VOLKSWAGEN’S T-Cross media drive to Tagaytay is the first test drive I joined post-pandemic. There were two others that came before, but the specter of the pandemic scared me out of first one and there was no invitation for the test drive of that non-hybrid electric SUV.
I snapped at the VW T-Cross test drive not only because VW organizes these things so well, but I had a chance to get to drive with Top Gear’s Niky Tamayo whose technology knowledge I’d like to engage with. It was also a chance to drive with my son Delle. On the morning of the event, however, he was coughing and thought he might have contracted the virus. If he tested positive, what would he do when he arrives at the event?
I relented in forcing him to join and went alone–but not after I dropped off my daughter Laura at the Ateneo. I drove in 30 minutes late to the media meet-up and I kept everyone waiting. No worries though, they were glad to see me and we were just ready to board and get on with the test drive.
The second becomes the first
We were the second batch of media drivers for the event. The week before a group of the motoring media was ready to take the trip but heavy monsoon rains brought about by Supertyphoon Karding (a.k.a. Noru) had other plans. For safety reasons, the organizing team led by race driver Georges Ramirez recommended a postponement. VW events team with Timmy de Leon at the helm seconded. Thus, we who were in second, we became first.
Karding had fizzled into nothingness just as quickly as it brought itself to a Category 4 typhoon. However, it left a trail of death and destruction sweeping across Central Luzon and triggered a low pressure area, the force of which we were to experience later in the day.
Glad to be back among friends
Being the final week of September, my schedule was also packed but I made sure I joined this pack of my motoring media friends and made new friends with young content creators. The call time at the AC Motors Centrale in Bonifacio Global City was 6:00 am. I had planned a carpool with Niky who lives just three towns down in Biñan. But schedules would get mixed up and I ended up driving to Katipunan before going back to BGC–on a coding day!
It was all worth it being around friends and amigos I missed for two whole years. Among the group were Iñigo Roces of Manila Bulletin, Ira Panganiban of Autocar PH, Roy Robles of Zigwheels, James Deakin and unnamed friend with Erica Dez of jamesdeakin.ph, Neil Pagulayan of Mellow 94.7 and Autocar PH, Manny de los Reyes of 2nd Edition, Kap Maceda of BusinessWorld, and Vernon Sarne of Visor who gave me a reassuring hug–one of my brothers in faith. The faith we both rediscovered, he after a second, almost fatal stroke and me after surviving hypoxia amidst the pandemic.
With Niky behind the wheel, we drive into the innards of Tagaytay City to a place called Hillbarn, a cozy spot off the main road marked by a faux windmill. There we’d get kneading and molding and make cups from clay. That was an excellent experience. Reminding me that in order to be fashioned into something of value, one needed to experience the kneading and pounding, the cutting and trimming.
A global subcompact
The VW T-Cross is a global subcompact SUV, launched in the middle of 2021 in the Philippines. The SUV is produced in four key facilities worldwide—Brazil, China, Germany and India. Launched simultaneously around the world from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Shanghai in China in 2018, the T-cross is a platform designed to meet the diverse needs of these markets by having the same precision engineering and global standards of craftsmanship the Volkswagen brand has been known for.
Since Niky had control of the VW T-Cross at the flag-off, we learned, as we usually do, the small nuances of getting on board unprepared and not knowing how to connect our phones into the system. The infotainment system somehow read and tried to register Niky’s Xiaomi smartphone. But we were unsuccessful in pairing. Not that the VW T-Cross failed. We just
Thus, when the opportunity arose, at the exit of the South Luzon Expressway, put the 2022 T-Cross SE’s 1.5-liter Multi-Point Injection (MPI) gasoline engine paired with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission through its paces.
“It is smooth and transmits power well,” Niky says. “But I’d like more power when overtaking.” I agreed with him as we discussed how the engine uses VW’s BlueMotion technology and what impact this technology has on power and emissions. The SUV optimizes fuel economy and minimizes emissions without sacrificing power–but not power on the tap. We were searching for that extra boost.
