While the updated Volkswagen T-Cross is a huge improvement, and I do like the car, it's just simply outclassed by the updated Skoda Kamiq! The Skoda Kamiq 85TSI Select ($33,990 Drive Away) is not only $1,000 cheaper than the Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI Life ($34,990 Drive Away), it's also better value, when you compare what you get in the Kamiq over the T-Cross! And then when you add the optional 'Signature Pack' to the Kamiq 85TSI Select, which brings with it even more niceties for an extra $4,200, it's still some $1,800 cheaper than the next trim level up in the T-Cross range, the T-Cross Style! At $39,990 Drive Away for the T-Cross Style, it's only $1,000 cheaper than the larger and recently updated Skoda Karoq 110TSI Select, at $40,990 Drive Away! Then throw in Skoda's better new car warranty (7 Years/Unlimited km) over Volkswagens (5 Years/Unlimited km) and the fact the Kamiq is actually cheaper to service and own compared to the T-Cross, you really would be bonkers to pick the T-Cross over the Kamiq or the Karoq! When it comes to replacing our 2021 Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Comfortline in the next 12 months, we'll be taking a very good look at the Skoda Kamiq 85TSI Select with the Signature Pack.
The Skoda Kamiq also has a 5 inch longer wheelbase, and as a result has more room in the back for passengers knees, plus a longer load bay once the rear seats are folded. I prefer the Kamiq's interior too. The VW's look too chintzy for me....
@@iEnofadov My T. Cross is a March 2021 build so is now 3 and half years old. At the time From memory the Kamiq wasn’t around, although I can’t remember it anyway.It IS very good value for money. The T Cross is lighter in weight so that should help the economy compared to SKODA. Maybe slightly.We all buy what is comfortable for each of us. No wrong answer I guess.
@@martinwalsh5513 Here in Australia from the Style level up we get Keyless ignition. I don’t miss the electronic handbrake which was in my previous Golf. It’s what you get used to.
At the entry level you'd be mad not to go the related and recently updated Skoda Kamiq Select for $34,990 driveaway...exact same drivetrain but 17" wheels not 16", better climate control panel, it has keyless entry and start plus still comes with LED headlights and digital instrument cluster but the kicker is .. the Skoda comes with a 7yr warranty not VW's stingier 5 yr warranty!
Test drove the Kamiq - hated it the moment I sat in it. The interior is way too dark and I just did not like the whole feel of the car. It was definitely not for me
@@stephenmorris3696 I ended up going with the 2024 VW T-Cross Style and I love it. It is small enough that I am comfortable parking etc but high off the ground. For me, it has a good combination of manual and automatic functions and I love the black and blue interior. I test drove the Skoda, a Ford Puma and also ended up test driving a Mazda Cx3 and CX30. Didn’t like the Puma, the shape of it made it very difficult to see out the back windows from the drivers seat. The CX3 was too small and the CX30 was too big. I have had the car three months now and am happy with my decision. It is a nice car and easy to drive 😊
Matt, with a 18% price increase on the mid spec model, and a 55% increase on the 5 year maintenance plan, this vehicle cannot present great value. The Skoda Kamiq offers far greater value with a 7 year warranty. No mention of significant warranty issues with the DSG gearbox and premature brake pad wear. You have to be stupid to spend money on this car (thanks Mara).
I just ordered the new T-Cross after test driving it, the Ford Puma and the Skoda Kamiq. The Puma was my second choice and then the Kamiq. I didn’t like the back windows on the Puma and the limited vision they provide. With regard to the Kamiq, I hated the interior from the moment I sat in the drivers seat, the all black specs were too dark and for me, the lighter colours in the VW was what I was after 😊
Great review Matt. I have seen pictures of the new VW T-Cross overseas, with the R-line model overseas, having heated seats and the bigger 9.2 inch screen is there a reason why Australia does not get those features. Also do you know why we don't get the bigger 1.5L engine like in european markets.
