The Volkswagen T-Roc is a lower mid-range SUV and a smaller brother of the Tiguan. It is the fourth SUV from Volkswagen and has been on the market since late 2017. It is currently the smallest, most efficient and most affordable SUV, combining striking, attractive looks with a lightweight, comfortable ride. And great potential for the future.

What Volkswagen T-Roc reviews agree on:

Lowest trim level still above average

The good news is that even the lowest equipment level of the T-Roc contains all the important features. In addition to the electric window controls, the driver can enjoy a rain sensor and in an inclement weather a rear wiper with an interval switch. The T-Roc has a host of safety features such as hill start assist, ESP system, ABS, EDS, ASR and MSR.

The front is striking, the rear inconspicuous

The first thing that catches your eye is the front mask. The daytime running lights and turn signals are integrated into the grille to form one solid part, and the sense of coherence is then broken up by the dominant lights below this line.

Surprising is the side view. The rear of the car is at a slight angle, which may evoke the feeling that this is a coupe. The car is also dominated by the fenders, which are much more visible on the car thanks to the raised moulding. The only thing you might want to watch out for is getting out of the car – it is made somewhat difficult due to the narrower hatch. From the rear, the T-Roc looks quite unobtrusive.

T-Roc mirrors are worth mentioning

The mirror system is virtually faultless. Exterior mirrors are electronically adjustable and heated. They are aspherical on the driver’s side and convex on the passenger’s side, and an interior rear-view mirror comes with an auto-dimming screen. And women can praise the make-up mirrors in the sun visors.

A classic but revitalised Volkswagen interior

The interior has the classic VW signature, aka it is conservative. But it was equipped with colorful accessories that stretch in a single line throughout the car and also on the center stack. However, the impression is spoiled in some places by the use of hard plastics. It’s a detail, but it gives a cheap impression.

Seats belong to the top category. They don’t hurt your back after a long journey, and especially when going around sharp curves, they hold your body in place and you don’t lean anywhere unnecessarily.

The boot has a volume of 445 litres. If you fill the lower compartment with a spare wheel, the boot shrinks to 392 litres, which isn’t exactly large.

Volkswagen T-Roc motorization

Like most of its rivals, this car is available with front-wheel and all-wheel drive, with both petrol and diesel engines. The flagship is the 2.0-litre petrol engine with 187bhp, but it’s also available with 148bhp. This engine is usually paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox and in the top Sport range it is paired with a DSG7 automatic gearbox. Additionally, it’s the only engine in the T-Roc to offer 4Motion all-wheel drive.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine then offers 150bhp and a manual 6-speed gearbox, while the 2.0-litre petrol engine has an available DSG automatic gearbox. However, the range of petrol engines also includes a weaker 1.0-litre TSI BMT paired to a manual gearbox, which is actually the only option for the entry-level T-Roc range.

It offers very fun handling characteristics and is incredibly sporty for an SUV. It also performs very well off the road.

History of VW T-Roc

The original T-Roc concept was unveiled back in 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show. Production of this fourth SUV from VW started in August 2017 in Italy. It shares its MQB A1 platform with the Skoda Octavia, Audi A3 and Seat Leon. Today, this model is produced for the European market in the Portuguese town of Palmela. In 2021, it received a facelift.

5 star Euro NCAP safety rating for T-Roc

In 2017 T-Roc reached a maximum star rating for it’s safety features. In 2022 these include:

• 9 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Driver fatigue warning
• Traffic sign recognition
• Rear view camera
• Blind spot monitoring with a lane changing system
• Semi-autonomous traffic jam assist
• Parking assist
• Automatic high beam headlights and emergency assistance available 

Volkswagen T-Roc in numbers:

• Price: 27 000-52 600 EUR
• Maximum power: 300 HP/221 kW
• Boot space: 445 l
• Curb weight: 1270-1555 kg

• Length: 4234 mm
• Width: 1819 mm
• Height: 1573 mm
• Wheelbase: 2590 mm

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