surrounds the new T-Cross - first seen here at the Singapore Motor Show - and when it'll be available for sale.

But all the wondering and waiting is over. The T-Cross is finally here, and we got a quick taste of it.

Looks big!

The T-Cross will be the smallest crossover available here from Volkswagen. In terms of positioning, the T-Cross will compete with the likes of the Seat Arona and Kia Stonic.

Feeling confused? I don't blame you. The T-Cross looks and feels like a larger car.

Not to mention, it shares frontal visual similarities with its bigger brother, the Touareg. That wide radiator grille certainly offers quite a bit of road presence.

But it takes a step away from the serious Touareg, not just in size. The T-Cross is quite a cheeky looking thing especially in Energetic Orange, one of three colour themes available. That'll make even the wheels orange - not my thing, but I'm sure some of you do.

In all, the T-Cross looks very different from the usual Volkswagen range. Our short drive definitely attracted quite a bit of attention from other drivers.

Familiar is good

Step inside, and that familiarity we've come to know and love about Volkswagens is still apparent. It looks and feels largely like the current Polo - with both cars running the same compact MQB-A0 platform.

There are slight differences, though. A new steering wheel is in place, along with the first appearance here of the brand's new two-dimensional logo.

No complaints when it comes to usability. There's more than enough space to dump your barang-barangs around, and while it has two USB-C ports up front, you get wireless charging as standard, too.

As with all Volkswagens, infotainment kit is more than adequate. The 8.0-inch infotainment display comes equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It isn't the top-spec 9.2-inch screen, though. But it comes with actual knobs to handle track seek and volume.

Not that small after all

From the front seats, it might seem there isn't much space for rear occupants.

But get in the rear and you realise there's significant amounts of it. Even with the driver's seat set to a very comfortable position, there's plenty of leg and wiggle room.

This is pretty impressive, considering the T-Cross is a compact crossover, and the lack of rear legroom is something that many in this segment suffer from.

It even has a reasonably sized boot at 385 litres, and you don't have to fold the seats to have added storage as they can slide forwards. Do so, and space increases to 455 litres.

Smooth operator

As you can probably tell, the T-Cross scores high on first impressions. During our short time with the car, it didn't take much to prove its worth on the move, either.

Be it along luscious windy roads around Labrador Hill or heavy traffic along Ayer Rajah Expressway, the easy to drive nature of the T-Cross was apparent.

In a market where crossovers are as stiff as hot hatchbacks, the calm and composed ride the T-Cross offers is more than welcomed.

Behind the wheel, all the information you need is clearly displayed via the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Along with clear outward visibility complimented by the big rear view mirrors, the stresses of driving are largely taken care of.

The cool VW

We'll dwell a little more into the car once we get more time with it. But the T-Cross proves that Volkswagen isn't just about making a serious car that's practical and safe. They've always made sense to the pragmatic consumer, but as a VW fan, they can be a little bit boring.

But the T-Cross is something completely different. It's loud and cheery, yet still manages to be the practical Volkswagen we've all come to know and love.

At $128,900 (as of 27 November 2020), the T-Cross might cost a pretty penny in the compact crossover segment. But its pretty looks and lovable nature make it one special car compared to the rest.

Want to see the Volkswagen T-Cross in a more eye-catching colour? Watch our first impressions of the car on video as well right here!