AC Motors, the official distributor of Volkswagen cars in the Philippines, invited us to join the 2022 T-Cross media drive to the pleasant climes of Cavite, and the rolling hills of Tagaytay. During the drive, we got the chance to ride and pilot the brand’s premier entry into the competitive subcompact crossover market.
2022 Volkswagen T-Cross units parked near the AC Motors headuarters in BGC
It was there that we found out that this stylish crossover has the potential of being a great daily driver, a family car, and a chariot for a young and active individual. In other words, it’s quite a versatile crossover. Here are the reasons that make the 2022 Volkswagen T-Cross SE tick the right boxes.
The right style and the right size
The Volkswagen T-Cross isn’t loud nor is it bombastic-looking when it comes to its overall design. But, it does manage to present a good balance between elegance and youthfulness.
From the front, the side, and the rear, the T-Cross is all straight lines. This of course is in keeping with the styling cues of its Santana and Lamando VW sedan cousins. To describe its styling in a phrase, it’s a straight-shooter.
The T-Cross in purple is particularly fetching
Its front end does get a detailed-looking grille while the lower front bumper is decorated with chrome accents. The rear can also be described as refined with its square LED taillights, a not-so-large roof spoiler, and quietly-styled lower bumper.
Those exterior bits coupled with the awesome color options give the T-Cross the capability to attract a young set of buyers as well as individuals who are starting to build a family. Of note, the colors available for the Volkswagen T-Cross include yellow, red, grey, violet, and white.
The T-Cross' styling is consistent all around
We also felt that it exhibited just the right size when we tackled the tight traffic while going out of AC Motor’s headquarters in BGC. On the flip side, we also felt that it had enough road presence as we weren't pushed around by larger vehicles on the highway.
A well-arranged cabin makes for plenty of space
Most of the drive was spent inside the T-Cross, but this wasn’t an issue since its cabin is well-arranged as seen on the dashboard layout.
Finding the right driving position is made easy thanks to a tilt and telescopic steering wheel and sufficiently sized seats. I myself stand at 5’11 and am wide on the waist but I found no issues at all.
The front cabin of the 2022 Volkswagen T-Cross
For those who have to ferry passengers, you’ll also be glad to know that the rear cabin provides sufficient legroom for taller individuals. This makes the T-Cross great for those with kids and even growing teens. Heck, it might also prove to be generous for carpooling needs, and even for road trips.
Speaking of road trips, the T-Cross's trunk can swallow up to 1,281 liters with the rear seats folded down.
Kitted-out for convenience, fun, safety, and comfort
While being spacious is well and good, what made the T-Cross even more pleasurable to drive is its array of onboard features.
The availability of a rear air-conditioning vent and a sizable sunroof that stretches all the way back is nice to have. This is especially true if you’re particularly concerned with keeping your rear occupants happy. Charging gadgets for the rear passengers are also made easy thanks to illuminated Type C and Type A USB ports for the rear.
A closer look at the touchscreen. This also features gesture control for ease of use
Handling onboard entertainment for the T-Cross is a 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen that features wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity.
This VW model also comes with safety features you’d expect from a modern vehicle. The top-spec SE in particular gets dual front airbags, side airbags, head curtain airbags, anti-lock braking, stability control, hill-hold control, an anti-slip system, a tire pressure monitor, ISOFIX child seat anchors, among others.
It gets a sizable trunk, which is great for road trips, shopping, etc.
Capable, stable, and consistent
The VW T-Cross isn’t quick and isn’t sporty. Regardless, it is fairly stable and easy to control on city roads and provincial roads.
It is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that can produce 111 hp and 145 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels.
That output is enough for a daily drive within the city, and even on trips to the hills of Tagaytay and Cavite. It can also cruise well on the highway, but as we’ve said in our T-Cross review, do plan your overtakes.
The T-Cross uses a 1.5-liter four cylinder multi-point fuel injection gasoline engine
Cruising on the highway is likewise a pleasurable experience since noise, vibrations and harshness (NVH) is effectively reduced. Engine noise can still be heard, but it is muffled just enough to be ignored.
In the case of ride comfort, it sits a bit on the softer side. It can roll on corners a bit but it was enough for dealing with potholes and bumps.
The T-Cross also provides its driver with a cruise control system, which is great for long highway driving. Plus, the digital gauge cluster on the T-Cross SE was pleasant to look at and easy to understand.
The T-Cross was easy to park
Parking the T-Cross was also easy thanks to the presence of a rear camera, as well as a rear parking distance control system. These features of course, may provide some respite for young (or young at heart) newbie drivers who are just getting familiar with parking.
So there you have it folks, the reasons as to why we think the Volkswagen T-Cross ticks the boxes when it comes to being a daily, a family car, and a youthful-looking chariot. If this versatile crossover model interests you, do check out our full review of the Volkswagen T-Cross.
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