Hey there,mate, I bought a 2021 T Cross Style with the Sound and vision pack and have only had a front brake problem in that time. In regard to the DSG Lag as you called it.Not a problem as my Mk 7.5 Golf had the same issue. I overcame this simply by nudging the T Bar into the Sport mode before taking off at lights or roundabouts. Then when mobile just flicked it back into Drive, this solved the lag. I use the extra space in the boot for carrying my wheeled walker(mobility issues) , okay it means. One can use the rear seat but for me it’s not a problem. Great little car to drive and while not the most efficient around town due to the small engine and Turbo ( around 6.7 - 7.5), it actually can go almost to 4.5 litres per 100 klms on the highway. I would consider this new model if I had a reason for doing so.
@@thurulesthe front rotors warped badly at 14,000 klms, and I have Never had any issues with any previous car( when I still worked I had Company Vehicles and always ran them to 80,000klms ) Not one had a brakes issue. VW changed the rotors but Not the discs which I thought was unusual.At 27,000 the same thing happened.This time VW Australia blamed me as I had changed to Non factory alloys ( same size as OEM Fitted to the car and Original tyres went back on).Would NOT honour Warranty on them as they say the weight would have been different.I asked why the warping happened when I had the Original wheels on the car and they couldn’t give me an answer.Any excuse to make customer pay ( New rotors and brake pads cost $699 AU including installation).Can’t fault the car as I suspect them not changing the pads the first time it was done may have caused the issue this time.Time will tell but I still love the car.Its taller off the ground so is much easier to get in and out. Drives really well on the 17 inch wheels on the Style model that I have. Can’t recommend 18 inch as they spoiled the test drive for me.
@@andreitudor8212 I can’t believe that. A V8 wouldn’t use that much.I’m in Sydney. My car is the 115 hp in Automatic. At the very worst I have ever got is just over 7.in very heavy traffic. Turbos don’t like stop/start driving. I always turn OFF my stop/start and use Cruise control most of the time( auto cruise on mine)., get it serviced on time. The last top up of fuel was over a week ago,just checked the consumption and it’s showing 6.3.. that’s all around town. You better go and get someone to check your engine. I would be totally alarmed at those numbers. I’m doing around 13,000klm a year by the way.
@@thurules front rotor warped at 14,000 klm. They only changed rotor,NOT the pads.warped again at 27,000klm. Claim denied as I changed my wheels to non factory but the same size.. even just switched original tyres to new wheels. VW said the wheels caused the problem. That’s a load of bull as the first time I had the original alloys on the car. I insisted they also fit new pads as I was paying for it. Now a year later and at 39,000 klms no problem. I feel the 2nd time was caused because they put the original pads back on to new set of rotors.
I'm a Matt but a different one😂 - just bought the Kamiq(looked at both) it drives better imo and definitely has better utilisation of space within...Other than that it's 'line ball',I reckon!
@@mattbryan8535 The corporate culture is bad and that sets the tone for the dealerships. Thus the experience dealership to dealership is probably not going to change much. All warranty issues are dealt with via head office.
nice review as always, and it just confirmed my preference to Škoda Kamiq over T-Cross. One thing that popped in my mind during this review is when you mention stop start feature. My question may be silly but I will ask anyways. How does stop start system affects turbo? Shouldn't you run your engine around 30 - 60 seconds after you stopped your car to give it time to cool it down? Some traffic lights will take longer to change than others. So does it shorten the life of turbo (stop start system)? And if does why have them together by design. And can you permanently disable stop start or have to do it every time you turn on the ignition?
Yep 100% it's not good for the turbo but good for the manufacturer who can sell you replacement parts! I turn off the stop/start function every time I start the car, it's habit and it's a good habit to get into. That technology benefits the manufacturer not the owner! (And yes, you have to turn it off every time you start the car, in every car, because it's mandated by law to be that way)
It would be handy to know in your reviews if like this T-Cross here seems, that it has "Memory Seats" for the height difference of Husband and wife! A feature I would be looking for in a new vehicle purchase.
This powertrain combination is not bad at reliability, as it is designed for the affordable market. Remember that the 1.0 TSI engine is already extensively used in many countries.
@@mvnorsel6354 it's a car review, they probably spent an hour with the car, this is the exterior, this is the interior, here are the specs and equipment lists, this is the price... how are they possibly going to comment on its reliability over the long term?!
