Volkswagen T-Roc Review & Prices

The Volkswagen T-Roc is a medium-sized SUV that fits in the VW range between the small T-Cross and the bigger Tiguan. It’s basically a Golf with a top-hat, and it feels like a shirt from Marks & Spencer’s Autograph range — a bit more upmarket than most, but still pretty affordable and practical.

It’s a huge seller for VW, with almost as many finding homes as the Golf hatchback, and it’s not hard to see why, as it’s practical, nice enough to drive, and has the mildly-upmarket appeal of the VW badge.

It’s a more stylish looking car than the little T-Cross, and a handier size in tight spaces than the big Tiguan. You can have the high-performance T-Roc R if you want something with a bit more of a kick, too. And although the T-Roc has been around since 2017, a big update in 2022 kept it fresh against alternatives as varied as the Skoda Kamiq, Toyota C-HR and Renault Symbioz.

The T-Roc isn’t especially exciting on the outside, but it’s got a sort of classy, solid look to it, and the 2022 update brought along some small styling tweaks that accentuated that effect.

Inside, the cabin is a bit dark and sober, but it’s all well made, easy to use, and very comfortable. There is the expected big touchscreen, but having separate climate controls makes life a lot easier, and it’s not as complicated a screen as those of some recent VWs.

Space is good in the front, but a bit tighter in the back, although the rear doors open nice and wide, so you’ll easily load up family members and their car safety seats. It’s a safe car too, taking home a five-star Euro NCAP rating.

All versions come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and a matching 8.0-inch digital instrument display, although higher-spec versions get a bigger 10.3-inch instrument screen. There’s standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as climate control and all-round parking sensors, plus adaptive cruise control.

Even ignoring the R version, with its 300hp and four-wheel drive, the T-Roc is pretty good to drive. It’s not very heavy by SUV standards, and so it swishes around corners quite nicely and feels nimble around town. VW has dropped the diesel engines from the T-Roc range, but the 1.5-litre and 1.0-litre petrol engines are still up to the job, and are capable of hitting 45mpg in real-world conditions.

The 1.0-litre petrol can feel a bit sluggish if you’re four-up, but it’s fine otherwise. The 1.5-litre TSI, though, is a great all-rounder and you can have it with a manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘DSG’ automatic.

If you like what you hear you can see how much you could save with Carwow’s Volkswagen T-Roc deals or T-Roc lease deals. You could also get a great deal by browsing used T-Roc models, as well as extensive stock of other used Volkswagens from our network of trusted dealers. When it’s time to sell your car, Carwow can help with that, too.

The T-Roc’s pricing has become more competitive over time, with entry prices just below the £30,000 mark, and a less steep climb up the range if you fancy an R-Line or a Style Design model.

A Renault Symbioz is cheaper again, but does rather feel like it should be, as it’s not quite as sophisticated as the T-Roc. A Toyota C-HR is pricier, although it is a hybrid-only model (which you can’t get at all in the T-Roc), but the Toyota is much smaller and less practical inside. A Skoda Kamiq is considerably cheaper, but it’s a smaller car overall.

The Volkswagen T-Roc is composed and can even be quite fun, though it’s not the most comfortable over bumps

In town

With good visibility and light steering the T-Roc is pretty easy to drive around town. While the suspension can feel a little firm over some bigger bumps - it’s not as cushioned as a Peugeot 2008, for example - it’s not unbearable by any means.

Though automatic cars are usually easier for town driving, in the T-Roc we’d avoid the seven-speed DSG that’s available on certain engine variants. While it’s perfectly good most of the time, it can be annoyingly hesitant right when you need a quick response - such as if you’re trying to nip out into traffic at a junction or roundabout.

And unlike most of the alternatives you might consider, the T-Roc isn’t available with any hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric engine options. Instead, you get just plain petrol choices - which aren’t the most efficient in heavy traffic. The hybrid powertrain of a Toyota C-HR suits urban driving much better.

On the motorway

The T-Roc feels composed at a cruise, and isn’t bothered by crosswinds - it’s quite relaxing, especially considering adaptive cruise control is fitted as standard to help you maintain your distance to the car in front.

Wind and road noise are well contained, though the 1.0-litre engine can be a little noisy, especially if you drop down a gear for an overtake.

The firm suspension never really settles down either, leading you to feel expansion joints and poor surfaces more than you would in a vehicle with softer suspension.

On a twisty road

Out on twistier roads, the T-Roc holds its own really well. It’s not the most invigorating car to drive, but you can certainly have fun with it. You get a good sense of the road surface and grip beneath you as well - more so than in a Renault Symbioz.

The T-Roc is notably lightweight compared with some alternatives - that’s the benefit of not fitting a hybrid powertrain - which means it feels nimble and changes direction with more urgency than something like a Toyota C-HR.

Optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) brings adjustable suspension, which helps numb the otherwise quite firm ride - it allows you to set the car’s suspension to its softest setting for a more comfortable trip, but to keep the engine and gearbox in their sportier settings for a more involving drive.

It’s a shame that VW has dropped the 4MOTION four-wheel drive option along with the diesel engines. It’s not like that made the T-Roc into a wannabe Land Rover, but it did give you a bit more grip and traction on greasy roads.

