Volkswagen T-cross Engine warning light
An engine warning light creates temporary stress, while the driver’s seat causes some under-thigh discomfort
Mileage 1221 List price £19,995 Target Price £19,421 Price as tested £22,580 Test economy 42.5mpg
ALL RIGHT, I’LL admit it: I jinxed my T-cross. Stupidly, I signed off my previous report with the line “the next six months should be rather pleasant”, which of course means something has gone wrong.
Getting back into the car after it had been parked up for a few days, I discovered that the engine was running quite roughly. An orange ‘EPC’ warning light was glowing in the instrument binnacle, referring to the Electronic Performance Control system. It meant that not only was the engine running badly, but power was reduced, too.
Thankfully, my trip was only a short one to pick up some food from a nearby shop, so I cruised cautiously there and then parked up. After bumbling around the shop, I jumping back into my T-cross, twisted the ignition key and noticed that the three-cylinder engine’s normal dulcet tones had returned, while the EPC warning was no longer glowing.
I did contemplate taking the car straight to a Volkswagen dealer, but it would inevitably have been on its best behaviour while it was there. Instead, I decided to keep a close eye on things and just hope that the T-cross had the automotive equivalent of a winter sniffle.
Meanwhile, I have a bone to pick with whoever designed the T-cross’s front seats. Although there’s adequate side support, a decent amount of cushioning for your back and bottom plus the luxury of adjustable lumbar support on all models, the seat base has a habit of digging in at the back of my knees, causing a bit of discomfort. Initially, I thought it was because of my rather stumpy stature, but this is the only car that causes me any issue. It also transpired that longerlegged members of the team, including giant John Howell, were similarly afflicted. Now, it’s possible to lessen the discomfort by slouching in the seat to relieve the knee-pit pressure, but that’s not going to do my already terrible posture any good.
There is a potential solution, however. Avoid the distinctive design packs and you don’t get the sports seats that are fitted to my car. Whether the standard seats improve things is something I need to find out, but it’s well worth considering when you’re nosing around your local Volkswagen showroom.
So, am I regretting my choice of wheels? In other respects, absolutely not. With more 1000 miles under its belt already, I’ve found that the little 1.0-litre turbo engine seems to be loosening up nicely, with fuel economy climbing to 42.5mpg in mixed conditions.
As for the lack of parking sensors caused by my inability to read a price sheet, that’s proving to be less troublesome than expected. Although I do miss the reassuring beeps as I approach objects, it’s easy enough to judge where the rear bumper is. Now, I would comment on not having reversed into anything, but I wouldn’t want to tempt fate a second time…
90 May 2020