2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Five-seater crossover battle
The Philippine market is undoubtedly caught up in the crossover craze. As evidence of this, Volkswagen recently released the all-new T-Cross. In turn, Toyota brought in the Corolla Cross, and it is now the brand’s second crossover in its model lineup.
So, which of these two crossovers are better on paper? Let’s find out by comparing the top-spec Volkswagen T-Cross SE 180 MPI AT against the non-hybrid Toyota Corolla Cross G CVT since their prices are relatively close.
Let's find out which of these two crossovers provide the better specs
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Exterior
In terms of size, the Volkswagen T-Cross, is 4,218mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,599mm in height. Its wheelbase is 2,651mm long, and it has a ground clearance of 180mm.
Meanwhile, the Corolla Cross G has a length of 4,460mm, a width of 1,825mm, and a height of 1,620mm. Its wheelbase length measures 2,640mm, and it has a ground clearance of 161mm.
That said, the Toyota-made crossover is definitely the larger vehicle overall. It has, however, a shorter wheelbase compared to the T-Cross. On top of that, it has significantly less ground clearance too.
Compare the Volkswagen T-Cross (left) against the Toyota Corolla Cross (right) using the slider
As for exterior equipment, both the T-Cross SE and Corolla Cross G come standard with turn signal side repeaters, front fog lamps, LED taillights, roof rails, and spoilers. The G variant of the Corolla Crossover however, comes with halogen headlamps, whereas the T-Cross has LED headlamps. And of course, the T-Cross comes with a sunroof, while the Corolla Cross G does not.
Regarding wheels, the Volkswagen and Toyota models both come standard with a set of 17-inch alloys. The Toyota model however uses a wider set of 215/60 tires, while the Volkswagen crossover has 205/55 tires.
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Interior
Inside, both the T-Cross SE and Corolla Cross G can comfortably seat up to five occupants, with room to spare for cargo. The seats of the T-Cross however are clad with a combination of fabric and leather, whereas the Corolla Cross G has fabric-only seats. Then again, the Toyota model comes with an automatic air-conditioning system, while the Volkswagen only has manual AC. The aforementioned AC on the T-Cross however, does have rear vents, which the Corolla Cross G lacks.
Inside the colorful interior of the T-Cross
For on-board entertainment, T-Cross SE is kitted out with a larger 9.2-inch with USB, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Despite being larger, the T-Cross' headunit has fewer speakers numbering at four.
Meanwhile, the Toyota-made crossover is equipped with a 6.8-inch touchscreen. For connectivity, it has USB, Bluetooth, and Toyota’s T-Link smartphone mirroring software. The said system is then linked up to a six-piece speaker system.
The interior of the Toyota Corolla Cross (V variant pictured)
When it comes to driving amenities, both models provide a push to start button, an analog gauge cluster, and a digital trip computer. Both also have cruise control, a 12-volt accessory outlet, reverse camera, and rear parking sensors. The T-Cross however, lacks the power-folding side mirrors, which are available on the Corolla Cross G.
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Engine and Performance
Moving over to powerplants, the Volkswagen T-Cross SE is powered by a 1.5-liter inline-4 Bluemotion engine. At most, it can churn out 113 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque paired with a six-speed automatic. It's also a front-wheel-drive, front-engine vehicle.
In comparison, the Corolla Cross G uses the 1.8-liter 2ZR-FE inline-4 gasoline engine. At most, this chain-driven, dual VVT-I mill can produce up to 138 horsepower and 172 Nm of torque. It is then paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) sending power to the front wheels. Of note, the Corolla Cross G’s CVT comes with a lever-controlled manual mode. The T-Cross’ automatic gearbox in turn, lacks a manual mode.
As for suspensions, both of these crossovers use a MacPherson strut front end, and a torsion beam rear suspension. Both also come standard with disc brakes on all four wheels. Lastly, both also have manual parking brakes, but the one on the Toyota is engaged with a foot pedal. The parking brake on the Volkswagen, on the other hand, is a more common hand-operated parking brake type.
| Specs | Toyota Corolla Cross G 1.8 CVT | Volkswagen T-Cross SE 180 MPI AT |
| Engine | 1.8-liter inline-4 | 1.5-liter inline-4 |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Horsepower | 138 | 113 |
| Torque | 172 Nm | 145 Nm |
| Transmission | CVT | 7-speed Automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel-drive | Front-wheel-drive |
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Safety
As modern crossovers, both the T-Cross SE and Corolla Cross G come standard with anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, ISOFIX child seat tethers, and hill-start assist. Both are also equipped with stability and traction control. The Toyota model however, does have speed-sensing door locks, which are unavailable on the T-Cross. In turn, the T-Cross comes with a tire pressure monitoring system, which is absent on the Toyota model.
As for airbags though, the Toyota Corolla Cross G comes with a total of seven airbags. That’s one more airbag compared to the T-Cross. To be specific, the Volkswagen lacks the driver’s knee airbag that comes with the Toyota model.
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Variants
| Volkswagen T-Cross Variants | Price |
| T-Cross S 180 MPI AT | Php 1,098,000 |
| T-Cross SE 180 MPI AT | Php 1,198,000 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross Variants | Price |
| Corolla Cross G 1.8 CVT | Php 1,285,000 |
| Corolla Cross Hybrid V 1.8 CVT | Php 1,650,000 |
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross vs Toyota Corolla Cross: Conclusion
To conclude, the Toyota Corolla Cross G sits at a slightly higher price point than the T-Cross SE. For that matter, the Corolla Cross model itself, as a whole, is a more expensive crossover than the Volkswagen T-Cross. Then again, the Corolla Cross offers a bit more in terms of power, and possibly more interior space since it is the larger vehicle.
The T-Cross from the side
Besides the difference in power however, the T-Cross can actually compete against the Toyota when it comes to interior comfort and safety. There are slight differences, but both do cover the basics as per modern car safety is concerned.
A rear quarter view of the Corolla Cross
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