2021 Volkswagen T-Cross SE Review | Philkotse Philippines

Subcompact crossovers have been gaining popularity in the Philippine market. Several car brands have already jumped into the current trend, which was a segment once held dominantly by the Ford EcoSport. 

The demand for such vehicles can be attributed to characteristics such as a relatively more spacious interior, a flexible cargo loading option, and a higher ground clearance. Not to mention, subcompact crossovers also come with an attractive price tag, which makes it one of the choices among Filipino car buyers.

Among the sudden influx of vehicles competing in the said segment is the Volkswagen T-Cross. It comes with a unique exterior and interior styling but the top-of-the-line variant T-Cross SE is priced a tad higher compared to its segment rivals such as the Kia Stonic, Hyundai Venue, and MG ZS. With that, we look into what the T-Cross SE can offer. Is the higher price tag justifiable? Read on Philkotse’s 2021 Volkswagen T-Cross SE review to find out.

The Volkswagen T-Cross SE comes with an exterior that goes against the tide compared to its segment rivals. It doesn’t have that much of an athletic or sporty look since the T-Cross leans more on giving you a sleek and premium-like appeal. The appeal of VW’s subcompact crossover is refreshing, which makes it unique among its rivals. 

2021 Volkswagen T-Cross SE

The front end of the VW T-Cross SE has a laid-back demeanor, which sort of gives you the impression that it has a chill vibe. It is fitted with LED headlights that are integrated with daytime running lights. The chrome grille seamlessly blends between the headlights and gives a nifty accent to the T-Cross’ fascia. 

It’s also worth noting that this vehicle’s emblem already shows the new VW logo. The sleek demeanor of the vehicle is further highlighted by the bumper, which has a mustache-like trim that surrounds the halogen fog lamps.

Turning at the side, the T-Cross has a typical Volkswagen design that features a straight character line. I like the simplicity that the T-Cross gives when viewed from the side. Although, I wish that it already has power-folding side mirrors. 

The T-Cross features a straight character line

But to make up for it, the T-Cross’ side mirrors come with a heating function, which can give you better visibility when there’s a heavy downpour. It also has subtle chrome trim on the door handles, black cladding, and roof rails.  

The dimensions of the 2021 Volkswagen T-Cross SE are as follows: 4,218mm long, 1,760mm wide, and 1,599mm tall. It also has a wheelbase of 2,651mm, and a ground clearance of 185mm.

The distinctive taillight design makes the T-Cross unique

The rear of the T-Cross comes with a set of unique LED taillights that are seamlessly connected by a blacked-out trim on the tailgate. The said design detail is one of the things I like about the T-Cross as it makes it stand out among its segment rivals. It also gives you that youthful and modern styling, which is good considering the bulk of the T-Cross’ target market. The rear is complemented by a large bumper that has black cladding, giving the vehicle the right amount of bulkiness.

The cabin of the T-Cross SE has a tri-tone interior theme, which is again one of the unique features of this Volkswagen subcompact crossover. Among its segment rivals, the T-Cross SE can be considered to be the vehicle that has the hippest interior due to its play of colors. 

It has a tri-tone interior theme

The interior gives you a youthful vibe due to the contrasting colors of black, white, and blueish purple. However, I am not much of a fan of a white-colored interior since it gets significantly dirtier through time as compared to having a black-themed cabin. But I do like the dashboard layout of the T-Cross SE as it has a nice texture, and gives a youthful appeal. 

The T-Cross has a flat-bottomed steering wheel that’s integrated with several buttons such as Cruise Control. It also has a white-on-black analog instrument cluster that gives a straightforward design. The simplicity of the rotary knobs for the climate control works for me as it balances out the hip look of the interior by giving a nostalgic feel of conventional vehicle controls.  

The flat bottomed steering wheel is integrated with several controls

You’ll also notice the use of hard plastic materials inside the Volkswagen T-Cross SE, which is already expected considering its price point. Moreover, the T-Cross’ segment rivals also use plenty of hard plastics. The seats of this subcompact crossover have a two-tone finish, and the driver and front passenger get manual seat adjustment. To add, the T-Cross comes with a panoramic sunroof. 