I am a ice engine kind of guy. Diesel is my poison. Battery EV’s are making a lot of sense. The R&D is being spent that way. I don’t think you can block out the EV tide just because it doesn’t fit your narrative at this time. It’s changing and it’s changing fast.
The touch AC control panel is absolutely horrible. It looks bad, leaves fingerprints, and is NOT easy to use. I keep activating heated seats by accident. The picture indicating airflow direction is so tiny I can't see it. I curse it, missing classic rotary dials every single time I want to adjust the AC. The bigger driver's display is a must have if you don't want the classic analog one. The smaller display is awful. Can't even fit speedometer next to the rev counter, you can only have one at a time and settle for a digital speed readout. Swapping additional information, such as coolant temp (not visible by default, wtf) is a pain in the arse. The steering wheel is pretty nice but Skoda makes better to be honest. And I'm grateful VW didn't replace the rotary headlight switch for the terrible touch one they have in some models. All in all, I'm considering selling my 2023 T-Cross and getting the Kamiq in a lower spec. It'll save me lots of money and I might even get the 1.5L 4 banger in there. They even offer it in a manual, which they don't in the Fabia.
I disagree that it’s superior, at least in some ways. It is larger and more practical in that sense of boot space, but it is also less precise to drive.
@@therightcar I drove the T-Cross and I enjoyed it too. Things like the manual park brake, no rear armrest, key start in the base T-Cross and (for me) the compromised low speed behaviour of the DSG were not great. When I look at the asking prices the T-Roc Citylife seemed like much better value. Still. the T-Cross is a very good small SUV with impressive packaging.
There are two cars you looked over,the Hyundai Venue🤮 or the Suzuki Vitara. The Vitara is a better choice than this because the boot is slightly better capacity wise(dont use litres use a tape measure),the turbo has more power and torque over this but the NA engine isnt a slouch either and you get a proper auto and not a DSG thats going to blow up a couple years down the line. Yes its not a plush inside but its more practical and has harder wearing matireals that will last alot longer (and ive seen 2015 models that still look good) and the bottle holders can take a 2l soda bottle,name another car that can do that. With that said Suzuki should start giving you more of thier cars to review.
@therightcar yeah I get it needs a interior facelift (the exterior has been modified twice since 2018 in Europe to the point where theyre copying Mahindra which is funny )but its hardy and everything feels natural and it has knobs for the aircon. The price,yeah,its priced poorly in a majority of markets (i suspect as its being imported from hungary as opposed to the other plants that are closer) especially this one. However spec for spec its the best to compete with this unless you go a segment up like the Jolion.
@@therightcar I've owned a new Jetta (2015) and 3 new Golfs before buying a Skoda in 2023. My son is still driving the one Golf. The same culture (arrogance) that caused Diesel Gate, still exsists. This is one of the reasons the Koreans and now the Chinese are starting to eat VW's lunch. I assume in Australia VW is actually running Skoda (wish I knew this earlier).
Hi man. I will say what you obviously cannot. This car is overpriced peace of junk. Manual handbrake? Manual key? Zero design unless you pay extra 10k. Lets be honest, it is a garbage.
Have the first gen T-Cross with R-line package, digital display, adaptive cruise, in orange . Still loving it!
While the updated Volkswagen T-Cross is a huge improvement, and I do like the car, it's just simply outclassed by the updated Skoda Kamiq! The Skoda Kamiq 85TSI Select ($33,990 Drive Away) is not only $1,000 cheaper than the Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI Life ($34,990 Drive Away), it's also better value, when you compare what you get in the Kamiq over the T-Cross! And then when you add the optional 'Signature Pack' to the Kamiq 85TSI Select, which brings with it even more niceties for an extra $4,200, it's still some $1,800 cheaper than the next trim level up in the T-Cross range, the T-Cross Style! At $39,990 Drive Away for the T-Cross Style, it's only $1,000 cheaper than the larger and recently updated Skoda Karoq 110TSI Select, at $40,990 Drive Away! Then throw in Skoda's better new car warranty (7 Years/Unlimited km) over Volkswagens (5 Years/Unlimited km) and the fact the Kamiq is actually cheaper to service and own compared to the T-Cross, you really would be bonkers to pick the T-Cross over the Kamiq or the Karoq!
