Latest news with #VWT-Cross
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
VW Polo or T-Cross? How to choose between hatch and crossover
Hatchbacks more affordable than its SUV counterparts, but less flashy. The VW T-Cross (right) is the crossover version of the Polo hatchback. Pictures: Supplied Choosing between a crossover SUV like the Volkswagen T-Cross and its hatchback sibling the VW Polo is not an easy choice. The market has become crossover-obsessed as these cars feature SUV-like styling and lofty driving positions. They've become practical and attainable status symbols. Yet hatchbacks continue to deliver exactly what most drivers need at a lower price. Using AutoTrader pre-owned sales data, we compared similar crossovers and hatchbacks produced between 2019 and 2023 to determine whether the pros of owning a crossover outweigh the cons. Crossover versus hatchback Many of B-segment hatchbacks have a crossover counterpart like the Peugeot 208 and 2008, Suzuki Baleno and Fronx and Renault Clio and Captur. For this comparison, The Citizen Motoring has weighed up two star performers in the Volkswagen stable. The VW Polo remains one of South Africa's most popular hatchbacks and one of the few survivors in the ever-shrinking B-segment. With an average listing price of R273 189 the Polo is on average R63 836 cheaper than its crossover counterpart, the VW T-Cross. The T-Cross did offer a lower average mileage of 59 238km compared to the Polo's 67 628km. Both had an average registration age of four years. ALSO READ: Volkswagen Polo now made exclusively in South Africa The VW Polo and T-Cross base models are both powered by the TSI 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that produces 70kW of power and 175Nm of torque. But the T-Cross consumes 0.6L/100km more than the VW Polo's claimed 5.3L/100km. It also has a shorter fuel range (678km vs 755km) and emits more carbon emissions. Should it matter to you the VW T-Cross also accelerates from 0 to 100km/h 0.7 seconds slower than the Polo. VW Polo and T-Cross equally safe While the T-Cross offers a 34-litre bigger boot than the 351-litre boot of the VW Polo, both vehicles seat five occupants. Both carry the same safety ratings, with Euro NCAP awarding each a five-star score. The VW T-Cross provides a marginally more spacious interior. Still, the average small, young family is unlikely to notice, making the VW Polo the more sensible choice for used car buyers. 'When you look at the data side by side, the value equation speaks for itself,' said George Mienie, CEO of AutoTrader. 'In many cases, hatchbacks offer lower purchase prices, better fuel economy, and comparable safety and tech to their crossover counterparts, without compromising everyday usability. This isn't about steering consumers away from crossovers, but helping them make decisions that suit both their lifestyles and their wallets.'
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
10 things you need to know about the new Chery Tiggo Cross HEV
Hybrid SUV is set to rattle the cages of the Toyota Corolla Cross and VW T-Cross. We will be road-testing the new Chery Tiggo Cross HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) in the next few days, but all indications are that this car is set to become a game changer. It comes in at a better price than all its competitors, and this includes the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross and VW T-Cross. It offers substantially more power and torque than them too thanks to state-of-the-art hybrid technology. Fuel consumption is also said to be vastly improved, and being a Chery, the Tiggo Cross HEV is jampacked with tech and features that the others just can't compete with. ALSO READ: Hybrid Chery Tiggo Cross declares war on Toyota Corolla Cross Here are 10 fast facts about the Tiggo Cross hybrid you need to know: 1. Hybrid performance The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a dedicated hybrid system to deliver smooth, responsive performance. With a combined output of 150kW and 310Nm, it offers strong acceleration off the line and effortless power delivery that enhances everyday driving. 2. Low fuel consumption The fuel consumption of the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is claimed to be a mere 5.4-litres per 100km in mixed driving conditions. This obviously helps you go further between fill-ups and is easier on your pocket too. The hybrid system is self-charging and does all the work in the background, so you don't have to worry about plugging anything in and flat batteries. 3. Instant response, smoother drive Without any turbo lag to deal with or a loss of power at altitude, the electric motor of the Cross HEV is said to deliver a near-immediate response for confident overtaking and city driving. It's touted to be quiet, refined, and surprisingly quick off the mark. A claim The Citizen Motoring can't wait to test. Watch this space! 