2024 Volkswagen T-Cross Life review

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross is the smallest and most budget-friendly SUV in the German brand’s line-up, designed for urban drivers looking for the practicality of an SUV in a compact city-friendly package.

Essentially a Polo hatchback in SUV form, the T-Cross proves a winning combination for buyers who are looking for the best of both worlds.

For 2024, Volkswagen has refreshed the T-Cross with a subtle facelift and eliminated most optional extras, which are now standard across three variants. But with these upgrades comes a notable price hike. So, does the T-Cross still deserve a spot on your shopping list? We get behind the wheel to find out.

The updated T-Cross comes with a higher price tag than the outgoing model, but Volkswagen has sweetened the deal by including features that were previously optional.

The T-Cross Life, tested here, is priced at $34,990 drive-away nationwide. While that’s $3000 more than the pre-facelift model, it gains a host of new features, including LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster.

Next in the line-up, the T-Cross Style is $39,990 drive-away. It adds keyless start, automatic climate control, a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, matrix LED headlights with a light strip on the grille, a new tail-light design, satellite navigation, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

At the top, the T-Cross R-Line, now offered as a standalone variant rather than an option pack, is priced at $43,990 drive-away. It features R-Line styling upgrades, a Beats sound system, a drive mode selector, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Competition in the compact SUV segment is fierce. Notable rivals include the Mazda CX-3, where $31,200 gets you the mid-spec Evolve, and the Toyota Yaris Cross, starting at $30,900 (both before on-road costs). Within Volkswagen Group’s own stable, the Skoda Kamiq Select – with the same 85TSI engine and a comparable feature set – is priced at $33,990 drive-away.

Despite its compact dimensions, the cabin doesn’t feel cramped and the supportive cloth seats provide top-notch comfort for occupants.

What’s not to love is the mostly hard plastic interior that dominates the space and the gloss black surround on the temperature controls don’t do it for me either. That said, the dash fascia features a honeycomb weave that adds a touch of texture and helps break up the expanse of black plastic.

For storage options, you have a central storage bin with a padded lid, and sizable door pockets that can hold bottles. The cupholders are teeny-tiny and are oddly octagonal in shape. There’s also a wireless charging pad conveniently located ahead of the gear lever for stowing your smartphone.

The leather steering wheel, like most Volkswagen steering wheels, feels nice to the touch and adds a premium note to the otherwise basic interior materials.

Ventilation and air conditioning are straightforward, with physical dials in this base model and an upgraded automatic system in higher trims that remains independent of the infotainment system. A big plus for ease of use! The automatic climate system looks swish on the higher grades, and it would have been nice to see it on the Life variant too.

In the back seat, space is tighter, especially for three adults. I did have three incredibly uncomfortable passengers in the back for a short trip who would definitely not recommend it. However, for two passengers, head and knee room are reasonable, and amenities include two USB-C charging points, door bottle pockets, and map pockets. Unfortunately, there are no air vents or cupholders back here.

The T-Cross shines in its versatility, though, thanks to its sliding rear seats and the ability to fold them in a 60:40 split. Sliding the seats forward increases boot capacity from 385 litres to 455L, meaning you can prioritise cargo over passenger leg room when needed.

Folding the rear seats forward expands the space further to 1281L. This makes the T-Cross one of the largest in its class, outpacing competitors like the Mazda CX-3 (264L) and Toyota Yaris Cross (390L). The boot also includes practical touches like shopping bag hooks, cargo tie-down points, and a space-saver spare tyre under the floor.

The Volkswagen T-Cross doesn’t have the most sophisticated suite of technology, but it does the job. Its 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while sounding small, meshes well with the car's compact dimensions.

It’s complemented by an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster in the T-Cross Life (with a larger 10.25-inch version on higher grades). It’s customisable, too, and displays everything from fuel economy stats to your current Spotify track, ensuring key information is always at hand without being distracting.

The infotainment screen looks great with sharp graphics and an intuitive menu structure. Shortcut buttons along the sides of the screen make navigating even more streamlined and are paired with dials for volume and tuning – a practical touch that tends to be overlooked these days.

Elevating the tech offering is wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless charging, which are all now standard across the T-Cross range. During testing, the system performed flawlessly. I connected my phone to Apple CarPlay quickly and easily with no glitches or delays.

The sound quality in the Life was decent too. While it wasn’t particularly remarkable, I’d say it’s crisp and clear enough for the average driver. Other features include AM/FM and DAB+ radio, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, while higher trims add satellite navigation and voice control.