When it comes to replacing our 2021 Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Comfortline in the next 12 months, we'll be taking a very good look at the Skoda Kamiq 85TSI Select with the Signature Pack.
The Skoda Kamiq also has a 5 inch longer wheelbase, and as a result has more room in the back for passengers knees, plus a longer load bay once the rear seats are folded. I prefer the Kamiq's interior too. The VW's look too chintzy for me....
No keyless entry or electronic handbrake no thank you VW
@@iEnofadov My T. Cross is a March 2021 build so is now 3 and half years old. At the time From memory the Kamiq wasn’t around, although I can’t remember it anyway.It IS very good value for money. The T Cross is lighter in weight so that should help the economy compared to SKODA. Maybe slightly.We all buy what is comfortable for each of us. No wrong answer I guess.
@@martinwalsh5513 Here in Australia from the Style level up we get Keyless ignition. I don’t miss the electronic handbrake which was in my previous Golf. It’s what you get used to.
I enjoyed driving this car in Netherlands for the last 2 weeks. It was comfortable and quick. I love the light blue colour
Sounds like a fun trip! Thanks for commenting.
At the entry level you'd be mad not to go the related and recently updated Skoda Kamiq Select for $34,990 driveaway...exact same drivetrain but 17" wheels not 16", better climate control panel, it has keyless entry and start plus still comes with LED headlights and digital instrument cluster but the kicker is .. the Skoda comes with a 7yr warranty not VW's stingier 5 yr warranty!
I'll use this post to negotiate a discount 😂.
@@allgold8003or just buy the Skoda, it's probably the better car!!
Test drove the Kamiq - hated it the moment I sat in it. The interior is way too dark and I just did not like the whole feel of the car. It was definitely not for me
@@kellielambert2184good to know. Looking for a car for my daughter, she likes the square VW shape, can I ask what you decided to buy.
@@stephenmorris3696 I ended up going with the 2024 VW T-Cross Style and I love it. It is small enough that I am comfortable parking etc but high off the ground. For me, it has a good combination of manual and automatic functions and I love the black and blue interior. I test drove the Skoda, a Ford Puma and also ended up test driving a Mazda Cx3 and CX30. Didn’t like the Puma, the shape of it made it very difficult to see out the back windows from the drivers seat. The CX3 was too small and the CX30 was too big. I have had the car three months now and am happy with my decision. It is a nice car and easy to drive 😊
Matt, with a 18% price increase on the mid spec model, and a 55% increase on the 5 year maintenance plan, this vehicle cannot present great value. The Skoda Kamiq offers far greater value with a 7 year warranty. No mention of significant warranty issues with the DSG gearbox and premature brake pad wear. You have to be stupid to spend money on this car (thanks Mara).
I just ordered the new T-Cross after test driving it, the Ford Puma and the Skoda Kamiq. The Puma was my second choice and then the Kamiq. I didn’t like the back windows on the Puma and the limited vision they provide. With regard to the Kamiq, I hated the interior from the moment I sat in the drivers seat, the all black specs were too dark and for me, the lighter colours in the VW was what I was after 😊
Great review Matt. I have seen pictures of the new VW T-Cross overseas, with the R-line model overseas, having heated seats and the bigger 9.2 inch screen is there a reason why Australia does not get those features. Also do you know why we don't get the bigger 1.5L engine like in european markets.
Hey there,mate, I bought a 2021 T Cross Style with the Sound and vision pack and have only had a front brake problem in that time. In regard to the DSG Lag as you called it.Not a problem as my Mk 7.5 Golf had the same issue. I overcame this simply by nudging the T Bar into the Sport mode before taking off at lights or roundabouts. Then when mobile just flicked it back into Drive, this solved the lag. I use the extra space in the boot for carrying my wheeled walker(mobility issues) , okay it means. One can use the rear seat but for me it’s not a problem. Great little car to drive and while not the most efficient around town due to the small engine and Turbo ( around 6.7 - 7.5), it actually can go almost to 4.5 litres per 100 klms on the highway.
I would consider this new model if I had a reason for doing so.
what was the issue you had with front brake?
