Used Volkswagen T-Cross 2019-present reliability
Category: Small SUV
The chunky Volkswagen T-Cross has a comfortable ride and a spacious and practical interior. It's a good used buy, too.
What should I look for in a used Volkswagen T-Cross estate?
Since most examples will still be within the franchised dealer network used approved scheme, they should still be in pretty good condition. However, you ought to give it a good once over to inspect for dents and scratches. Remember, only SEL (or United, if you're looking at a 2020 example) and above come with parking sensors, and those thick rear pillars hinder parking, so check the bumpers for signs of touch parking.
There were light interior trim colour options available on some models that might look grubby if not regularly cleaned. Also, the hard plastics used on the dashboard and door cards could be vulnerable to scratches from things like rings, keys and handbag buckles.
What are the most common problems with a used Volkswagen T-Cross estate?
Curtain airbags
The curtain airbags that are used to protect the head in a side impact might not fully deploy in T-Crosses made between 21 May and 10 June 2019. Find out from a VW dealer if your car is affected by this because it will need to have the relevant airbags replaced.
Software fault
A software fault in the instrument cluster control unit can lead to the driver not being shown any optical or acoustic warnings if a person on the rear seat bench is not fastened in.
Is a used Volkswagen T-Cross estate reliable?
The T-Cross finished in eighth place out of 24 cars in the small SUV class in our most recent 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey with an excellent overall score of 96.9%.
Reliability rating 96.9%
Owners told us that 15% of their Volkswagen T-Cross small SUVs had any bugbears, with the electrics and exhaust the main culprits. Volkswagen paid for the repairs on 83% of cars, and those who had to pay weren’t asked for more than £50. Although all cars could still be driven, two-thirds were out of action for more than a week.
Volkswagen finished at the lower end of the mid-pack in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey, in 22nd place out of 32 manufacturers. That put it above Audi and Mercedes but below other rival brands, including BMW, Ford, Mazda, Seat and Skoda.
If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
Used Volkswagen T-Cross reliability: the owners' view
As part of our annual Reliability Survey, What Car? readers shared their experiences with the reliability and dealer service of the Volkswagen T-Cross.
The feedback is largely very positive, with many highlighting the car's reliability. Few significant mechanical failures were reported, though some owners mentioned minor electronic glitches, such as issues with the infotainment system and reversing camera.
The dealer service received mixed reviews. While many praised Volkswagen dealers for their professionalism and efficiency, particularly in handling routine maintenance and warranty services, there were notable exceptions where customers faced a longer than expected wait for repairs and part replacements. Some readers also pointed out variability in service quality between different dealership locations.
Despite these issues, the T-Cross is seen as a dependable car with solid backing from its dealers, though improvement in service consistency would further boost overall satisfaction.
