2024 Volkswagen T-Cross Life: Quick Review

The Volkswagen T-Cross, a newcomer in the competitive light SUV market, made its debut in 2020.

Based on the popular Polo hatchback, this model aims to carve out a niche with its fresh design and urban agility.

A significant update is anticipated in late 2024, highlighting its evolution in a rapidly growing segment.

17

Pricing and Features

The T-Cross positions itself as a gateway to Volkswagen's SUV lineup, offering two main variants – the Life and Style.

Both variants are front-wheel drive and come with an automatic transmission.

The Life, priced at $30,990 before on-road costs, is the more affordable option, designed to appeal to budget-conscious buyers. In contrast, the Style variant, with additional features, is available for $33,490 before on-roads.

At the heart of both variants is a small yet capable 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque, paired exclusively with a 7-speed automatic transmission. This engine setup ensures a balance between performance and efficiency, ideal for city driving with a combined fuel consumption of 5.4 litres per 100km.

17

17

The T-Cross Life shines in its exterior design, boasting bold lines and a charismatic front facade. It comes equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels and LED Daytime Running Lights, giving it a contemporary and distinctive look. This design appeal is a significant factor in its market competitiveness.

The dashboard is ergonomically designed, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Unfortunately it still gets halogen headlights which only slightly contradicts its premium brand positioning.

17

For an additional $2200, you can add a Sound and Vision Package.

17

Solid white is the only no-cost paint choice, while other solid, pearl and metallic colours as $600-$900 options.

Safety

Safety is a key focus for the T-Cross Life, which boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

It features an array of driver assistance technologies, including front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and lane-keep assist.

Missing specs on the Life are adaptive cruise control, rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring– only available if you fork out the extra cash for the Style.

17

Key Rivals

The T-Cross faces stiff competition from other light SUVs like the Kia Stonic, Hyundai Venue, Mazda CX-3, Ford Puma, and Toyota Yaris Cross.

These models, along with the T-Cross, represent a shift in consumer preference towards light SUVs over traditional light cars such as the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris.

17

Should I Put It On My Shortlist?

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross Life is an excellent choice for those seeking a compact, economical SUV for everyday use.

Its combination of practical features, efficient performance, and modern design makes it a strong contender in the light SUV segment, offering great value for city dwellers and daily commuters.

While 85 TSI Style and Life models are closely matched, the Style variant easily justifies the upgrade with its additional features. Features like adaptive cruise control and enhanced active safety technologies contribute substantially to the price difference.

The Life will suit a tighter budget while the Style will add some very welcome safety, if you can spend the extra cash.