Urbane charmer T-Roc will keep the sales rolling in

Andrew Walker

Volkswagen tweaked the T-Roc in late 2022, and the new version was something I was keen to try out. As a family we ran a 1.0 T-Roc for three-anda-half years, and found it to be a comfortable, reliable motor.

Truth be known we would have had another had not Covid interrupted supply of the updated version, so a look at the new one was most welcome.

The T-Roc has long been one of VW’s best sellers, and shares its wheelbase with both the Audi Q2 and VW Polo. It wins hands down for interior quality, is better looking and has more standard equipment for a lower price point. It’s also roomier than the Polo, so a real win-win.

Engines

Customers can choose either a 1.0 litre with 105 bhp, a 1.5 litre with 148bhp and a 2.0 litre with 188bhp. Thre are also two diesels with a 1.6 litre offering 114bhp and a 2.0 litre offering 148bhp.

Trims

There are four trim levels: Life, Style, R-Line and R . All models feature an 8″ touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB radio and USB connectivity. Safety wise, the Life comes with Front Assist, featuring Pedestrian Protection and City Emergency Braking plus Lane Assist, whilst Style the model we were testing adds Adaptive Cruise Control and parking sensors.

Inside

Here is where things have changed the most on the updated T-Roc. The cabin and dashboard are logically laid out, with the 8” touchscreen sitting high on the dash rather than integrated as before. The touchscreen system is clear to the eye and simple to use. It is flanked by touch sensitive buttons that are quick to react. The climate controls have been updated and while the new sliding touch-sensitive system looks better it’s a bit fiddly to use, as we know from our own Tiguan.

On the road

We were driving 1.5 TSI petrol engine, which was fun to drive, with light steering and responsive while on the move. The chassis is quite forgiving and offers up a comfortable ride, even in the rear, where some cars are let down by their concrete firmness.

Around town the T-Roc is nippy and easy to park, with good visibility. The 148bhp petrol engine is refined too, especially on the motorway. Set Adaptive Cruise Control and you can relax into your motorway journey as the T-Roc moves along quietly, with only some noticeable wind noise when you’re at 70 mph.

The 1.5 TSI with 148bhp feels brisk, with a top speed of 127mph and a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds. Emissions are 120g/km, and combined fuel economy is 53.3 mpg. The only negative is that it does take a little time to get up to speed mid-range in fourth to sixth gear for example on the motorway and you will ned to change down to get the revs up.

Economy

From a real world point of view, the 1.5 TSI claimed combined full economy is 53.5 mpg. Out and about on a mixture of roads in urban, rural and motorway, I averaged a respectable 46.2mpg over 300 miles, which is better than I ever averaged in the 1.0 litre T-Roc we owned. Food for thought.

Pros

Decent kit and safety as standard. Improved interior quality over Mk1. New infotainment and digital cockpit are better too. The 1.0 and 1.5 litre petrol manuals are the ones to have, with lower BIK offered. Still one of the better ‘B’ SUV’s out there.

Cons

Rear passenger space is a little cramped. Auto and diesels decrease fuel economy or increase your BIK. Some cheapish finishes lower down.

CC&V VERDICT

With a new touchscreen and digital cockpit, plus more safety features, the updated T-Roc is definitely an improvement over the original. While not physically looking that much larger than Golf, it offers more cabin space, easier access, a larger boot and cleaner looks than the Golf. It’s also more stylish, comes with a higher, more comfortable driving position, all in a compact cityfriendly package with a selection of on-trend colour combos to brighten up your day.