@@thurulesthe front rotors warped badly at 14,000 klms, and I have Never had any issues with any previous car( when I still worked I had Company Vehicles and always ran them to 80,000klms ) Not one had a brakes issue. VW changed the rotors but Not the discs which I thought was unusual.At 27,000 the same thing happened.This time VW Australia blamed me as I had changed to Non factory alloys ( same size as OEM Fitted to the car and Original tyres went back on).Would NOT honour Warranty on them as they say the weight would have been different.I asked why the warping happened when I had the Original wheels on the car and they couldn’t give me an answer.Any excuse to make customer pay ( New rotors and brake pads cost $699 AU including installation).Can’t fault the car as I suspect them not changing the pads the first time it was done may have caused the issue this time.Time will tell but I still love the car.Its taller off the ground so is much easier to get in and out. Drives really well on the 17 inch wheels on the Style model that I have. Can’t recommend 18 inch as they spoiled the test drive for me.
How do you do such low fuel in town? I do between 10-13 in high traffic conditions with 2023 life dsg t cross :(
@@andreitudor8212 I can’t believe that. A V8 wouldn’t use that much.I’m in Sydney. My car is the 115 hp in Automatic. At the very worst I have ever got is just over 7.in very heavy traffic. Turbos don’t like stop/start driving. I always turn OFF my stop/start and use Cruise control most of the time( auto cruise on mine)., get it serviced on time. The last top up of fuel was over a week ago,just checked the consumption and it’s showing 6.3.. that’s all around town. You better go and get someone to check your engine. I would be totally alarmed at those numbers. I’m doing around 13,000klm a year by the way.
@@thurules front rotor warped at 14,000 klm. They only changed rotor,NOT the pads.warped again at 27,000klm. Claim denied as I changed my wheels to non factory but the same size.. even just switched original tyres to new wheels. VW said the wheels caused the problem. That’s a load of bull as the first time I had the original alloys on the car. I insisted they also fit new pads as I was paying for it. Now a year later and at 39,000 klms no problem. I feel the 2nd time was caused because they put the original pads back on to new set of rotors.
mid display facing the rear pasangers is a nice touch ... very driver focus
I’d say the Ford Puma was the best in this segment. Too bad ford Australia doesn’t know what to do with its portfolio.
How this VW T-Cross to Skoda Kamiq. Which one would you choose Matt???
I'm a Matt but a different one😂 - just bought the Kamiq(looked at both) it drives better imo and definitely has better utilisation of space within...Other than that it's 'line ball',I reckon!
@@mattbryan8535Similarly my wife and I just bought the Skoda Karoq over the equivalent VW T-Roc (next size up but same outcome)
Skoda is better, but both brands have unacceptable after sales service.
@@fred3527Depends on which dealership - this is the case with any brand I would suggest🤔
@@mattbryan8535 The corporate culture is bad and that sets the tone for the dealerships. Thus the experience dealership to dealership is probably not going to change much. All warranty issues are dealt with via head office.
nice review as always, and it just confirmed my preference to Škoda Kamiq over T-Cross. One thing that popped in my mind during this review is when you mention stop start feature. My question may be silly but I will ask anyways. How does stop start system affects turbo? Shouldn't you run your engine around 30 - 60 seconds after you stopped your car to give it time to cool it down? Some traffic lights will take longer to change than others. So does it shorten the life of turbo (stop start system)? And if does why have them together by design. And can you permanently disable stop start or have to do it every time you turn on the ignition?
Yep 100% it's not good for the turbo but good for the manufacturer who can sell you replacement parts! I turn off the stop/start function every time I start the car, it's habit and it's a good habit to get into. That technology benefits the manufacturer not the owner!
(And yes, you have to turn it off every time you start the car, in every car, because it's mandated by law to be that way)
It would be handy to know in your reviews if like this T-Cross here seems, that it has "Memory Seats" for the height difference of Husband and wife! A feature I would be looking for in a new vehicle purchase.
It hasen't
Predictable, comfortable and agile, no mention on reliability.
This powertrain combination is not bad at reliability, as it is designed for the affordable market. Remember that the 1.0 TSI engine is already extensively used in many countries.
Don’t forget about the problematic DSG gearbox. Had bad experiences on two VW products. Won’t buy any again.