As we followed the group’s climb from the lowlands 700-meter elevation of Tagaytay ridge under the capable herding skills of George and brother Louie on the sweeper car, the T-Cross’ 113 PS of maximum power and 145 Nm of maximum torque were put to the test. It proved more than sufficient to get us to Hillbarn, but we wanted more. We were encouraged to use the Cruise Control along the CALAX carriageway which did make sense as the long expressway was more relaxed. Then Niky discovered Sport Mode hidden among the variety of ways one can flick the transmission lever. That is where the extra power boost Niky desired. And he used it extensively.
A pot session
We arrived at Hillbarn for a creative “pot session.” No joints were lit though. We instead had clay, some clay molding tools and the mentoring of Teacher Rita Badilla-Gudiño who taught us how to mold clay into a cup.
“It starts with a plan, an idea of how you want your cup to look like,” Teacher Rita told us. She explained the types of clay, some for plant pots, others for firing (like ours) and the tools used and techniques to roll and mold the clay into our own works of art.
We went about using the various molds and tools to make our cups–hopefully good enough to hold Java after being glazed and fired. Niky made two cups–one for coffee, the other one for sake. He however changed his mind mid-way and instead made a cup for his wife. After Hillbarn we headed for Abagatan ti Manila in Alfonso, Cavite for a simple lunch.
After lunch, however, came the fun part.
The skies opened and dumped their heavy load of precipitation all over Tagaytay. The rains were furious and the sudden precipitation cooled off the surrounding air quickly that a layer of fog blanketed the whole sections of the Tagaytay Road from Alfonso.
The severe conditions proved two things for the T-Cross, its stability and thanks to the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) and the Anti-Slip Regulation which really shined in the less than 25-feet visibility as well as the rivers of water flowing down the road. Exiting the tight parking area at the food place was made easy courtesy of the Rear Parking Distance Control, and the rear camera (which is exclusive to the SE variant we test drove).
We drove with the panoramic sunroof uncovered and the LED headlights and front fog lamp on. The cornering light proved to be a big advantage, rear foglamps kept cars in the back at distance in these low visibility conditions. We were entertained in the car by the 9.2-inch infotainment monitor that maximizes the Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity. Since we had non-Apple phones, connecting to the systems was a bit fuzzy so we didn’t bother.
Driving in a rainstorm
The LPA-induced afternoon rainstorm forced us to use the road to its fullest. The fact that we were traveling on the right side of the road at a faster pace than the vehicles in the inner lane didn’t mean we violated the no overtaking rules, we were simply more confident at a slightly faster nevertheless, less dangerous pace of about 30 kilometers per hour when everyone was at 10 to 15 kph.
This also meant judiciously driving on the right side, because I had Niky as my navigator. There are always two problems with drivers in the rain or fog. They turn on their hazard lights thus taking away their ability to signal intention instead of turning on their headlights and tai lights. Second, if they do turn on their headlights, they turn it on bright–which just convolutes their own vision (light reflects back to them) and blinds oncoming drivers. The T-Cross has a proper set of fog lamps in the proper spectrum (not white) and daylight running lights that helped mark out position along the road.
After about 15 minutes of hard rain, things settled down into a mild downpour and then to a light drizzle as we were driving down the Batangas-side roads back into CALAX. Not after a series of potholed sections of road presented themselves to us.
Global quality
This car is made in China. Something that VW PH does not cover up and is in fact proud of because every T-Cross sold here stays true to the German automaker’s distinctive build and design qualities and benefits from precise VW engineering across the entire production process, in all its global facilities.
This means that every T-Cross owner anywhere in the world is assured of a consistent, solid, world-class build. It’s as if the very same engineers, designers, and assemblers in Wolfsburg built every T-Cross themselves. This is a reassuring point that must be emphasized.
That strong and rigid body structure was felt as we rolled over the rutted roads of Dasmariñas heading to the CALAX exit. The suspension does most of the work (as it should) but little or nothing is transmitted into the cockpit This is evident in every model’s fit and finish. Laser welding technology, forged steel door hinges, high-strength panels, and consistent door seals and panel gaps, all contribute to a strong and durable body structure.
It also helped that our car came in the Tribu Yellow color that just was so visible even in the heavy fog. Other colors have equally strange names: Syringa Violet, Romance Red, Chinchilla Gray, and Polar White.
But I have a bias for “Tribu.”
