Used Volkswagen T-Cross cars for sale

Used Volkswagen T-Cross pros and cons

Is a second hand Volkswagen T-Cross a good car?

Even though the Volkswagen T-Cross is basically a taller version of a VW Polo, it still manages to be one of the best small SUVs around, combining shrunk-down upright 4x4 styling with the refined driving manners of the smaller hatchback, and plenty of space inside. You could even call it premium in terms of its cabin quality. 

It’s like a perfectly made cheese and ham sandwich — not flashy, but really well-executed. And like an M&S sandwich, there are a huge range of alternatives, from the Ford Puma to the Peugeot 2008, to the Seat Arona, which uses the same mechanical bits under the skin, but which is cheaper to buy. 

While many of those rivals go for swoopy styling, the T-Cross is very upright and a bit square-looking, almost like a Lego car, and that pays off with lots of space inside. Indeed, even in the back seats there’s space for tall adults, and up front there’s lots of room, plenty of comfort, and a good view out thanks to the raised ride height. The boot, which can expand and contract thanks to sliding rear seats, can hold as much as 455 litres, which is very good for this class. 

In 2024, the T-Cross was given a major update which dramatically improved the quality of the cabin, which felt a bit cheap-and-cheerful in early models. The model lineup was tidied up a bit and the touchscreen was improved, while VW also added some fun new paint options including a brilliant bright Rubber Ducky yellow, which VW asked its customers to name. Love that.

Sadly, that 2024 update also brought along a touch-sensitive climate control panel which is way more fiddly and annoying to use than the older, more sensible, rotary controls.  

There’s no hybrid nor fully-electric option for the T-Cross, so your engine choices are pretty much limited to variations on the 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol with either 95hp or 110hp which was later upgraded to 115hp, or the slightly less common 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo with 150hp. The best to go for is the 110hp/115hp three-cylinder, which is smooth and powerful enough, plus it’s economical. There’s a choice of manual or seven-speed DSG automatic gearboxes for all engines. 

When it comes to driving, the overwhelming sensation you get from the T-Cross is ‘competent’. It’s not exciting nor thrilling to drive, but it feels sure-footed and safe. The tall driving position and square edges make the T-Cross a doddle to drive around town, but if you want excitement on a twisty road, choose a Ford Puma. For that matter, if you want more in the way of comfort and a soft ride, get a Citroen C3 Aircross. 

So the Volkswagen T-Cross is a roomy, good-looking, practical, and easy-to-drive small SUV that majors on quality and which is very cheap to run. 

What to look for when buying a used Volkswagen T-Cross

The T-Cross has been recalled a couple of times, for problems including airbags and software issues, but for the most part it seems to be a solidly reliable car. Electrics and exhausts can be problem areas, but other than that it’s a well-built machine. 

The T-Cross didn’t feature in the most recent Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, but the mechanically-identical VW Polo did. It finished in 41st position, but it received a poor rating for reliability and quality — somewhat surprisingly. Equally VW finished in a disappointing 29th out of 32 brands in the overall customer satisfaction survey, with 23% of owners reporting issues with their cars.