4. Chery Tiggo Cross HEV stylish A bold front grille, LED lighting, and sleek styling give the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV a confident presence. Inside, the cabin combines sporty touches with premium finishes, creating an upscale atmosphere that punches above its price like we have already said. 5. Two feature-rich trims The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is available in Comfort and Elite trim levels. Both come with strong standard specification, with the Elite adding high-end extras like a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. ALSO READ: Chery Tiggo Cross has enough going for it to make up for its flaws 6. Impressive tech standard on Chery Tiggo Cross HEV On both Tiggo Cross hybrid models, you'll find a dual-screen setup, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice control, a wireless charging pad, and multiple USB ports. The Elite variant includes an upgraded Sony sound system and ambient lighting. 7. Comfort without compromise The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV's cabin is well thought-out, with quality materials, supportive seats, and clever storage throughout. Rear seat passengers benefit from generous legroom and their own charging ports. Ideal for road trips and everyday use alike. 8. Advanced safety across the board Both hybrid models come with a comprehensive list of safety features, including electronic stability control. The Comfort offers six airbags, while the Elite adds a seventh, along with advanced driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and a 360-degree camera. 9. Chery Tiggo Cross built for real-world practicality Despite its compact footprint, the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is a surprisingly practical SUV. The boot is spacious enough for weekly shopping trips or weekend away luggage, and the rear seats fold down to accommodate larger loads when needed. 10. Backed by a strong after-sales plan Every Cross HEV is backed by a five-year/150 000km warranty, 10-year/one-million km engine warranty, and five-year/60 000km service plan, providing peace of mind and long-term value.
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
VW drops price on T-Cross base model to take fight to the Chinese
Volkswagen banks on brand's rich local heritage to fend off onslaught from the People's Republic. In February this year Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) announced that were adding two new entry-level derivatives to their top selling T-Cross line-up. A 1.0 TSI 70kW Base fitted with a five-speed manual transmission and a 1.0 TSI 85kW Base with a double clutch setup, priced at R400 700 and R418 200 respectively. Fast forward some five months, and an invite arrived for us to go spend some time with VWSA and get acquainted with the VW T-Cross in the metal this time. A 1.0 TSI 70kW Base was dropped off at The Citizen Motoring's office for us to use for a few weeks and to get to the event as part of an impromptu media launch-type drive. Psychological R400k barrier Now while we expected the spec to be exactly that same, what we did not expect was that VWSA had quietly dropped the price on the 70kW Base model to R399 900. Citing unrelenting market pressure from the Chinese, who are extremely active in this segment, as one of the reasons they wanted the entry level T-Cross to come in under the psychological R400 000 barrier. This makes perfectly good business sense especially when you consider that the VW T-Cross is 100% under fire from the likes of Chery with their Tiggo 4 Pro. Offering seven model derivatives ranging in price from R269 900 to R386 900 it's easy to see why the Chery Tiggo 4 is shooting the lights out. This Chinese offering has in fact now moved up to be South Africa's third best-selling passenger car behind the VW Polo Vivo and Toyota Corolla Cross. The VW T-Cross Base features an 8-inch digital cockpit. Picture: Mark Jones Not flashy, but solid The 1.0 TSI 70 kW Base VW T-Cross comes kitted with the basics like a 8-inch digital cockpit, App-Connect, multi-function steering wheel, 2 USB ports in front, two speakers, central locking, childproof locks on rear doors, interior cloth trim for seats and door trim, air-conditioner, hill assist, 16-inch wheels and a tyre pressure monitoring system. While not flashy in any way, all the controls fall easy to hand, and are easy to use in typical VW fashion. The Chery Tiggo 4 offers 108kW and 210Nm, and the 70kW and 175Nm on tap from the 1.0 TSI Base is never going to feel racy. And it isn't. VWSA claim a 0-100km/h sprint time of 11.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. But what is maybe of more importance is that the claimed fuel consumption number is just 5.9-litres per 100km. And here the Chery Tiggo 4 falls short. ALSO READ: Facelift Volkswagen T-Cross base models finally priced VW T-Cross banks on brand heritage So, while seemingly outgunned on price and spec on paper, VWSA are counting on their legacy, reputation for quality. And on people still having the desire to own a Volkswagen. It's a tough ask in a very price sensitive part of the market. But this fight might pass down to the new locally produced Tengo compact crossover. It will hit the market in 2027 as a more affordable replacement for the overseas sourced T-Cross. The VW T-Cross comes standard with a three-year/120 000km warranty and three-year/45 000km service plan.
