Facelifted 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross Revealed, But Is It Coming To PH?

Volkswagen has been very quiet for the longest time now. The German automaker that’s locally managed by Ayala’s AC Motors hasn’t launched a new model since the T-Cross in 2021, which means that it’s been two years already since the brand made some noise in our market. However, there’s already a new, 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross that debuted today in Germany, but is it coming to the Philippines?

We certainly hope so. If there’s one thing the German automaker desperately needs, that would be a fresh new model that will bring interest once again to the brand. The T-Cross did sell well initially at launch, but a slew of equally-priced Chinese crossovers and even affordable ones from mainstream brands like the Toyota Raize have relegated the T-Cross to the sidelines.

With the new 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross, this subcompact crossover SUV has been given a fresh new face with a full-width LED light bar bisecting the VW logo at the front. This connects the two LED headlights with optional IQ.Light adaptive matrix technology, creating a visually cohesive design. What we’re seeing here, however, is the range-topping R Line model, which comes with sportier body-colored bumpers, triangular faux side vents containing the LED daytime running lights, and a lower air intake with a mesh pattern.

The rear of the T-Cross has also been updated, with the black trim piece connecting the new LED taillights with x-shaped graphics now featuring a full-width LED light bar. You also get restyled rear bumpers and a new set of alloy wheels across all models.

Changes to the interior of the 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross are also minor but visually welcoming. There’s a new tablet-style touchscreen infotainment that measures 8 or 9.2 inches in size, along with digital gauges as standard that measure 8 or 10 inches, depending on the variant. Material quality has also been improved, with soft-touch materials and stitching details now adorning the dashboard. The physical climate controls have been replaced by capacitive touch sliders like in most recently-updated Volkswagen models, while the new steering wheel design further contributes to the T-Cross’s modernized interior vibe.

Powertrain options for the 2024 Volkswagen T-Cross remain unchanged, so if ever it launches in the Philippines, it will most likely continue to feature a naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 113 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. This drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic.

There’s something to take note of about this T-Cross, though. What we’re seeing here is the European model. What the Philippine market gets is the Chinese-market T-Cross which is slightly different in terms of aesthetics, though still fundamentally the same vehicle riding on the MQB A0 platform. Whether it gets launched in the Philippines is still a huge question, but we sure do hope so in order for Volkswagen to remain in the minds of Filipino buyers.