The T-Cross comes with rear AC vents, and a panoramic sunroof

Up to three individuals can be accommodated at the rear. Passengers at the back also get rear aircon vents, USB ports, and a generous leg- and head-room. Speaking of which, the legroom is more than enough when two individuals are seated at the back.   

The T-Cross has ample cargo space for assortment of items

The Volkswagen T-Cross also has good cargo space, and you can easily fit an assortment of items. A standard-sized guitar hard case can easily be placed in the truck. The rear seats can be folded in case you need additional room for other types of cargo.

The Volkswagen T-Cross offers several tech features that are essential in today’s lifestyle. Placed at the middle of the dashboard is a 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. I find this feature essential since it seamlessly connects your iPhone to the touchscreen where you can access apps such as Waze and Spotify. 

The infotainment touchscreen also features a Hand Gesture system, where you can swipe left and right to browse through the screen’s menu by simply waving your hand. When you’re playing your playlist while your phone is connected via Bluetooth, you can forward the song to the next track by simply waving your hand.

Equipped with a 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen

The T-Cross can also increase or decrease the volume of your music through voice commands. Simply utter ‘Volume Up’ or ‘Volume Down’, and the T-Cross will respond accordingly. However, during the duration of my test drive, this specific feature sometimes acts up and does not work as it should.

The infotainment system transforms into a rearview camera when you put the gear in reverse, which is helpful whenever your backing into a parking space. The T-Cross also has several USB ports for Type A and Type C. 

The T-Cross comes with cruise control

In terms of safety, the Volkswagen T-Cross SE is equipped with dual front airbags, driver and front passenger side airbags, head curtain airbags, an anti-lock braking system, electronic stability program, among others. The T-Cross also has rear parking sensors and a tire pressure monitor.

The Volkswagen T-Cross is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that puts out 112 hp and 145 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, and power is sent to the front wheels. 

The T-Cross is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine

The T-Cross’ engine delivers adequate power when driven around the city. The engine is relaxed during my drive within the urban jungle, and the transmission is smooth. But, I find the power delivery to be a bit sluggish when driven on the open highway, especially when you want to overtake slower vehicles. That said, you should plan your overtakes well for good measure.

Going through an uphill road could also pose a bit of a challenge with the T-Cross, which is also the case for most subcompact crossovers offered in the market today. Good thing though, the T-Cross comes with a manual mode where you can have better control of the engine rpm.  

It has the new VW logo

The other thing I appreciate with the T-Cross is its light steering feel, which is beneficial when limiting driver fatigue. I do wish that it has a little more steering feedback to make the overall driving experience better. Despite that, the T-Cross is stable when driven on the open highway. 

When it comes to ride comfort, the T-Cross can absorb road impacts well. It minimizes the harsh road condition along EDSA, giving you a relatively pleasant drive. The seats also give a comfortable cushion, which makes stop-and-go traffic more bearable. 

The blacked-out trim creates a seamless look

Although, it took me quite a while to get my most preferred driving position. I also find the pillars or beams inside the vehicle to be too thick, which affects driving visibility. But, you’ll get used to it right away, and wouldn’t be much of an issue as time progress.

In terms of fuel economy, the Volkswagen T-Cross registered 7 km/l while being driven around the city at an average speed of 10 km/h. On the open highway, the T-Cross posted 17.6 km/l while being driven at an average speed of 90 km/h. Note: there were two people onboard the vehicle during the said fuel eco runs. 

It’s evident that the Volkswagen T-Cross comes with a unique exterior and interior styling that makes it stand out among its segment rivals. The laid-back look of its exterior is one of the sleekest designs among subcompact crossovers offered in the market today. The interior, on the other hand, is quirky and has a youthful vibe, which is on point to the bulk of its target market. 

2021 Volkswagen T-Cross SE

The engine and power delivery are capable to tackle the daily challenges brought by city driving. It may not be as sprightly as the Geely Coolray, but the T-Cross can still deliver and do its job well. The T-Cross is also equipped with cool tech features that you can’t find in some of its segment rivals such as the Hand Gesture, and the voice command in managing the volume of its audio system. Not to mention, it also has decent cargo space.

With all the points mention, one could argue that the Volkswagen T-Cross SE’s Php 1,198,000 is justifiable. The uniqueness of T-Cross’ overall design is one of its best selling points.