Volkswagen T-Cross arrives
Following its confirmation for the Australian market this past January, Volkswagen’s T-Cross compact SUV arrived in April.
Based on the Polo platform, the T-Cross is not only the smallest VW SUV available locally, but also the cheapest, with pricing starting from $27,990, plus ORCs.
“The T-Cross takes Volkswagen into new territory,” says VW’s Director of Customer Experience and Marketing, Jason Bradshaw. “Previously other brands have had this segment to themselves. Now, for the first time, there is an affordable German compact SUV, one that, as the Tiguan and Touareg do in their respective segments, transcends the gulf between the popular brands and those perceived as prestige.”
Polo Powertrain
The T-Cross launches with two model grades – 85TSI Life and 85TSI Style – with mechanical specification common to both.
A 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, lifted directly from the Polo, offers 85kW and 200Nm, driving the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG. Reflecting the urban focus of the T-Cross, there is no AWD option available for now. Listed fuel economy is 5.4lt/100km on the combined cycle.
A higher-spec 110TSI Style variant is expected in Q3, with a 110kW / 250Nm version of the same 1.0-litre engine.
Choice of Two
With a common drivetrain, the differences between the 85TSI Life and 85TSI Style are defined by the equipment levels.
The 85TSI Life features 16-inch ‘Rochester’ alloys, fog lamps, static cornering lights, auto wipers, auto headlights and black roof rails outside. Inside, there’s an 8-inch ‘Composition Media’ multimedia touchscreen with 6 speakers and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, cloth and vinyl seats, front centre armrests, four USB ports (2 x front, 2 x rear), leather-trimmed steering wheel, manually-controlled air con and wireless phone charging.
Tech and safety features on the Life include a rear view camera, parking sensors with manoeuvre braking, low pressure tyre indicator, Front Assist with City EB and pedestrian/cyclist monitoring, Lane Assist and Driver Fatigue Detection.
The upper-grade 85TSI Style swaps the 16-inch wheels for 18-inch ‘Bangalore’ alloys and adds LED headlights with Light Assist auto high beam. There’s also power mirrors and a chrome finish for the roof rails and other selected exterior trim. Inside, comfort sport front seats and carpet mats are added, along with paddle shifters and dual-zone climate-controlled air conditioning.
Tech upgrades include keyless entry, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Traffic Alert, Proactive occupant protection system, Park Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control.
Colours and Options
The T-Cross launches with a choice of eight colours. Metallic and pearl finishes add the usual premiums, $600 in this instance, while the ‘Makena Turquoise metallic’ pictured is an $800 extra.
Option packages start with a ‘Driver Assistance’ package for the 85TSI Life that adds the cruise control, blind spot monitoring and other safety features standard on the 85TSI Style for $1,200.
A Sound and Vision package ($1,900), available on both grades, updates the instrumentation to a fully-digital display, adds a Beats 300W premium audio system and includes a Discover Media sat nav.
As with other VW SUVs, the T-Cross will also be available with the R-Line package, In this application, the R-Line package is a $2,500 extra and adds 18-inch alloys, exterior badging and other body detailing changes, dark-tinted rear and rear side windows, branded sill plates, ‘carbon flag’ cloth seat trim, aluminium-finish pedals and a leather multi-function sports steering wheel.
In Store and Online
The T-Cross range is available now through Volkswagen’s national dealer network. With social distancing in mind, VW also offer online configuration and ordering with a $500 deposit.
A 5-year/Unlimited kilometre warranty and capped price servicing are included, along with guaranteed future value when purchased via Volkswagen Financial Services’ Volkswagen Choice Program.
VW T-Cross pricing*
T-Cross 85TSI Life $27,990
T-Cross 85TSI Style $30,990
*excludes on-road costs
