Volkswagen Philippines executives have revealed the details of the much-anticipated arrival of the T-Cross subcompact SUV set to launch on May 26, 2021. The Ayala-backed Philippine distributor is banking on the T-Cross to herald Volkswagen’s global “refresh” in the country with all the recognition it has received ever since it premiered in 2018.
Being a global vehicle, the T-Cross is produced in four of Volkswagen’s manufacturing hubs located in Germany, Brazil, China, and most recently, India. These hubs service the markets closest to them geographically, to lessen friction costs that are then passed down to the customers. By its second sales year in 2020, the T-Cross had sold approximately 300,000 units worldwide, a feat given the limitations presented by the pandemic.
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As of the launch date, our locally available version will have two trims – the T-Cross 180 MPI AT S and the T-Cross 180 MPI AT SE. Both will be powered by a Euro6 emission standard 1.5-liter engine capable of generating maximum power output of 111hp and 145Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.
Thanks to the MQB platform that it shares with the Volkswagen Polo, it has the longest wheelbase in the 5-seater subcompact SUV class with 2,651 mm. The T-Cross can seat 5 persons comfortably and still has 329 liters of luggage space at the back, which can expand to 1,319 liters with the rear seats folded. Other nice-to-have amenities include Apple CarPlay and App Connect for connectivity, as well as rear air-conditioning vents and USB sockets for passenger convenience. Its aggressive exterior design is wrapped in unique colors such as Tribu (yellow), Syringa Violet, Romance Red, Polar White, and Chinchilla Gray, adopting the importance of aesthetics by combining young urban fashion with its style and functionality.
The T-Cross has a 5-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the Australasian NCAP, and Latin NCAP safety rating. Its safety features include its strong body structure, LED tail lights, electronic stabilization program (ESP), cruise control, tire pressure monitoring system, and additional safety features (for the SE variant): 6 airbags, LED headlights, rear camera, rear park distance control (PDC), and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
The estimated average cost of its yearly periodic maintenance service (PMS) is pegged between PHP 12,000 to PHP 15,000 – said to be 40% more affordable to maintain compared to its competitors in the segment for the duration of 5 years of ownership. This is on top of the 3-years or 100,000 km (whichever comes first) warranty; 2-year spare parts warranty; and service quality consistent with Volkswagen standards across the world.
The suggested retail price for the T-Cross 180 MPI S is PHP 1,098,000, while the 180 MPI SE is pegged at PHP 1,198,000. An additional PHP 30,000 discount is available for reservations made until the official May 26 launch date.
For more information about the Volkswagen T-Cross, log on to www.volkswagen.com.ph, or visit any of the nine VW dealerships in the country.