New Volkswagen T-Cross vs Volkswagen T-Roc
The Volkswagen T-Cross has always been upstaged by its bigger T-Roc sibling, but can it turn the tables after its recent facelift?...
The contenders
NEW Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 Style
List price £27,630
Target Price £26,502
The brand’s smallest SUV handily undercuts the T-Roc on price, and it’s just been upgraded with a smarter interior
Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI 115 Life
List price £28,330
Target Price £26,832
The T-Roc is one of our favourite small SUVs, with a fine blend of comfort and practicality. It won’t be easy to beat in this test
The small SUV battlefield is incredibly crowded these days, and this is as true within Volkswagen’s own model range as it is in the car market as a whole.
While the Touareg luxury SUV and Tiguan family SUV have plenty of space to breathe higher up in the brand’s line-up, the Volkswagen T-Cross, Volkswagen T-Roc and Volkswagen Taigo rather tread on each other’s toes at the more affordable end of the portfolio. But why so many fish in such a small pond?
Well, to attract as many buyers as possible, Volkswagen has tried to cover off every possible taste. The Taigo – with a hint of coupé about its roofline – is for those who are willing to sacrifice a bit of practicality for sleeker looks. Meanwhile, the T-Cross and T-Roc have more traditional SUV styling, but with the former about 100mm shorter and more budget-focused.
The T-Roc has been our pick of the two so far (indeed, it’s one of our outright favourite small SUVs), but the T-Cross has just had a timely update. Plus, even if you buy it in a higher trim level, it’s still cheaper to buy than the T-Roc. So, can the T-Cross finally outshine its slightly bigger sibling?
Driving
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
Our contenders are powered by the same turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine and, unsurprisingly, are closely matched in terms of acceleration (even though our test T-Roc was powered by the now-discontinued 108bhp version of that engine, rather than the latest one’s 113bhp).
The lighter T-Cross sprinted from 0-60mph in 11.1sec in our tests (versus 11.2sec for the T-Roc) in very wet conditions. Volkswagen’s official 0-62mph figures back this up (10.0sec for the T-Cross and 10.1sec for the T-Roc in 1.0 TSI 115 guise). Neither car struggles to get up to speed on a motorway slip road, and they have plenty of pep when a burst of acceleration is required for overtaking a slower car.
Both contenders have precise steering that builds weight in a confidence-inspiring way as speeds and cornering forces increase. Plus, each car has plenty of grip and foolproof, predictable handling. The T-Cross leans a little more through corners, though; it has a slightly more top-heavy feel, whereas the T-Roc is slightly more agile, making it more fun to drive.
The T-Roc is also the comfier of the pair when you’re cruising along. Don’t get us wrong: the T-Cross rides well by small SUV standards, even on the slightly larger (17in) wheels that you get with all but entry-level Life trim, but the T-Roc is one of the very best; it fidgets less at low speeds (especially on the modest 16in wheels of our test car) and is even more cushioned and settled at motorway speeds.
Both cars have the same six-speed manual gearbox, and we like its slick action. Sixth gear is quite tall, helping to reduce engine revs at 70mph, and that’s good news for fuel economy and noise levels. In fact, neither car is loud inside at any speed, but the T-Roc has the edge, with marginally less hubbub kicked up by the tyres and from the wind as it rushes past.
Behind the wheel
Driving position, visibility, infotainment, build quality
Each of our contenders has a sound driving position, with the steering wheel and pedals perfectly aligned with the driver’s seat and manually adjustable lumbar support fitted as standard to help reduce the likelihood of backache and fatigue.
What’s more, those who crave an elevated driving position will be delighted; both cars place you a good deal higher than you’d be in a regular small hatchback, even with their height-adjustable driver’s seats set as low as they’ll go. Of the two, the Volkswagen T-Roc seats you a touch farther from the ground.
This, combined with slim windscreen pillars, means both cars offer excellent forward visibility, and while the rear pillars are thicker than those at the front, the view behind is clearer than in many rivals, including the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke.
