2023 VW T-Cross: turbocharged gasoline engine and automatic transmission - (2 of 3 in a review series of short rentals in Italy)

[trinacriabob]

Another rental of a smaller sedan with an automatic transmission brought on an upgrade.  The vehicle offered was the VW T-Cross SUV.  I took a quick look at the phone and went with it.  VW makes 2 smaller SUVs with the T in their names, meaning the T-Cross and the T-Roc.

It quickly came across that the T-Cross was going to be easy to live with.  The proportions would be more workable for Southern Italy.  The interior has that spartan but fleshed out enough with comforts and accessories currently found in many VW products.  Not only that, the layout of the dashboard and controls allows for quick driver familiarization.

Driving out of the rental lot showed more definition as to the angles and boundaries of the vehicle, especially looking out over the hood.  (This was going to be much simpler than doing the same with the preceding rented Citroen C5.)  Steering is nimble and there is a resemblance in handling characteristics with other vehicles under the VW umbrella from VW, Seat, and Skoda.  The vehicle quickly inspires confidence in communicating with the road while keeping the cabin isolated enough.

Power comes from a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, which is starting to be very normal and has even come to North America.  The gears shifted through the VW group’s automatic 7 speed DSG transmission.  Power seems sufficient in almost all situations and the automatic shifts of the DSG are very fluid – minimally felt, but also hushed in moving upward through the gears.  This is a refined automatic transaxle.

The ride is both smooth and quiet, albeit more smooth than quiet.  When pushing down on the accelerator, there is a slight hum of the engine and/or turbocharger and gear shifts are more pronounced, which is normal.

The T-Cross has a dashboard and driver interfaces that score points.  The dashboard is logically laid out, the infotainment system cleanly stays under the cowl of the dashboard, the appliques in plastic and/or brushed metal manage to look nicely finished, and ergonomics between the driver and the controls are commendable.

The ignition uses a key and the parking brake is a traditional one located on the console.  Currently, the main instrument pod can be tailored to the driver’s wants and needs.  I prefer the digital speed readout and set it to that, though analog displays are also options.  Other functions such as fuel and temperature are now displayed in horizontal bars that light up to the applicable extent.  This takes a little bit of getting used to.  Controls on the steering wheel are fairly logical and there are less of them than on some vehicles where they are downright cluttered.  In the center stack, the infotainment sits above the climate control panel and, in between the two, are the two central air vents.  Also there are critical switches such as emergency flashers, auto stop-start, and the like.  So, one gets slightly less optimal climate control vent placement, but, boy, does the dash look better for it!

The top of the armrest is padded and the storage area beneath it is more of a deep box.  However, when it comes to USB ports, I could not find the old school ones most people seem to use, but only the smaller (micro) ones.

The fabric seats feature tough materials that are functional more so than plush or soft to the touch.  However, they make sense … and they are supportive.  There aren’t many soft touch features on the car and the door panels and handles, among other items, make for an instant preview of that.  For most average-sized adults, the front legroom is comfortable and the rear seat legroom seems acceptable.  Since the vehicle’s SUV shape resembles a small wagon, the not particularly long silhouette makes for a smaller cargo area.  It fit two large suitcases with the rear seat up.  Some skinnier items could fit under the pull-over cover and around the sides of the luggage.  That said, the cargo area with the rear seat in place is not generous.

Fuel economy with the turbocharged engine and DSG is good, probably in the mid 30 mpg range (converted from kilometers and liters) for mixed driving.  It came in slightly lower than the big Citroen SUV with a diesel engine. 

The T-Cross is fairly fun to drive with its higher seating position, user-friendly and appealing dashboard, and planted feel.  It handles the open road well without being too isolated and it’s small enough to work its way through tighter areas in small towns and rural locales.

Again, there are all the bits and pieces that say Volkswagen.  The T-Cross doesn’t drive as serenely and quietly as does something like the Skoda Scala.  Perhaps it drives more like a VW Jetta with a higher center of gravity.  But that’s not a bad thing:  having a rented Jetta in Houston for a week several years ago got me to take a fresh new look at VW and there are a lot of similarities with the T-Cross in finishes, feel, and even smell.  There’s a lot more here to like - than dislike - if a smaller and competent European SUV is what a consumer is seeking.

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PHOTOS FORTHCOMING

[trinacriabob]

EXTERIOR PHOTOS

Side view of the VW T-Cross in Southern Sicily ... yes, the "Trinacria"

Angled front view in Marina di Ragusa, Sicily

Angled rear view in Marina di Ragusa, Sicily

[trinacriabob]

INTERIOR PHOTOS

The layout and placement of controls on the instrument cluster, dashboard, and console area were sensible and also visually balanced

This shows the layout of the center stack from top to bottom:  infotainment, vents, key buttons for key functions, and climate control panel above cubby area and ahead of the shift lever ... the parking brake is a conventional one

x

The cupholders are easy to reach, the armrest is padded, and the console box is squarish but big enough

The above point to Germanic/European appointments that are in synch with the price point, but do the job

More of the overall look continues in the rear of the cabin and seating comfort and room may depend on the size of the occupants

There is limited functionality here at the back of the console and the only USB connections available are the small ones ... I found it easier to put a USB charger into the 12 V lighter and supply juice to my USB cables through that

Possibly because of how its angled, visibility around the rearmost pillar was not too much of a hassle

With the cover up, this shows the amount of luggage that fits in the back with the seats up.  A few more small items could be inserted above the luggage and at the sides.  Pushing down the rear seat makes for a lot more room, but, at that point, one's belongings are not hidden from view

Edited July 20 by trinacriabob

[trinacriabob]

MECHANICAL PHOTOS

An overall look at the engine bay, with most things looking familiar and most things within reach

Counting manifolds yields a number of 3 - this is a turbocharged 3 cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine

There is plumbing and tubing indicating the presence of a turbocharger and, with the number of cylinders and displacement, it comes in handy and brings the T-Cross up to the task

Edited July 20 by trinacriabob

[trinacriabob]

BONUS PHOTO

For sassy Sicily, sassier music is in synch with the overall experience

[Robert Hall]

The shape and proportions look a lot like the first gen Chevy Trax. 

[ccap41]

Pretty attractive vehicle for this tiny class of "SUV".