Volkswagen T-Cross used cars for sale

Volkswagen T-Cross buying guide

The T-Cross offers a polished, confident driving experience. Keen drivers might not be totally swayed but, if you want a fuss-free and dependable way to get around, the T-Cross ticks a lot of boxes. It even comes with some handy features, so it’s more practical than its compact dimensions might suggest.

What Volkswagen T-Cross trim levels are there?

The T-Cross range kicks off with the S trim, which does pretty well for essential kit. You get cruise control, air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels and digital radio, plus active safety features like city emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance that stops you straying out of your lane.

SE gets an alarm, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic headlights, roof rails, blind-spot detection and adaptive cruise control. Active and United trims were special editions based on SE, adding features like front and rear parking sensors, sat nav and heated front seats, while the Black Edition trim gets LED headlights and tinted windows over the SE’s kit list.

SEL adds chrome windowline trim and silver roof rails, along with two-zone climate control, sat nav, parking sensors and a speed limit display. R-Line, meanwhile, gets a sporty styling upgrade, better front seats and a set of crisp digital dials.

Volkswagen T-Cross interior and technology

It may be the baby Volkswagen, but the T-Cross lives up to the VW badge inside. Given its price, it’s fine that there are a few cheap plastics here and there, with the main controls feeling more expensive. The T-Cross is well-built and feels durable, and certain trim levels come with funky dashboard trims to add a bit more appeal.

Every T-Cross gets a large touchscreen, with more features added as you go up the trim level range. SE and above get smartphone mirroring, so you can use your phone’s apps for sat nav and media playback. The same specification unlocks a chrome-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction controls.

Versions with the biggest 18-inch wheel options may feel firmer over bumps than those with 16- or 17-inch wheels.

Volkswagen T-Cross engine range explained

Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI petrol

The vast majority of VW T-Cross cars come with a turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine. Pick a car with a manual gearbox and you could achieve almost 50mpg on a longer run. The engine is powerful enough to cope with motorway drives and cross-country back lanes, while also feeling at home in town.

There are two versions – a 95hp engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, and a 110hp/115hp (depending on the age of the car) engine with a six-speed gearbox. The latter can also be had with a seven-speed automatic gearbox that’ll take the strain out of rush hour traffic.

Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5 TSI 150 petrol

SEL and R-Line versions have also been available with a bigger and more powerful 150hp petrol engine. Exclusively paired with the automatic gearbox, this engine is worth waiting for if you want the fastest acceleration offered in a T-Cross. Note that a 1.5-litre T-Cross is quite a rare thing as the 1.0-litre engine is plenty for most buyers.

Volkswagen T-Cross 1.6 TDI diesel

With the petrol engines being so economical, it’s hard to recommend the 95hp TDI diesel engine unless you’re going to be subjecting your T-Cross to lots of motorway miles. It’s not quite as quick as the 1.0-litre petrol but is slightly more economical, managing 57mpg.