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'I've driven an EV for one year and one small feature still scares me'
This time last year, I took the plunge and ditched my VW T-Cross for a full-electric Mercedes EQC, a move which has come with its fair share of ups and downs. I've already written various pieces on the lack of charging infrastructure across the country, an issue which affects thousands of drivers who rely on public charge-points on a weekly basis. I've also spoken about the often limited range of such vehicles and the anxiety that can come with the prospect of running out of battery on a long journey. But there's another, far less spoken about, element which still gives me anxiety as a driver. And that's how quiet nearly all electric cars appear to be. Only a few weeks ago did I drive down a private rural road, with a 15mph speed limit, and make a pedestrian walking her dog jump out of her skin, simply because she didn't hear the quiet churn of the EV. I was crawling down the road at less than 10mph fully aware that she probably hadn't sensed the car, and despite my best efforts, I still startled her. She wasn't wearing headphones, and I was the only moving car on the road - which meant the subtle EV sound was not drowned out by anything else. In comparison to a diesel vehicle, electric cars make a very dull whirring sound, almost like a space ship. They sound futuristic and high-tech, and from my experience so far, no two models sound the same. For example the Audi equivalent of my car is ever-so-slightly louder. Like everyone here in Britain, I am used to the loud sound of cars whizzing past, some with obnoxiously loud exhausts, large lorries thundering down the road. But with Keir Starmer's 2030 electric vehicle pledge, which will stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars completely in five years' time, that will change. This is not a nostalgia plea by any stretch, but the hard-of-hearing population, or those who are blind or partially sighted, rely on prominent sound to stay safe when crossing the road. And children who are learning to cross a road, or even the dangers of a main road, will now need to be way more observant when the louder vehicles fall silent as more and more people are forced to go full electric. My car is five years' old, it's relatively new, but I do often wonder if newer versions will be slightly louder to bridge the huge decibel gap that's currently there between electric and fuelled cars. Along with a synthetic sound, my car makes a very dull bleeping sound when in reverse, with cameras in play to ensure no one, person or vehicle, is behind me. The onus is always on the driver to make sure the area is safe, and that should never change. But the reason the reverse sensors give out a quiet sound is because drivers will always reverse at low speed, and EVs are designed to only get substantially louder when the car is above a certain mph. EVs don't have engines, therefore their sound is synthetic. The only noise people will hear naturally is the sound of tyres on the tarmac - after all, many EVs are heavier than their fuelled-counterparts due to the weight of the battery. According to PodPoint, an EV charging company, their quiet sound is not a major design flaw. It's there to avoid noise pollution above all. It says: "The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared traffic noise - which includes roads, rail, and air - as the second leading cause of negative health in western Europe. "The WHO recommends that people aren't exposed to noise exceeding 53 decibels (dB) during the day-night period caused by road traffic. Anything over 75 dB has the potential to damage our ears." It says the legal limit for vehicles is 72 decibels, but this could be reduced to 68 by next year. For EVs the legal requirement is 56 decibels. That doesn't stop the concern as the country makes the gradual transition to electric cars. EVs made after July 1, 2019 had to comply with an EU law called the Regulation on the Sound Level of Motor Vehicles. This means cars must make a sound when they are driven at 12.4mph when going forwards or reversing. This external noise is produced by an acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS) which would warn other road users of their presence. When inside the car you can barely hear it - but that doesn't mean it's not doing its job. Is the answer a louder noise box - or simply a more realistic sounding car that imitates an engine? I don't know, but within the next decade our roads are going to sound a whole lot quieter. While I am here for it, all walks of life must be catered for in terms of safety - and until then, EV drivers like myself will need to be more vigilant and understanding of people who simply do not know we are there.
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
CIT robbery – security guards told to lie down in the grass before van was blown up
CIT robbery – security guards told to lie down in the grass before van was blown up Ten suspects bombed the cash van on the R544 last night. The heist unfolded between Groblersdal and eMalahleni at around 18:30 when robbers bombed it. The G4S cash van, occupied by two security officers was en route to their base in eMalahleni when gunshots were heard. They were escorted by another security vehicle also with two security officers. According to Captain Eddie Hall, a police spokesperson the driver stopped and saw a silver VW T-Cross and a white Toyota Hilux double cab. The escorting vehicle was forced out of the road by the robbers in a VW Polo. Both vehicles overturned. The robbers disarmed the security guards, pulled them out of the cash van, and ordered them to lie down in the grass on the side of the road before they bombed the vehicle twice. They fled with their loot. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
