The onslaught of Chinese cars introduced to local market has been relentless over the past few years, and heritage brands are starting to feel the pressure.
Photo: Mark Jones
In February this year, Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) announced it was adding two new entry-level derivatives to its 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 about five months, and The Citizen Motoring received an invite to spend some time with VWSA and become acquainted with the VW T-Cross in the metal. A 1.0 TSI 70kW Base was dropped off at our office for us to use for a few weeks. It would also be our ride to the event as part of an impromptu media launch-type drive.
While we expected the spec to be exactly that same, what we didn’t 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, VWSA aimed to price the entry level T-Cross below 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 its Tiggo 4 Pro. With seven model derivatives priced from R269 900 to R386 900, it’s easy to see why the Tiggo 4 Pro 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 1.0 TSI 70kW Base VW T-Cross comes kitted with the basics like an 8” digital cockpit, App-Connect, multifunction steering wheel, two USB ports in front, two speakers, central locking, childproof locks on the rear doors, cloth interior trim (seats and doors), air conditioning, hill assist, 16” wheels, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
While not flashy in any way, all the controls are within easy reach and simple to use, in typical VW fashion.
While Chery Tiggo 4 offers 108kW and 210Nm, the 1.0 TSI Base, with its 70kW and 175Nm, is never going to feel speedy. VWSA claims a 0-to-100km/h sprint time of 11,5 seconds and a top speed of 180km/h.
But perhaps more import is the 1.0 TSI Base’s claimed fuel consumption of just 5,9ℓ/100km. And the Chery Tiggo 4 falls short.
So, while seemingly outgunned on price and spec on paper, VWSA is counting on its legacy and reputation for quality. And on people still wanting to own a VW. 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, set to hit the market in 2027 as a more affordable replacement for the overseas-sourced T-Cross.
The VW T-Cross Base comes standard with a three-year/120 000km warranty and three-year/45 000km service plan.
70kW Base manual
Engine: 1.0ℓ TSI petrol
Transmission: five-speed manual
Power: 70W at 5 000 to 5 500rpm
Torque: 175Nm at 2 000 to 3 500rpm
Fuel consumption (claimed): 5,9ℓ/100km
Price: R399 900
85kW Base automatic
Engine: 1.0ℓ TSI petrol
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 85W at 5 000 to 5 500rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 2 000 to 3 500rpm
Fuel consumption (claimed): 5,6ℓ /100km
Price: R418 200