To make manoeuvring a doddle, the Volkswagen T-Cross and T-Roc have front and rear parking sensors as standard. The T-Roc also adds Park Assist, which can automatically parallel park the car – a feature that the T-Cross denies you, even as an option. Further assistance is available in the form of a rear-view camera, which costs £350 extra on the T-Cross and £375 on the T-Roc.
Both cars have bright LED headlights with automatic high beam as standard, making for great visibility at night. If you go for the Style trim of our test car, though, the T-Cross takes things one step further with clever matrix LED headlights; these can shape their light output in such a way as to maintain full beam without dazzling other road users.
Until recently, the T-Cross had a much less plush-feeling interior than the T-Roc. However, the update has swept the previous scratchy plastics away, and the T-Cross now places appealing, soft materials in most prominent places. In Style trim, which adds attractive leather inserts, the T-Cross feels classier inside than the T-Roc in Life trim.
Infotainment systems
Volkswagen T-Cross
No matter which of our contenders you go for, you’ll find the same 8.0in touchscreen on top of the dashboard. It has sharp graphics and works better than the system you’ll find in some other VWs, proving less buggy and responding to inputs promptly. The T-Cross’s standard six-speaker sound system will be fine for most, but audiophiles will want to pay £550 for the Beats sound system, which adds a more powerful amplifier and a subwoofer.
Volkswagen T-Roc
The main difference between the two systems is that built-in sat-nav is an £810 option on our entry-level T-Roc, whereas it’s standard on the T-Cross Style. Without it, you’ll have to rely on the standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring for navigation. As with the T-Cross, those who want to feel immersed in their music will want to upgrade to the Beats sound system, which costs £50 more on the T-Roc than on its stablemate.
Space and practicality
Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot
Tall adults won’t have any issues up front in either car; both provide lots of head room, with front seats that slide back far enough to accommodate all but the gangliest of legs. The cars measure up identically for width, so there’s lots of shoulder room in both.
Moving to the rear seats, the Volkswagen T-Roc provides slightly more head room, but it’s not as if a six-footer will struggle in the rear of the Volkswagen T-Cross. In fact, very tall folk in either of the outer rear seats might prefer it; the way the T-Roc’s side windows curve in towards the roof places one side of their head very close to the side of the car.
The knees of six-footers will be well clear of rubbing the front seatbacks in the T-Roc, but the T-Cross has an advantage here: its rear bench can be slid forwards or backwards, and its rearmost setting gives long-legged folk a little more room than the fixed seat in the T-Roc. On the other hand, with the bench right forward to maximise boot space, that leg room all but disappears.
When you need to load bulky items, the rear seatbacks of both cars split and fold down in a conventional 60/40 configuration. The T-Roc adds a central ski hatch, through which long, slim items such as skis can be carried between two rear passengers.
The T-Roc’s boot is usefully larger, too. It can accommodate seven carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf, whereas the T-Cross can hold only five (albeit with plenty of space left for some smaller soft bags), even with its bench slid all the way forwards.
A handy height-adjustable boot floor is standard in both cars. Setting this in its lowest position frees up extra luggage space
with the load cover still in place, while its highest setting brings it flush with the load lip, helping when you need to heave heavy items in or out.
Boot space
Volkswagen T-Cross
Boot capacity 384-1281 litres Suitcases 5
Volkswagen T-Roc
Boot capacity 445-1290 litres Suitcases 7
Buying and owning
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
For the price of a Volkswagen T-Roc in entry-level Life trim, you can buy a Volkswagen T-Cross in the higher Style trim level we have here and you’ll get £700 change. However, that gap shrinks to £302 when you factor in the discounts available through our free online New Car Deals service.
The T-Cross also offers slightly more wallet-friendly insurance premiums and better fuel efficiency; with the TSI 115 engine, it officially returns up to 50.2mpg, against the T-Roc TSI 115’s 49.7mpg. In our real-world economy test, the T-Cross TSI 115 managed 42.1mpg, beating the 40.1mpg of our test T-Roc TSI 110.
The T-Roc holds on to its value better, though, and the result is that it’ll cost £102 less than the T-Cross over three years, after factoring in all the costs a private cash buyer is likely to face.
