Test Car Specifications
Model tested: Volkswagen T-Roc Style 1.0 TSI
Pricing: T-Roc from £26,210, Style from £28,955
Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door, five-seat SUV
CO2 emissions: 135g/km
Combined economy: 47.1mpg
Top speed: 115mph
0-62mph: 10.8 seconds
Power: 110hp
Torque: 200Nm
Boot space: 445-1,290 litres
Styling
The updates to the T-Roc are fairly subtle, so the car doesn't look that different at first glance. Take a closer look, though, and you'll spot the new grille and new front bumper, as well as the new headlights. Real students of the brand might also realise the D-shaped daytime running lights are now standard on all models, while there's also a new light bar that runs between the main headlights, although you'll only really spot that at night. Other than that, it's business as usual, which means the T-Roc still has a charming chunkiness to it, despite its relatively compact dimensions.
Interior
While exterior updates may be subtle, the T-Roc’s cabin has had slightly more of an overhaul, getting some softer plastics and a redesigned climate control panel. That means the conventional switches have been replaced with touch-sensitive sliders, which feel fiddly and cheap compared with the old buttons. And although there are some soft plastics knocking about, there are some cheap ones, too – particularly near the doors and the centre console.
That said, build quality is excellent, with everything fitting together smartly, and there’s improved standard equipment across the range. The touchscreen size depends on the model and options you specify, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto always come as standard, allowing you to access your phone’s apps through the car’s interface.
Practicality
Family SUVs such as this live and die by their practicality, and the T-Roc has already established itself as one of the cars to beat in this class. Although the dimensions aren't especially huge, the 445-litre boot is much bigger than that of your average family hatchback, so there's plenty of carrying capacity. Team that with sufficient rear space for two adults, and you've got a very useful family bus that should have no problem slotting into everyday life.
Performance
As before, the T-Roc is being offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, but most customers won’t need to go much beyond the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol tested here. The three-cylinder turbocharged engine is used in most of the VW Group’s compact cars, and it’s paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive. The 110hp output is unremarkable but ample, and while performance is hardly electrifying, the T-Roc is quick enough to keep up with traffic.
More importantly, however, it’ll manage almost 50mpg on the official economy test, and you’ll easily top 40mpg in the real world – assuming you don’t have hooves of lead. Admittedly, it isn’t the most efficient car in the T-Roc range – the diesels take that crown – but it’s economical enough for most to be going on with.
It’s surprisingly refined, too, with the three-cylinder engine making little noise in the cruise and quite a pleasant rasp when you push it harder. Of course, it isn’t exciting in any way, but then it isn’t trying to be.
Ride & Handling
That 1.0-litre engine suits the T-Roc quite well, because you always get the impression it isn't trying to do anything particularly special. The unspectacular seems to be this car's calling card, and that will be just fine for the majority of customers. Just as the engine is more economical than exciting, the handling is more safe than sporty. The steering is a bit light and numb, and though grip is plentiful and the body is well controlled, it always feels quite soft.
The advantage of that, of course, is a very mature ride. It doesn't quite float over bumps, but it always feels stable and unperturbed by any kind of imperfection in the road surface, and that gives it a really pleasant feeling of dependability. Naturally, you still feel the harshest bumps, but the worst of the edges are rounded off and the soundproofing keeps everything nice and quiet.
Value
VW T-Roc prices start at just over £26,000, but the mid-range Style model we tested comes in at almost £29,000 before options. That sounds like a lot, but it puts the VW roughly on a par with the Kia Niro and other similarly sized models. And you don’t really need much more equipment than a mid-range T-Roc provides.
All versions get alloy wheels, a digital instrument display and parking sensors front and rear, as well as two-zone climate control and wireless smartphone integration tech. However, the Style version gets an even more upmarket instrument display, bigger wheels and satellite navigation. Fit a few choice options – we’d go for the £300 Winter Pack with heated seats and the £280 reversing camera – and you’ve got all the car you really need.
Verdict
Volkswagen has only made small changes to the T-Roc, and that's no bad thing. What was already a talented, competent family car has retained all those qualities, and while some of the changes are retrograde steps, others have made the car look and feel more modern. Overall, it doesn't feel like much of an improvement, but it didn't need to be. Those in search of a family car that's comfortable, solidly built and smartly styled need look no further.
