Every South African motorist has either owned or driven a compact Volkswagen of some variety. Maybe you have fond sepia-hued recollections of learning to drive on a battered old Beetle, or buying a Citi Golf as your first new car, for the same amount as what a decent smartphone costs in 2023.

So enduring is the appeal of the Citi, that even today, well over a decade after its discontinuation, buyers are willing to pay top bucks for a clean, usable example. Over the last 13 years and over two model generations, the Polo Vivo captured the budget B-segment market, catering to just about every demographic. From rental fleet companies, to newly-licensed drivers, to empty-nesters downsizing into their last retirement purchase.

Or perhaps you budgeted up into the proper, full-cream Polo model instead of the Vivo. Many upwardly-mobile professionals can relate to the cachet associated with owning a Polo R-Line, in that very distinctive specification, replete with sunroof and IQ Light LED Matrix headlamps. Then there is the GTI taking the top spot in the hierarchy of fast compact Volkswagen models.

Although the Polo Vivo and Polo cover the bases well, Volkswagen has not forgotten about the buyer who needs just a little more in terms of space and footprint. So it launched the T-Cross, based on the Polo platform, to do the job. It was in 2019 that the model came to the local market.

And in that time it has cemented itself as a desirable pick in the hotly-contested compact crossover arena. The model is currently in run-out. Next year Volkswagen will launch an updated version. But even still, the outgoing T-Cross maintains decent volumes.

Consider that last month 538 units were recorded. Not bad, given its age, placing 25th overall on the new car sales chart and besting nameplates like the Haval Jolion (508 units). Rivals like the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro managed 986 units last month. The Corolla Cross did 1,766 copies.

So it might not be fresh out the box, but the T-Cross remains quite relevant. And will remain so, as a compelling pre-owned buy too. Volkswagen offered to place a vehicle in our care over a month-long evaluation period. Derivative-wise, my view was that the T-Cross in 1.0 TSI Comfortline manual guise, would make for a germane subject. Our reflex silver metallic test vehicle had been equipped with certain options.

First up, the R-Line exterior kit, comprising 17-inch Manila style wheels. That costs R22,000. For R6,200 we have adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking assistance. Add R10,200 for the Active Info Display digital cluster.

Another R10,800 for the parking assist, reverse camera and electronically folding mirrors. Last off, for R8,900; is the Composition Media system, comprising App Connect and wireless charging. All-in, R58,100 added to the standard price of R399,000.

Although it lacks the nice squishy, soft-touch dashboard material found in the Polo Vivo and Polo, build quality of the T-Cross is excellent for the most part. In the current climate of screen-intensive layouts and haptic controls, the classic familiarity of physical buttons and rotary dials, is something to be appreciated. On that topic of analogue familiarity, the five-speed shifter operates with a confident weighting, typical of the brand.

Even the handbrake remains assuredly mechanical. My first drive in the T-Cross involved a jaunt down the M1 and N1 freeways. It allowed for a pleasant reminder as to how economical the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged-petrol is.

Keeping the tachometer needle low, using the 70kW/175Nm quite miserly, my fuel consumption by the time I approached Winnie Mandela Drive about 26km after I started, was an unbelievably low 3l/100km. After some stop-go traffic and driving in town, the average readout rose to 4.1l/100km. The test unit is still quite new, with 3,480km on the odometer, so we look forward to seeing what consumption it yields longer-term on cross-country stints.

Subsequent updates will include an economy run, a general report back after the festive season travels and a comprehensive buying used guide early in 2024.