On the other hand, if you buy via PCP finance, the T-Cross brings lower monthly payments. If you put down a deposit of £2000 on a three-year deal with a 10,000-mile annual limit, the T-Cross comes in at £413 a month, against the T-Roc’s £431. That gap becomes much bigger if you go for the T-Cross in our recommended (and cheaper) Match trim, which will cost you £328 per month on the same terms.
In the trim levels of our two contenders, meanwhile, both cars are well equipped, giving you adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control and alloy wheels. Other than the added features we’ve mentioned already, the T-Cross’s higher Style trim level brings mainly cosmetic enhancements inside and out.
When it comes to safety tech, both cars have nearly identical lists of safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. Both cars scored five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing. However, the tests have become more demanding since the T-Cross was put through its paces in 2019 and the T-Roc way back in 2017, so much so that the T-Roc’s rating has now expired.
Still, in its slightly more recent tests, the T-Cross posted higher scores than the T-Roc in all areas other than how well it protected children in the rear seats; the T-Roc scored just 1% higher in this important category.
In the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, the T-Cross came eighth out of 22 models in the small SUV category – six places higher than the T-Roc. In the overall brand league table, Volkswagen ranked 22nd out of 32.
Each car is covered by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty; many rivals offer longer warranties with higher mileage limits, or no mileage limit at all.
Our verdict
Both of these siblings should make their parents very proud indeed, and neither will disappoint small SUV buyers. The T-Cross now feels suitably smart inside, plus it’s particularly good at carrying tall folk in the back and is cheaper to buy outright.
Our money, though, would go on the T-Roc. It not only has a much bigger boot but is also quieter and more fun to drive on a twisty road, yet it still offers a more comfortable ride than any other small SUV. Some offspring are just naturally gifted.
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1st – Volkswagen T-Roc
For Better to drive; bigger boot; slightly loftier driving position; more comfortable ride
Against Misses out on some features that are standard on the T-Cross; finished lower in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey
Recommended options Winter Pack (£375)
What Car? rating 5 stars out of 5
Read our full Volkswagen T-Roc review >>
Find Volkswagen T-Roc deals >>
2nd – Volkswagen T-Cross
For More versatile and spacious rear seats; cheaper to buy on PCP finance; impressive safety rating; slightly better fuel economy
Against More road noise; more body lean through corners; higher depreciation
Recommended options None
What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5
Read our full Volkswagen T-Cross review >>
Find Volkswagen T-Cross deals >>
Specification: Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 Style
Engine 3cyl, 999cc, turbo, petrol
Peak power 113bhp at 1600rpm
Peak torque 148lb ft at 2000-3500rpm
Gearbox 6-spd manual
0-60mph 11.1sec
30-70mph through the gears 10.2sec
Top speed 120mph
Braking 30-0mph 11.1m
Braking 70-0mph 66.7m
Noise at 30mph 59.9dB
Noise at 70mph 66.7dB
Kerb weight 1179kg
Tyre size (standard) 205/55 R17
Fuel tank 40 litres
Test economy 42.1mpg
Official economy 50.2mpg
CO2 emissions 128g/km
Specification: Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI 115 Life
Engine 3cyl, 999cc, turbo, petrol
Peak power 113bhp at 1600rpm
Peak torque 148lb ft at 2000-3500rpm
Gearbox 6-spd manual
0-60mph 11.2sec*
30-70mph through the gears 10.4sec
Top speed 117mph
Braking 30-0mph 11.6m
Braking 70-0mph 65.1m
Noise at 30mph 60.4dB
Noise at 70mph 66.1dB
Kerb weight 1304kg
Tyres (standard) 215/60 R16
Fuel tank 50 litres
Test economy 40.1mpg
Official economy 49.7mpg
CO2 emissions 129g/km
*1.0 TSI 110 engine
Weather conditions Heavy rain
Cars pictured
Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 Style with Clear Blue metallic paint (£675), rear-view camera (£350) and space-saver spare wheel (£250)
Volkswagen T-Roc 1.0 TSI 110 Life with Kings Red premium metallic paint (£885), media navigation system (£810), wireless phone charger (£300), rear-view camera (£375), rear tinted glass (£275) and carpet mats (£150)
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