For example, the Volkswagen T-Cross comes from AutoBild’s 100,000 kilometer test

Mature for small SUV

For example, the Volkswagen T-Cross comes from AutoBild’s 100,000 kilometer test

The colleagues of our German sister magazine have driven 100,000 kilometers in a Volkswagen T-Cross. As always, they unscrew an endurance tester that has reached the milestone and look at the wear. How is the T-Cross after 2.5 years and a ton on the clock?

This was noticed after disassembly:

Volkswagen T Cross

On the axle carrier, incipient rust can be seen on the edges and surfaces.

Volkswagen T Cross

The cylinder head is still in good condition even after 100,000 km.

Volkswagen T Cross

Uneven oil residue can be seen on the intake valves.

Volkswagen T Cross

Sand deposits on the inside of the fenders can lead to corrosion.

Volkswagen T Cross

There is no excessive wear on the main bearing shells.

Volkswagen T-Cross Auto Bild

The wear on the cylinders and pistons was within the margins.

Did the Volkswagen T-Cross successfully pass the 100,000-kilometer endurance test? These points linger after taking the car apart for a closer inspection:

  • After the endurance test, the body is still characterized by very well-executed corrosion protection. There is nothing to criticize about the base plate, the cavities, the edges and the surfaces. Valve adjustment is via a timing belt with no fixed replacement intervals.
  • The camshafts and bearing chambers are still in excellent condition.
  • The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission looks good when disassembled. There are no details to be seen on the coupling and the gears.
  • On the axles and the crash box, corrosion is starting to show on some edges and surfaces. It can’t hurt at this point.
  • The technology is still in good condition after 100,000 km. After the endurance test, the crankshaft, cylinders, bearing shells and pistons still fall within the margins and do not show any striking features.
  • The seats of the chairs still feel sturdy and, just like the rest of the interior, have passed the endurance test.

Volkswagen T-Cross Auto Bild

And that led to the following conclusion:

The T-Cross passes this endurance test with flying colors. It makes a more mature impression than its compact size suggests. The dismantling after the endurance test shows that the technical basis is correct. He doesn’t drop stitches. That could hardly be better. The small misses in the field of comfort will probably disappear with the upcoming facelift.

What else did they think of the T-Cross at AutoBild?

When they received the keys on September 2, 2020, many colleagues had their reservations. For example, colleagues who often make long journeys wondered whether a small SUV with a modest power of 115 hp is suitable for this. Well, to get straight to the point: yes, it really is, was the opinion of most T-Cross drivers. For example, the purport in one of the first entries in the logbook, at a mileage of 5,291, is particularly positive. “A small SUV with a good space concept and a spirited three-cylinder,” we read. The other colleagues were equally surprised that the Volkswagen turned out to be a very pleasant companion in everyday life. Traveling to a test location with a complete test team, consisting of an editor, a photographer, an employee who performs the measurements and a cameraman? No problem! Put the back seat in the rearmost position and you’re done. Well, you have to transport part of the equipment in a different way, but if you go out with this car alone or in pairs, you can take all your hobby supplies with you.

Volkswagen T-Cross 100,000 kilometers

Economical, even at autobahn speeds

Whatever you transport, the three-cylinder never actually runs out of breath. Generally speaking, he is economical with petrol. A consumption of 1 to 13 to 1 to 14 is still feasible even if you drive a lot. That does not alter the fact that a larger tank would have been quite nice, because it is on the small side with a capacity of only 40 liters. The 115 hp engine at the time (currently the 1.0 delivers an output of 110 hp) always grunted cheerfully ahead and usually kept itself in the background from an acoustic point of view. If you let the needle of the speedometer creep towards 200 km / h during a fast ride on the autobahn, listening to the radio is no longer an option and neither is a good conversation with your fellow passengers. Then, as a direct result of the not too extensive sound insulation, it becomes noisy on board, because all wind and rolling noises are then clearly perceptible. And if you want to make a phone call while on the road, it’s better to slow down.

The DSG box always caused involuntary delays. In principle, it switches quickly and in a refined manner, but the interaction with the start-stop function is not always successful, which causes irritation. Then it goes like this: you drive to the stop line at an intersection, you stop, you see that the road is clear and you want to drive away, but unfortunately the engine has just been switched off … The moment the engine is brought back to life, are you too late to take advantage of the hole that occurred.

Volkswagen T-Cross 100,000 kilometers

Golf-like driving characteristics

Very pleasant, on the other hand, is the driving behavior of the small SUV, which feels surprisingly mature while driving. The communicative steering and the remarkably stable straight run certainly do not give you the feeling of being in a small car. “Very Golf-esque”, we regularly heard. In addition, it is good that the chassis offers large reserves and knows how to handle a smooth driving style. The developers apparently wanted to put a car on the wheels that provides a lot of driving pleasure and gives a sporty impression. Unfortunately, that choice of adjustment turned out less well on bad road surfaces, partly due to the beautiful 18-inch wheels. Many drivers thought the end result was a bit too punishing. The reactions to bumps in the road surface were not always good. Justifiable criticism, but we have to put it into perspective, because it is of course logical that such a compact car with a wheelbase of 2.55 m and a chassis with steel springs without adaptive shock absorbers does not float over the road like a Mercedes S-class .

Volkswagen T Cross

The multimedia system generally functions well, although we would have liked the system to display files in real time. Camera-based traffic sign recognition would also have been nice. The maximum speeds that the T-Cross now communicates to the driver are based on the data from the navigation system and that does not always correspond to the situation on site.

Volkswagen T-Cross 100,000 km test

It does not alter the fact that you quickly get a sense of well-being on board the small Volkswagen. As is usual in SUVs, the occupants sit nice and high and can get in and out without physical antics. The seats initially make a comfortable impression, but you have to adjust that image after driving a few hundred kilometers. Not only is a height-adjustable lumbar support missing, comfort during long journeys is also somewhat lacking. The clear dashboard layout, on the other hand, is convincing, which does not apply to the missing handles and the choice of materials. Some materials look downright cheap. The only positive aspect about them is that they are easy to clean.

Innocent fly rust

During disassembly it is noticeable that there is a thin brown layer over the front and rear axle, but because this is only harmless flash rust, it has no further influence on the final verdict. It is also clearly visible that the wax is unevenly distributed in the cavities, but that has not had any major consequences. When the inspectors take a closer look at the engine, there is no reason for great concern. When checking the transmission, the clutch and the electronic components, it is all from the same sheet: it all looks neat.

In short, a perfect performance? In general, yes, but the Volkswagen drops two small stitches with this car, which we do not want to leave unmentioned. For example, the right eyelet of the co-driver’s mat has come loose, so that the mat does not stay in place properly, and the upholstery of the rear seat has come loose at one corner. These are trifles, which we only briefly mention for the sake of completeness. And also because a story about a small car needs a tension arc, even if it’s just a small one.

.

– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl

Recent Articles

Related Stories