The Volkswagen T-Cross made its Philippine debut in May 2021 and is currently the best-selling nameplate of the Ayala-backed brand. For its first media outing after over a year of being in the market, Volkswagen PH chose a chill drive to Tagaytay to highlight what the T-Cross can do.
Marketed locally with the tagline “More than 1 thing,” the popular crossover checks many boxes of what Pinoys look for when choosing a vehicle.
After flagging off from AC Motors Centrale in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, we headed southward to discover more than one way to enjoy a trip to the popular ridge onboard the T-Cross. Throughout the convoy, our Drive Director Georges Ramirez made sure we were aware of the T-Cross’s features like Cruise Control and Apple Car Play, as well as the other creature comforts that made the ride more enjoyable.
Targeting younger drivers, the T-Cross is available in funky colors – Tribu Yellow, Romance Red, and Syringa Violet that make it stand out effortlessly. These colors can also be found inside the cabin and provide a pop of color that’s enough to brighten one’s day. Alternately, those who prefer tamer colors can consider getting a T-Cross in Chinchilla Gray or Polar White which comes with a more subdued, albeit conventional, interior colorway (Team Chinchilla forever!). Going beyond the fun coloring, though, one will notice that the lines of the T-Cross follow Volkswagen’s classic design language with parallel executions found on other VW nameplates. Its huge panoramic sunroof is also a winner for all the natural lighting it brings in – making the T-Cross truly Instagramable, inside and out.
Driving the T-Cross is a pleasant experience. While it’s not the fastest vehicle out there, it is intuitive, easy to maneuver, and will definitely get you to where you’re going comfortably and in style. In the driver’s seat, the steering is light but still provides enough feedback. Its gauges and infotainment system are easy to read, and wireless Apple CarPlay is always appreciated. While its system doesn’t support Android Auto, non-iOS users need not fret because you can still connect via BlueTooth or by using an auxiliary cable.
Front passenger seats have built-in headrests and bolsters that offer much-needed support, especially on longer drives. To keep the rear passengers equally comfy, seats are well padded and have ample leg and headroom. They also get a/c vents on the center console, as well as Type A and Type C USB ports to keep their gadgets charged.
For added flexibility, the T-Cross’s boot can expand almost three-fold when the rear seats are folded flat. This configuration not only allows for more cargo but longer ones, as well. (Have you ever tried to fit a big TV in a sedan? )
Our first stop for the day was a quaint coffee shop aptly called Kap’ean located in Alfonso, Cavite. A portion of the venue’s picturesque upper deck was transformed into a makeshift studio where we were to unleash our (hidden?) talents in transforming clay. “Thera-putik” was how our teacher, UP College of Fine Arts Associate Professor and Tahanan Pottery Shop & Studio Program Director Rita Badilla-Gudiño, described the activity. Volkswagen contracted their services to help us unleash new skills. Armed with our newfound knowledge, we kneaded, stamped, and molded our stress away and came up with our own objet d’art that would be glazed and twice-fired before we would see its final form. Although the activity couldn’t be further removed from motoring, it was a unique bonding activity to experience with family or friends.
In true Pinoy fashion, after our activity that included coffee and snacks, we continued to yet another quaint location – this time Hillbarn Tagaytay – where another feast awaited us.
The drive was probably one of the most chill media drives to date. With no technical activities on the agenda and all we had to do was enjoy the ride, it hardly felt like work. With a little stretch of one’s imagination, this can probably be correlated to the T-Cross’s chill once-a-year PMS schedule which lessens downtime and leaves more time for play.
The 2022 T-Cross SE is powered by a 1.5-liter Multi-Point Injection (MPI) gasoline engine paired with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The combination produces 113 PS of maximum power and 145 Nm of maximum torque. Safety and driver-assist features include six airbags, Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), Hill Hold Control, Anti-Slip Regulation, Rear Parking Distance Control, and the rear camera (exclusive to the SE variant).
Two variants are available: the Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT S (Php 1,098,000.00) and the Volkswagen T-Cross 1.5 MPI AT SE (Php 1,340,000.00) with each new unit bundled with a 100,000 kms or 3-year (whichever comes first) warranty as well as free 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance (ERA).
Being one of the German brand’s global models, the Volkswagen T-Cross made its debut simultaneously in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Shanghai in China in 2018. It is currently produced in four key facilities located in Brazil, China, Germany, and India, with each unit bearing the same precision engineering and global standards of craftsmanship the Volkswagen brand is known for.
The T-Cross SE has received numerous awards globally, including Best Compact SUV at BusinessCar Awards 2019 in United Kingdom, Compact SUV of the Year at the 2020 Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year in Ireland, the Best “Exterior Volume Brand” at Frankfurt Motor Show 2019 in Germany, the Compact SUV of the Year by UOL Carros 2019 and L’Auto Preferita in Brazil, and the Compact Family Car category win in the 5th annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards in South Africa.
Tahanan Pottery Shop and Studio is located at 27B Scout Tobias corner Scout Lozano Streets, Brgy. Laging Handa, Quezon City, Philippines 1103. Check out their website here and Socials here and here.