Volkswagen T-Roc review

The Volkswagen T-Roc was a relative latecomer to the compact SUV segment, but the Golf-sized SUV is a strong contender in this hotly contested class, and it is a sales hit for VW. Best of all, it’s great to drive with spirited engines and a chassis that blends control with a fair degree of comfort. 

There’s enough passenger and luggage space for most small SUV buyers’ needs, plus plenty of hi-tech connectivity, autonomous driving and safety kit. Our previous bugbear with the T-Roc's interior quality has been somewhat addressed with a mid-life facelift, which is just as well, given there are more affordable rivals.

About the Volkswagen T-Roc

The Volkswagen T-Roc arrived in 2017 as an SUV-style spin-off from the best-selling VW Golf. Like many crossover-type vehicles, the T-Roc is blessed with off-road style chunky design cues, but the reality is that it’s configured to be easy to drive on tarmac, to be practical and affordable to run, and not to look like a boring old family hatchback. 

Like its plentiful rivals, the T-Roc is designed to tap into the booming market for stylish yet family-friendly SUVs, while also bringing a younger audience to the VW brand. Yet behind the racier image, the T-Roc shares much of its technology and engineering with its hatchback Golf sibling and is all the better for it. You pay more for being fashionable because the T-Roc starts at more than the entry-level Golf, but some are willing to pay a premium for a vehicle that’s a little taller.

The T-Roc comes with a broader range of engine options than the Golf; there’s an entry-level 113bhp 1.0-litre TSI version, a pair of economical diesel engines in 113bhp and 148bhp forms (the latter with optional four-wheel drive), and the high-performance T-Roc R rounding out the range - the latter boasting 296bhp and 4MOTION all-wheel drive for impressive grip. Rounding out the petrol side of things is our preferred 149bhp 1.5-litre and a 187bhp 2.0-litre, the latter comes exclusively with four-wheel drive. 

Both the 1.0 and 1.5-litre petrol engines, plus the lower-power diesel come as standard with a six-speed manual, while the 1.5 can be optioned with the same seven-speed DSG automatic that the more potent diesel, 2.0-litre petrol, and range-topping R come with as standard.

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In 2020, the range was extended to include the VW T-Roc Cabriolet to compete with the previous generation Range Rover Evoque Convertible. Since the demise of that rival, the T-Roc Cabriolet is the only new drop-top SUV of its type around, making it the ‘must-have’ choice for fans of such things.

As the T-Roc is based on the Golf, it slots into the VW crossover range between the larger Volkswagen Tiguan and the recently introduced Volkswagen T-Cross – alongside the Volkswagen Taigo coupe-SUV, which joined the range in 2021. Prices start from around £28,500 for the entry-level Life trim and climb to almost £44,500 for the hot R Black Edition version.

The T-Roc has a variety of rivals, including the Audi Q2 (which shares running gear with the T-Roc). There are also hybrid alternatives to consider, such as the Toyota C-HR and Honda HR-V,  as well as premium alternatives, such as the BMW X1, BMW X2, Lexus UX, MINI Countryman, Mercedes GLA and lower spec versions of the Volvo XC40.

Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line: long-term test

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Our Products editor, Kim Adams, spent six months behind the wheel of a 1.5 TSI DSG R-Line, and he had mixed feelings about it. The T-Roc proved to be an efficient small SUV, managing an average of 43mpg over 3,000 miles, it had a comfortable driving position, and the infotainment system worked well for him.

However, Kim didn’t find a setting in the expensive adaptive suspension system that he liked; the adaptive cruise control system was overly cautious at higher speeds, and the DSG automatic gearbox wasn’t the smoothest at low speeds when parking. You can read the full long term test here...