Volkswagen Philippines’s renewed push towards global products starts in May with the T-Cross’s market introduction. With over 300,000 sold worldwide, it has become a phenomenon for the German brand, and it finally enters the Philippines fully-loaded, and at a price tag that starts at just P 1.098 million (P 1.068 million with their pre-launch offer).
Marketed under the tagline, “I am more than one thing,” the T-Cross targets young, accomplished professionals in the ultra-crowded sub-compact SUV genre. As such, Volkswagen Philippines has shown how their offering has the features that would amplify the dynamic lifestyle of its owners.
There are two variants for the T-Cross—the T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT S and the T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT SE. As their model designations suggest, they are both powered by a normally-aspirated 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 113 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. This Euro 6 compliant engine is mated to a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic with cruise control. 0 to 100 km/h is pegged at a leisurely 14 seconds.
Confirmed for the Philippine market is its wide palette of colors: Tribu (a shade of yellow, see lead photo), Syringa Violet, Romance Red, Polar White, and Chinchilla Gray. Depending on the variant, the exterior color is reflected as interior trim as well (for the T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT SE)
Thanks to its MQB A0 platform, the T-Cross boasts of the longest wheelbase in the sub-compact SUV segment at 2,651 mm. With this, it can comfortably seat five adults and still offer 329 liters of luggage at the back (1,319 liters with the rear seats folded down).
Aside from space, standard amenities mentioned include LED taillights, dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also features fabric seats, rear USB sockets, and a 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and AppConnect.
Moving up to the T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT SE, it adds more airbags (a total of 6), bigger 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, rear AC vents, leather/fabric combination seats, panoramic sunroof, a 9.2-inch infotainment system, rear camera, rear parking sensors, and even front autonomous emergency braking or AEB.
Like all other Volkswagen models, the T-Cross requires just a once-a-year PMS (making it 40 percent more affordable to maintain versus its competitors or about P 12,000 to P 15,000 per year), a 3-year / 100,000-kilometer warranty, spare parts warranty of two years, and service quality consistent with Volkswagen global standards.
The T-Cross is now available for reservations at all nine Volkswagen outlets nationwide. The T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT S is priced at P 1,098,000, while the T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT SE is priced at P 1,198,000. As an added bonus, there’s an additional P 30,000 discount for all reservations done before the launch. This brings down the T-Cross’s net price to just P 1,068,000 for the S, and P 1,168,000 for the SE. This does not include the P 78,400 DTI safeguard bond with VAT.
2021 Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT S (1.5 MPI AT SE) Specifications:
- Overall Length: 4,128 mm
- Overall Width: 1,760 mm
- Overall Height: 1,599 mm
- Wheelbase: 2,651 mm
- Engine Displacement: 1,498 cc (1.5 liters)
- Maximum Output: 113 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
- Maximum Torque: 145 Nm @ 3,900 rpm
- Fuel Tank: 43 liters
- Emissions Standard: Euro 6
- Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson Strut
- Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam Axle
- Front Brakes: Vented Disc
- Rear Brakes: Disc
- Wheels: 16-inch Alloy (17-inch Alloy)
- Tires: 205/60R16 (205/55R17)
- Multifunction Steering Wheel
- Roof Rails: Black (Silver)
- LED Taillights
- Infotainment with AppConnect: 8-inch (9.2-inch)
- Cruise Control
- Electronic Stabilization Program
- USB Front & Rear
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Panoramic Sunroof: SE only
- Headlight: Halogen (LED with DRL)
- Front Fog Light: SE only
- Ambient Interior Lighting: SE only
- Seat Material: Fabric (Leather+Fabric)
- Dual SRS Airbags
- Side and Curtain Airbags: SE only
- Autonomous Emergency Braking: SE only
- Rear View Camera: SE only
- Rear A/C Vent: SE only
A big mistake for the Voltswagen este VW phil to launch the T-Cross with a under power Engine. A Normally aspirated 1.5L versus 1.5 Turbocharged engine from the Chinese Carmakers. VW Management must be fired by Ayala family of not knowing it's competitors and the market status. They don't know how to play.
ReplyDeleteIf they're trying to get more market share, this kind of pricing for the T-Cross won't make it as a best seller in its class. Probably for the brand's lethargic sales it will as it might sell a few hundred units just like the Stonic. Unfortunately at this price point people now have more options with more powerful turbo charged engines and better features with longer free maintenance service and warranty.
DeleteVolkswagen Philippines made the right decision to sell the T-Cross variant without turbocharged engine as its much more reliable and easier to maintain..Chinese SUVs that uses turbocharged engines that uses DCT or CVT transmissions are unreliable and expensive to maintain in the long run.
DeleteThe Ayalas will try to squeeze every penny from the buyers of its products. I remember the early years of Honda Philippines. Luckily, there are more if not better options this time?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteKeeping the engine at 1.5L is in line with the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement, thus making it cheaper. I'm not a fan of turbo-powered engines. Everything has pros & cons. If you want turbo go for chinese Geely, et. al.
ReplyDeleteas long as the features justify the pricing, I think this car would be a seller. Also who knows? Maybe next time they'll bring in turbo variants :)
ReplyDeleteVolkswagen Philippines should have offered the T Cross with both the normally-aspirated and turbo-charged engines so that Filipino customers will have more options. As comparison, I watched some video reviews of the VW Lavida (with turbo-charged engine) and the car reviewers were very impressed with the Lavida's engine performance. Hopefully next year?
ReplyDeleteWhy is the Autonomous Emergency Braking feature missing from the PH Volkswagen T-Cross brochure? Did they remove it silently after the 2022 refresh?
ReplyDeleteThe hardware is there...but the function has been deactivated (that's for the MY2021). Maybe they decided to remove the feature altogether for 2022?
DeleteThe AEB is available in the 2022 models. The brochure is not yet updated as per advised by a VW sales rep.
Delete