@@mvnorsel6354 it's a car review, they probably spent an hour with the car, this is the exterior, this is the interior, here are the specs and equipment lists, this is the price... how are they possibly going to comment on its reliability over the long term?!
I am a ice engine kind of guy. Diesel is my poison.
Battery EV’s are making a lot of sense. The R&D is being spent that way. I don’t think you can block out the EV tide just because it doesn’t fit your narrative at this time.
It’s changing and it’s changing fast.
South Africa is enjoying efforts
The touch AC control panel is absolutely horrible. It looks bad, leaves fingerprints, and is NOT easy to use. I keep activating heated seats by accident. The picture indicating airflow direction is so tiny I can't see it. I curse it, missing classic rotary dials every single time I want to adjust the AC.
The bigger driver's display is a must have if you don't want the classic analog one. The smaller display is awful. Can't even fit speedometer next to the rev counter, you can only have one at a time and settle for a digital speed readout. Swapping additional information, such as coolant temp (not visible by default, wtf) is a pain in the arse.
The steering wheel is pretty nice but Skoda makes better to be honest. And I'm grateful VW didn't replace the rotary headlight switch for the terrible touch one they have in some models.
All in all, I'm considering selling my 2023 T-Cross and getting the Kamiq in a lower spec. It'll save me lots of money and I might even get the 1.5L 4 banger in there. They even offer it in a manual, which they don't in the Fabia.
A good small SUV.
For similar money you can buy a T-Roc Citylife which is a superior car.
I disagree that it’s superior, at least in some ways. It is larger and more practical in that sense of boot space, but it is also less precise to drive.
@@therightcar I drove the T-Cross and I enjoyed it too. Things like the manual park brake, no rear armrest, key start in the base T-Cross and (for me) the compromised low speed behaviour of the DSG were not great. When I look at the asking prices the T-Roc Citylife seemed like much better value. Still. the T-Cross is a very good small SUV with impressive packaging.
Welcome to Brisbane.
There are two cars you looked over,the Hyundai Venue🤮 or the Suzuki Vitara. The Vitara is a better choice than this because the boot is slightly better capacity wise(dont use litres use a tape measure),the turbo has more power and torque over this but the NA engine isnt a slouch either and you get a proper auto and not a DSG thats going to blow up a couple years down the line. Yes its not a plush inside but its more practical and has harder wearing matireals that will last alot longer (and ive seen 2015 models that still look good) and the bottle holders can take a 2l soda bottle,name another car that can do that. With that said Suzuki should start giving you more of thier cars to review.
I hear you on the Vitara. I just think it looks and feels old, doesn’t stack up on value, and needs a freshen up.
@therightcar yeah I get it needs a interior facelift (the exterior has been modified twice since 2018 in Europe to the point where theyre copying Mahindra which is funny )but its hardy and everything feels natural and it has knobs for the aircon. The price,yeah,its priced poorly in a majority of markets (i suspect as its being imported from hungary as opposed to the other plants that are closer) especially this one. However spec for spec its the best to compete with this unless you go a segment up like the Jolion.
My choice:
1. Citroën C3 Aircross ✅
2. Volkswagen T-Cross ✅
3. Toyota Raize ❌ no
About $8000 overpriced for what it is.
What car isn't these days in the Australian market...?!
@rickb314
That's why Chinese vehicles are selling like hot cakes.😊
Not a bad car, just too expensive and with shockingly poor pre and after sales service from VW.
Is that comment from experience with the VW sales/service, or just hearsay?
@@therightcar I've owned a new Jetta (2015) and 3 new Golfs before buying a Skoda in 2023. My son is still driving the one Golf. The same culture (arrogance) that caused Diesel Gate, still exsists. This is one of the reasons the Koreans and now the Chinese are starting to eat VW's lunch. I assume in Australia VW is actually running Skoda (wish I knew this earlier).
Is there hair under that hat?
We will never know or care.
@mvnorsel6354 one day we will and it will be glorious ether way
Hi man. I will say what you obviously cannot. This car is overpriced peace of junk. Manual handbrake? Manual key? Zero design unless you pay extra 10k. Lets be honest, it is a garbage.
Exactly - why is this glossed over so much