The Volkswagen T-Cross holds a five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded in 2019. It achieved an impressive 97 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 81 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 80 per cent for its safety assist systems.

The T-Cross is equipped with six airbags covering both rows, though it lacks a front-centre airbag – which is becoming increasingly common in newer vehicles.

Volkswagen has enhanced its IQ.Drive safety suite for the updated T-Cross, adding new standard features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic parking. These join carryover systems like autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist from the pre-facelift model.

Overall, the systems perform well and are generally unobtrusive, though the lane-keep assist can be overly assertive at times. On a sealed road just outside Melbourne, it was steering too aggressively, and didn’t inspire much confidence in its capability. It is relatively easy to access the safety systems menu and deactivate functions when required.

The Volkswagen T-Cross is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, with servicing required every 12 months or 15,000km.

Owners can opt for Volkswagen's prepaid Care Plan, which costs $1500 for three years or $2850 for five years, which could save you some coin compared to paying for individual services as you go. However, even with those savings, it’s still pretty pricey when you compare it to the five-year service costs for its rivals, with the Mazda CX-3 ($2154), the Toyota Yaris Cross ($1250) or the Skoda Kamiq ($2350 prepaid).

Comprehensive insurance for a T-Cross Life has been quoted at $1522 per annum and is a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

Volkswagen claims the T-Cross Life consumes 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres of premium 95-octane unleaded on the combined cycle, or 6.5L/100km in urban driving.

During a week of testing, our T-Cross returned a real-world figure of 7.3L/100km. While some use of the Sport driving mode and plenty of peak-hour traffic likely contributed to the higher figure, it’s still a disappointing result and fell a bit short of my expectations.

The Volkswagen T-Cross Life is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine producing 85kW and 200Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While not the most powerful set-up, it suits the T-Cross’s urban-focused character.

On the road, the T-Cross benefits from its shared platform with the Polo, retaining the nimbleness and agility you’d expect from a small, lightweight hatchback. It navigates tight city streets with ease, and the steering provides a good level of feedback. I also had the pleasure of driving through a heavy Melbourne downpour and the T-Cross handled itself with assurance. You feel delightfully confident when it comes to handling this thing.

However, the drivetrain can feel sluggish off the line. The start-stop system lags a bit and isn’t very smooth on start-up. Pair that with the dual-clutch transmission, and it means when you put your foot down to get going there is a painfully noticeable delay.

Once at speed, though, the T-Cross settles into a comfortable and composed rhythm, easily maintaining highway speeds without the need for constant corrections on the accelerator pedal. It’s not a sporty drive, but it doesn’t aim to be – and for its intended purpose, it delivers a pleasant experience.

Cabin noise is present, particularly from the engine and road surface, but it’s not intrusive enough to detract from the overall drive. While the T-Cross may be far from perfect, it proves to be a capable and enjoyable companion in just about any condition.

The compact Volkswagen T-Cross can be used for occasional recreational towing or light-duty hauling. It can tow a braked load of up to 1100kg, which is sufficient for small trailers or a couple of jet skis. For unbraked loads, the T-Cross is rated at 630kg, with a maximum tow ball weight of 75kg.

With Australians' ever-growing appetite for a wide range of SUV options, the Volkswagen T-Cross Life presents an enticing package. While its interior could benefit from more premium touches, and the transmission can be a bit frustrating off the line, the T-Cross delivers where it matters.

Once you’re going, the 1.0-litre turbo engine offers enough pep for city driving, while the comfortable ride and spacious interior make it a versatile option for everyday use. It’s easy to navigate tight urban streets, and the 2024 model is well equipped with important active safety features across the range.

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross Life represents great value for money. It’s a well-rounded small SUV that’s definitely worth a look for those seeking a compact, stylish, and functional city car.

If you're ready to take the next step, the entry-level T-Cross Life is hard to beat at $34,990 drive-away. As mentioned, it offers great value for money with its standard features and practicality. However, if you're willing to stretch your budget, the mid-range T-Cross Style adds keyless start, better seats, auto climate control and extra tech, making it a worthwhile upgrade for those who want a bit more.

You can build and configure your own Volkswagen T-Cross using the online configurator. Once you’ve settled on your model, book a test drive at your nearest Volkswagen dealer and experience the T-Cross for yourself.

You can also find a full range of Volkswagen models over at Drive Marketplace.

If you want to stay updated with everything that's happened to the Volkswagen T-Cross since our review, you'll find all the latest news here.