Classy Chic: The duality of the Volkswagen T-Cross

Whenever we tell the story of a car in the Philippines, we try and get everything that we can before it’s launched. One such model that stoked our interest for not only going out of the brand’s comfort zone but also keeping in touch with the brand’s core values is the Volkswagen T-Cross. 

Before the subcompact crossover was launched, VW’s stable looked a little grey. Sure we had a few thoroughbreds in the ranch, but no “unicorn” so to speak. At the time, VW had some great cars out in other markets, but little did we know that VW had something up its sleeve to share with the Philippines. The T-Cross was a touch of color—actually scratch that—it was a full palette of colors that livened up the Volkswagen showroom and it made the brand all the better for it. 

As the subheading suggests, yes, the T-Cross was a departure from the norm in the VW lineup. The exterior design may have had a lot of the familiar VW lines and curves, but it had just enough angles and design features that made it a little more interesting to look at. The taillights were especially interesting, for a Volkswagen, and it had a joined tail section that made it look unlike any other VW crossover prior. 

We only wish that Volkswagen took a more adventurous approach to the T-Cross’ design by adding a light bar at the rear, but you really cannot have it all, and the brand taking a bright approach to the model’s color options was already more than enough to get our attention. 

On that note, there are a ton of colors that you can pick from in the lineup, from Syringa Viole, to Tribu Yellow, to Romance Red, to Pure White, to Moonstone Gray, and finally to Makena Turquoise. For buyers that still want the VW experience in a crossover but without the bright and standout colors, the plain Pure White and the subtle Moonston Gray are available. 

Its a pet peeve of ours is when interior colors don’t exactly match the exterior colors, either that or the interior colors do not complement the exterior. Think about a white car with red accents on the interior. Good right? How about an orange interior with a yellow exterior? Not so great. In the name of style and cohesiveness, the T-Cross comes with a color-matched interior. Whatever exterior color you get, you will get a matching interior color. 

Of course, the option is there to get a gray or a white model, but know that your exterior color choice will reflect on the interior. In some ways, it’s a great additional feature, and one that will remind you of the color choice you made at the dealership. Few car makers actually put in the effort to make the interior match with the exterior, and even fewer cars that do come at the same affordable price range as the T-Cross. 

All that color doesn’t mean a thing if the car doesn’t do what a car is supposed to do which is drive. The T-Cross drives quite well all things considered. Whether you’re on the way to work or on your way to your next gala, the T-Cross can fit in either scenario. Whether as a lifestyle vehicle that will transport you to your next getaway, or as a professional tool to meet your clients and bosses at the office, it’s easy to use with just enough features to keep you entertained, it’s easy to park due to its compact size, but it’s also plenty practical with its sizeable cargo area and its foldable rear seats if ever you feel like carrying more cargo. 

Power is reliable with usable torque and a decent pickup in stop and go traffic thanks to its six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. Two pedals in city traffic is always a plus, and it’s no slushy DCT or a rubberband-y CVT. The T-Cross comes across as a dependable and more-or-less consistent automobile for most daily tasks. It just plain works, nothing more and nothing less. 

Why is it still a Volkswagen? In esssense, it’s not too fussy about its drive. There is no special technique to get it to drive smooth. The ground clearance is as practical as ever and the chassis is sprung good enough for Philippine roads. Now, 111 hp may not be a lot, but it’s pretty much perfect as a city-slicking machine that excels rather well in the hustle and bustle of a Metro Manila traffic jam. Have an out-of-town trip? No worries. That 1.5-liter engine is also quite frugal as it can achieve up to 18.5 km/L on the highway, and up to 11 km/L in the city with light to medium traffic (as per our review). 

Yep, definitely a Volkswagen 

The title of this article is “Classy Chic,” and we feel that we’ve touched upon more of the chic aspects of the T-Cross. So what’s the touch of class? To be honest, we’d see it more in the muted tones that the T-Cross comes in because if you peel away the layers, you’ll find that it is still a Volkswagen through and through. VWs have a tendency to feel like they’re vanilla, when it comes to their drive, with no real stand out features. To enthusiasts, driving the T-Cross may be a little bit dragging, especially since there are faster and more exciting cars out in the market today. However, given that a big chunk of the population values comfort, convenience, and image more, the T-Cross will fit the bill for most people. With a European badge on the grille, a sturdy and usable platform, plus the attention to detail with regard to the interior and exterior colors, the T-Cross will fit the bill for a lot of people. On top of that, the price seems just right. 

Remember, Volkswagen stands for “People’s Car,” and the T-Cross has stayed true to that. It’s an approachable and fun car that won’t break the bank from a company that has a storied history in building reliable cars.