THE ALL-NEW Volkswagen T-Roc is a fresh, fun compact-class crossover that looks set to make waves in this fiercely competitive market segment when it arrives here in December.
Back in 2014 when we saw the original T-Roc concept at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen called it an ‘SUV in the Golf format’. And after test driving the T-Roc, that’s exactly what it feels like.
Now, I know this car isn’t a rival for the Golf but just bear with me for a moment.
The T-Roc doesn’t seem to ride that much higher than a Golf (it has 2cm more ground clearance) and the driving position is actually low and more car-like than SUV-like. So, if you are after that high commanding driving position that so many people currently desire you aren’t going to find it in the T-Roc.
If this isn’t an issue for you then why not just buy a Golf? The Golf offers more cabin space and practicality and a better drive although it does have a smaller boot (380-1,270 litres) compared to the T-Roc (455-1,290 litres).
But I will leave that alone, for now, and just assume that those who are interested in the T-Roc really just want what is probably the most trendy of all car types at the moment, the compact crossover.
In terms of design, it ticks all the right crossover boxes. It is nice and neat with a wide and low stance, short overhangs and sweeping roofline. It’s quite short and that helps to keep its centre of gravity low and aids its handling.
The cabin is also fresh, youthful and lively with nice coloured panels and a very practical and convenient centre console layout. Even the positions of the USB ports and cup holders are good. It made driving the T-Roc very easy and safe as everything fell nicely to hand.
What I didn’t like about the cabin was the number of hard surfaces and scratchy plastics used – not what I was expecting from a new Volkswagen product. On the plus side, the hard plastics are durable, easy to keep clean and a good option if you have younger children.
The seats, both front and back, are quite comfortable, however, I found the rear to be a bit cramped. If either of the front seat occupants is over six feet there is little leg and knee room in the back and the middle seat is narrow too and there is a large hump in the floor impeding on space. Headroom is good though.
Another thing about the rear is that the windows are a tad on the small side so with the black headlining it can feel a little closed-in.
Out on the road, I was impressed with how my test car drove over a variety of surfaces.
The suspension is well balanced and does a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps on poorer road surfaces. Body control is also good and the car felt nicely composed even with more vigorous driving, although in and out of corners there was a bit of body roll.
The steering is light and accurate and the car feels agile and very easy to manoeuvre.
There is a variety of driving settings: Snow, Normal, Eco and Sport Mode. You can also personalise the settings for the steering, chassis and 4Motion.
For me personally, I drove most of the time in Sport mode. This sharpens up the throttle response and the DSG gearbox shifts down a lot sooner and holds the gears longer and it just feels a bit more engaging. It also adds a bit of weight to the steering which I liked.
The new Volkswagen T-Roc will be in showrooms in December and the starting price is €24,750 for the 1.0-litre TSI. However, it is predicted that more than 50 per cent of sales will be for the 1.0-litre TSI model in Design trim level which has a recommended retail price of €26,995.
So, the new Volkswagen T-Roc scores big for design and technology features but loses points for the shortcuts in material quality and lack of space in the rear.
However, out on the road, it’s good to drive with decent handling.
Would I have it over a Golf? No. Would I have it over other similar priced compact crossovers like the Renault Captur, SEAT Ateca, Toyota C-HR? It would certainly be top of my consideration list.
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