Volkswagen T-Roc R
Flagship performance SUV hits the road
THE new car market has changed significantly in the decade since Volkswagen launched its R performance brand. Today, small SUVs dominate, and in an effort to capitalise on their success, VW has given its own contender in the class a racy makeover; meet the T-Roc R.
Like the rest of the T-Roc range, this hot model shares its running gear with the Golf. That means the engine, transmission and electronics come from the Golf R, but they have been tweaked to suit the SUV body.
The Golf R has established itself as a car that delivers easily accessible performance, and the T-Roc R is no different. Fire up the engine – which sounds a little flat without the optional Akrapovic exhaust – and in Comfort mode it feels barely any different to drive from every other petrol T-Roc.
It’s quiet, easy to pilot around town with direct, light steering and is comfortable over potholes, despite the 20mm lower sports suspension set-up. It rides marginally better than the Golf R, and as such, certainly nails its brief of being a more supple and spacious alternative.
Four-wheel drive is standard, and the T-Roc boasts driving modes for off-road and slippery conditions. However most buyers will be far more interested in what happens when they select Race mode via the standard, sharp and slick-to-use eightinch central touchscreen.
Immediately, the seven-speed DSG gearbox becomes a little more interested in the engine it’s linked to, the motor itself switching to a more aggressive throttle map. It’s a relentless set-up when you consider how easily the 296bhp and 400Nm transmit themselves to the road, unlocking a turn of pace that confirms the T-Roc R as a properly fast car, and an easy one to drive at that.
However, it does it with minimal sparkle, and isn’t helped by the DSG gearbox. This shifts smoothly but isn’t the most alert, and the small plastic paddles mounted behind the steering wheel do little to convince you to click through the gears yourself.
Our car had the optional Dynamic Chassis Control system with adaptive suspension, but on flowing roads the additional stiffness doesn’t leap out, and the extra weight on the steering rack introduced by tapping into Race mode doesn’t add any extra substance to the direct, but unspectacular steering.
The Haldex all-wheel-drive set-up has been tweaked to deal with the T-Roc’s extra weight and taller profile, the result being that there’s probably just as much grip available here as in the Golf, but a shade less agility. There’s lots of power, too, which translates to lots of straightforward, cross-country pace.
The T-Roc R’s interior offers more in the way of familiarity. The cabin is tweaked subtly with the addition of sports seats, aluminium pedals and a flat-bottomed, R-branded steering wheel. But the hard plastics running across the dashboard are still found here. If you want a little more quality inside, the Audi SQ2 is one to consider, although it’s not as practical as the VW, which has a 392-litre boot.
If the interior is a little languid, standard technology is good, with the inclusion of VW’s 10.3-inch Active Info Display digital instrument panel. You’ll get adaptive cruise control, automatic wipers and lights, front and rear parking sensors, sat-nav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto preparation, and LED headlights and tail-lights all as standard. However, some creature comforts, such as heated seats, a rear-view camera and high-beam assist, are only optional.