Average rear seat space, but good storage and a huge boot

Volkswagen has done a good job of making the cabin of the T-Roc practical. There are large door bins, two central cupholders – albeit quite awkwardly-shaped ones – and a good space in the centre console to hold your phone when it’s connected to the infotainment system.

The glovebox is a decent size too, while the central armrest lifts up to reveal a small cubby. You can adjust the armrest by sliding it forwards and backwards, making it easy to get comfortable. You even get a useful drawer under the driver’s seat.

There’s loads of adjustment in the driver’s seat and notably in the steering wheel, which telescopes out a really long way - great if you’re tall. Electrically adjustable seats are a colossally expensive extra though, part of a £2,400 leather seats pack even on the high-spec R-Line model.

Space in the back seats

The T-Roc is by no means small, but it’s a bit tighter in the back seats compared to the Peugeot 2008 or Skoda Kamiq.

Taller people in particular will find the rear seats to be a squeeze, with the legroom being rather limited. You’ll find your knees digging into the back of the front seats, while there isn’t the most foot room either. Headroom is quite good, even for adults.

The middle seat though is not really an option for anything more than a short journey, as you’ll take up precious space from the feet of other passengers, and it’s not wide enough to hold three adults for too long.

Storage is pretty good though, as you get a decent door bin, seat pockets for any devices or books, and a large folding armrest in the middle. It’s nice and easy to fit child seats, too, with wide-opening rear doors and just about enough space for a bulky rear-facing unit.

Boot space

The T-Roc’s boot is one of the largest among small SUVs. With 445 litres of space, it’s bigger than the 400-litre Skoda Kamiq or the 434-litre Peugeot 2008, and dwarfs the 377-litre Toyota C-HR.

It’s a nice square shape, too, and all models get an adjustable boot floor which can be lowered for maximum volume or raised up to make a totally flat loading sill with no lip between the boot and the folded seatbacks.

The seats fold in a 60:40 split, and you also get a ski hatch to facilitate through-loading of long, narrow items.

The T-Roc hasn’t got the most exciting cabin around, but it’s simply styled and well-equipped

The T-Roc isn’t and never will be a style icon, but it’s all simply laid out and has clear lines across the dash. The majority of T-Rocs will come with dark grey and black trim for the cloth upholstery and dashboard.

The materials used high-up are of good quality, but lower down and in the back, scratchier plastics are easy to find and detract from the overall feel of the cabin quite a bit. There’s some ambient lighting that’s fitted as standard, which adds a little more character. It's a shame that, since the facelift in 2022, Volkswagen no longer offers the T-Roc with colourful inserts in the dashboard - these really brightened the interior up.

What you will have to contend with is a reduced amount of buttons in the central console. Yes, it looks simpler and easier to navigate, but the air conditioning controls are now consolidated to a touch-sensitive slider that’s tricky to use on the move. Even so, it’s still a better setup than having those controls on a touchscreen, even if the panel is mounted a bit too low down.

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto fitted as standard, you’ll likely use that rather than the standard-fit infotainment system. That being said, it’s not a bad system — running smoothly and is easy enough to navigate on the go.

As standard, you also get a digital driver’s display rather than conventional dials — 8.0 inches a standard, and 10.3 inches on higher-spec models. There are multiple configurable displays too, so you’ll be able to find the setup and screen you’re happy with.

With a now-reduced lineup of engines, T-Roc running costs extend from reasonable to somewhat less reasonable.

Unlike many of its competitors, there are no hybrid or electric variants available, which does limit its appeal slightly.

The basic 1.0-litre engine is pretty efficient round town, and on a gentle run should be able to top 50mpg. The 1.5-litre petrol averages around 40mpg with a manual gearbox. The automatic makes it slightly less efficient around town, but does improve cruising economy because it allows for fewer revs in top gear.

However, all of the T-Roc’s engine options have emissions starting above 130g/km, which means a hefty road tax bill in year one, while as a company car a T-Roc will cost you quite a bit, too, so you’d be better off with a hybrid alternative such as the Toyota C-HR.

The refreshed T-Roc hasn’t been retested by Euro NCAP, but when it was put through its paces in 2017 it scored five stars. That included high scores for both occupant categories (96% for adults, 87% for children) and decent returns on assists and pedestrian safety. That being said, Euro NCAP testing has become more strict since then.

As standard, the T-Roc comes with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, driver alert system and cruise control. If you have an automatic, you get adaptive cruise control with distance control, which makes driving longer distances much easier.

You also get curtain airbags for the front and rear, ISOFIX points and e-Call for Europe to make sure you and your passengers are safe.

A limited number of the pre-facelift T-Rocs had issues with bonnets coming loose and a faulty seatbelt retractor, but besides those, it’s quite a reliable car. Not the most reliable, but certainly unlikely to let you down.

Volkswagen doesn’t offer the best warranty package around, but the first two years have an unlimited mileage warranty which is helpful. The third year of warranty can be finished early if you reach 60,000 miles from new. VW does offer extended warranty packages from £140 per year.

The T-Roc finished in 38th position in the Driver Power Top 50 Cars To Own list, which isn’t a great position, but it did score highly for reliability and quality.