Name: Volkswagen T-Cross (2019 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Volkswagen T-Cross
Rating: 64.8

Summary

The Volkswagen T-Cross is a small SUV/crossover based on the Polo supermini hatchback. It is the smallest model in Volkswagen’s SUV range, sitting just below the slightly larger T-Roc.

The T-Cross has received good to very good reviews from the UK motoring media since its launch in early 2019, with particular praise for its comfort, practicality and driving dynamics.

However, it has been marked down for providing less value than some cheaper rivals, as well as being less economical. The interior quality is also considered disappointing compared to other Volkswagen models.

The T-Roc was facelifted in early 2024, with improvements to technology and equipment levels, as well as some minor styling revisions. At about this time, the diesel engine option was discontinued. Euro NCAP re-tested the facelifted model against its updated safety protocols in September 2025, resulting in the safety rating dropping from five stars to three.

As of October 2025, the Volkswagen T-Roc has a New Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 65%. It gets good grades for its low running costs, but its scores for safety, CO₂ emissions and media reviews are only average. And dragging the score down further, Volkswagen’s new car warranty offering is poor.

More Volkswagen Expert Ratings, new car reviews, news and features

Key specifications

Body style: Small SUV/crossover
Engines: petrol, diesel (discontinued)
Price: From £25,970 on-road

Launched: Spring 2019
Last updated: Autumn 2023
Next update due: TBA

Image gallery

Media reviews

Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Featured reviews

“The Volkswagen T-Cross is a competent small SUV, but it lacks pizzazz.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 7 / 10

Read full review

Auto Express

Shane Wilkinson, Ellis Hyde

“The Volkswagen T-Cross is a small-on-the-outside, big-on-the-inside SUV that’s loaded with plenty of equipment as standard. It’s not as much fun as alternatives to drive, though, and its design is on the conservative side.”

Model reviewed: Range overview

Score: 8 / 10

Read full review

Carwow

Tom Wiltshire

More reviews

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SEL
“The little Volkswagen T-Cross looks like being another successful SUV for VW. It blends style and practicality into a package that’s perfect for the city.”
Author: Ryan Hirons
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Auto Express

Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The small Volkswagen T-Cross SUV turns on the style in new Black Edition trim.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol 115 TSI R-Line
Score: 8 / 10
“Volkswagen’s baby crossover is small but well packaged, and makes for an appealing addition to the firm’s burgeoning range of SUVs.”
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Car

Model reviewed: TDI
Score: 8 / 10
“Volkswagen has a knack at churning out cars that aren’t the most inspiring, but are very, very good – and this T-Cross is a fantastic example.”
Read review

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen T-Cross is entirely unexciting and brings little new to the field, but its appeal is clear.”
Read review

Carbuyer

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8.2 / 10
“The Volkswagen T-Cross is one of the class leaders in the small SUV sector.” (Andy Goodwin)
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SEL
Score: 7.9 / 10
“The Volkswagen T-Cross makes sense on paper for emissions and running costs, and it is a good-looking small crossover that offers practicality as well as style.”
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Daily Mirror

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual SEL
Score: 6 / 10
“If you slip inside the Volkswagen T-Cross, you’ll immediately see why many people will choose this over the cheaper Polo.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 8 / 10
“Comfortable and easy to drive.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 8 / 10
“The T-Cross is Volkswagen’s answer to the Nissan Juke and in-house SEAT Arona.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol automatic 115 TSI
“A few minor criticisms, but nothing even approaching a damnation. This is a good looking, quite classy, reasonably priced little SUV that is exactly what a lot of people want. It’ll sell like hoT-Cross buns.”
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Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen T-Cross is based on the Polo supermini, but is longer and taller, with a suitably pumped-up look.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 9 / 10
“An enticingly competent choice among so-so small crossovers”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual
“Volkswagen’s latest venture into the SUV market does not break down any new barriers, but it is good at what it intends to be.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol manual
Score: 8 / 10
“This decent looking and commodious baby SUV/crossover from the VW stable beats rivals hands down in ride comfort and body control, but the three-cylinder engines are a lot less economical than their NEDC figures, the manual gearboxes aren’t great and the cabin trim is cheap.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: 1.5-litre petrol automatic R-Line
Score: 5 / 10
“This is pretty much the same Volkswagen T-Cross we know and don’t really love. Sorry VW. You see, the problem with making so many crossovers is eventually there’s always going to be an idea-bereft forgotten child, and that’s the T-Cross.”
Read review

Model reviewed: (range review)
Score: 7 / 10
“Happily VW’s mini-SUV is a bit more than just a jacked-up Polo.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: October 2025
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 74%
Child protection: 81%
Vulnerable road users: 60%
Safety assist: 57%

Note on safety rating

The Volkswagen T-Cross was first assessed by Euro NCAP when it was launched back in 2019 and awarded a five-star rating. However, it was reassessed in September 2025 and the rating was downgraded to three stars.

This is because the standards for a five-star rating have gone up over the last six years, but the facelifted T-Cross did not bring any appreciable safety improvements.

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

No eco rating

As of October 2025, the Volkswagen T-Cross has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

If the T-Cross is put through the Green NCAP lab testing programme, we will publish the results here.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score
Petrol models	47 mpg	C

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	135 g/km	C
Diesel models	141 g/km	C

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	15	A

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£156	A
Year 2	£451	B
Year 3	£742	B
Year 4	£986	B
Year 5	£1,326	B
Overall	£3,661	B

The Volkswagen T-Cross has a running cost report that’s mostly good. Insurance and road tax should be very cheap, as should scheduled servicing costs for the first five years.

The only disappointment is the biggest running cost of all – fuel consumption. A score of ‘C’ is average, which is disappointing for a supermini-based SUV/crossover.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of October 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen T-Cross to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively from workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the T-Cross, we’ll publish the score here.

Warranty rating

New car warranty information for the Volkswagen T-Cross

Overall ratingE15%
New car warranty duration3 years
New car warranty mileage60,000 miles
Battery warranty duration0 years
Battery warranty mileage0 miles

Volkswagen’s new car warranty is pretty much the bare minimum offered by car manufacturers in the UK, and worse than rival brands in a similar price bracket as the T-Cross. The duration is three years, with a limit of 60,000 miles, which is pretty basic. Some rivals offer up to seven years of cover.

Warranty on a used Volkswagen T-Cross

If you are buying an ‘Approved Used’ Volkswagen T-Cross from an official Volkswagen dealership, you will get a minimum 12-month warranty included.
If you are buying a used Volkswagen T-Cross from an independent dealership, any warranty offered will vary and will probably be managed by a third-party warranty company.
If you are buying a used Volkswagen T-Cross from a private seller, there are no warranty protections beyond any remaining portion of the original new car warranty.

If you’re looking to buy any used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.

Recalls

Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Volkswagen T-Cross

As of October 2025, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Volkswagen T-Cross. However, recall information is updated very regularly, so this may have changed.

You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Volkswagen dealer.