Volkswagen changed EVERYTHING about the new T-Roc: is it better?

This is the all-new Volkswagen T-Roc, and it has a lot to live up to. The old car is one of VW’s best-selling models, coming in just behind the Golf and the Tiguan, and the new one has a trick up its sleeve to help it stand out.

The outgoing car was based on the smaller VW Golf, whereas this new car shares most of its parts with the Tiguan SUV. That’s led to a longer wheelbase, which makes it more practical than before.

I’m going to give the new T-Roc a thorough review, testing its technology, practicality, performance and seeing what it’s like to drive.

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New Volkswagen T-Roc design – it’s more youthful than before

Looking at the new T-Roc parked next to its predecessor, you can tell that Volkswagen is targeting a slightly younger demographic with this car. I quite like the way the old one looks, but the latest car has a more sporty and youthful appearance.

This is the R-Line model, so it has a slightly more aggressive look than the mid-spec cars thanks to the deeper front bumper and extended side skirts. It also has the black pack, so whereas the standard car has satin silver trim around the bumpers and windows, this car has gloss black.

In this yellow with the black pack, I reckon it looks a little bit like a baby Lamborghini Urus. Moving down the side you have 20-inch alloy wheels on this car, but you get 16-inch rims as standard. Sitting in the middle you have a set of 18-inch wheels.

The body creases are a bit more rounded on this car than its predecessor, which once again makes it look more modern. The full-width light bar at the rear is a nice touch, and it even has an illuminated VW badge. I’m also delighted to report that there are no fake tailpipes here – well done Volkswagen.

New Volkswagen T-Roc interior and practicality – a big step up in quality and space

Before jumping into the new car, I took a seat in the current T-Roc to remind myself what it’s like. Everything feels solidly built, but the infotainment screen is starting to show its age and I’m not a fan of the scratchy plastics on top of the doors either.

There are a lot of big changes in the new car, the first being the infotainment system. It’s a much larger screen than before, and it’s higher definition as well. It looks more modern, but I preferred the separate climate controls you got in the old car to the touchscreen-based ones here.

A first for Volkswagen is the fabric-covered dashboard, which lifts the cabin nicely and feels posh. The tops of the doors also feel posh, because they’re finished in soft-touch plastic. That’s a huge improvement over the old car.

Interior storage is pretty decent as well. You get a good-sized glovebox and big door bins, although I’d like to see them lined with felt like they are on the Volkswagen Golf. You also get a big storage area in the centre console with configurable dividers to create various sized cupholders.

Moving to the rear, this is where you can notice that longer wheelbase I was talking about earlier. There is loads of kneeroom, more so than in the old car, and you can slide your feet under the seat in front if you really want to stretch out.

I reckon headroom is ever so slightly tighter than before though, but it’s still fine for me at 179cm tall. Getting three people across the rear is a squeeze though, you may end up fighting for shoulder space. At least fitting a child seat is a doddle thanks to the easy-access ISOFIX points, and there are anchors on the front seat as well if you’ve been blessed with three kids.

The boot is 30 litres bigger than before at 475 litres, although I can’t really notice much difference to the naked eye. You get an adjustable false floor, and there’s no need for me to fling the parcel shelf across this busy factory because it fits underneath.

On the whole the interior of this new T-Roc is a huge step up over the old one, both in terms of quality and practicality.

New Volkswagen T-Roc engines and driving – It’s super-comfy, but there’s a problem

The car I’m testing here has a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150hp and a mild hybrid system for added efficiency. You can also get this same engine with 110hp, and there will be a 204hp 2.0-litre version with four-wheel drive further down the line, along with a pair of hybrids.

A fire-breathing R version is also in the works, and that car will have 333hp.

I’m really impressed with the way the new T-Roc drives in town, mostly thanks to the excellent suspension. This car has the adaptive dampers which can be adjusted to make them more firm and sporty, but even in the harshest setting it’s still comfortable. Switch it to the softest setting and it glides over bumps like few other small SUVs can.

I also tested a car without the adaptive dampers, and it’s still really good on rough roads. It’s ever so slightly less refined, but there’s not much in it. If I was speccing my own car, I’d pay the extra for the more advanced suspension, but if you find a great deal on a car with the standard setup then don’t let that put you off.

The new T-Roc is also manoeuvrable thanks to a tight turning circle, and it has a clever feature to help make tricky parking spaces easier to navigate. Say you have an awkward driveway at home, you simply park the car yourself once and it will learn how you did it. Then you just push a button and it’ll do everything for you. I tested the feature from the back seat of the car, and it worked remarkably well.

On faster-moving roads it’s quiet and smooth. Motorway driving is made easy by the excellent adaptive cruise control system which steers to keep you in lane and maintains a safe distance from the car in front. It even coped well with the strong crosswinds as I drove over a bridge.

However, there was one thing I found a bit disappointing, and that’s the fuel economy. Volkswagen says that the engine in this car will return between 47mpg and 51mpg, however on a steady motorway cruise I only managed 43mpg. That’s a shame because I was hoping the mild hybrid system would make it a bit more efficient than that.

Despite this, the T-Roc is a very pleasant car to drive. It’s not the most sporty or engaging on a twisty road, but it feels solid, predictable and supremely comfortable – which is what most Volkswagen customers want.

My final verdict on the new Volkswagen T-Roc

So now it’s time for my final verdict, and I reckon you should shortlist the new Volkswagen T-Roc. It’s a good, practical family car which looks cool, and is nice to drive.

Sales of this car will start in the UK next year, and it’ll be a couple of thousand pounds more expensive than the outgoing model. That means a starting price of around £30,000, but make sure you check out the latest offers through Carwow to save yourself some cash on your next car.

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