Volkswagen T-Cross review

It’s obvious VW has saved money in here. Just like in the T-Roc, the vast majority of the plastics are scratchy and not especially attractive. The door panels, for example, are hard, hollow-feeling items with a tiny padded section on which to rest your elbow. If you’re coming from a Golf or Polo this is not what you’ll be used to.

That said, generally speaking it does look good. All models get an 8in colour screen, and the infotainment system itself has good graphics and is easy enough to navigate around. The steering wheel is a nice enough item and so too is the digital instrument cluster, which is standard for top-trim cars and an option elsewhere. Optional ‘Design Packs’ bring colourful flourishes to what is an otherwise very grey, very German environment.

The T-Cross has the same wheelbase as the Polo, but the body is bigger in every dimension - giving corresponding increases in passenger and luggage space. The rear seats are fine - adults up to six-and-a-bit foot can sit behind themselves with enough knee and head-room that they won’t complain. Much. They will if you stick someone in the middle seat, though. Not a wide car, this.

As for storage, the door bins are massive, there’s a neat drawer under the passenger seat and a recess on top of the dashboard with a rubberised base so whatever you throw in there doesn’t slip around. A cubby ahead of the gear-lever and under the climate controls offers wireless phone charging.

The rear bench slides as one, right up to the back of the front seats. The backrest splits 60/40, and you can even spec a folding front passenger seat if you need to carry especially long things. However, fold the seats when they’re slid forwards and you get a chasm behind into which many things could be lost.