Quick test: Volkswagen T-roc
Model tested 1.5 TSI EVO 150PS Design Price £23,095 Kerbweight 1330kg
How does this small SUV measure up?
Towing ability The T-roc is quite small and light, with a kerbweight of just 1330kg. That gives an 85% match figure of 1131kg, well within the car’s 1500kg legal towing limit. So it is really only suitable for lightweight caravans. We paired it with the Swift Expression 480, which has a MIRO of 1156kg. Even pulling a relatively small, unladen van, you might think a 1.5-litre petrol engine would struggle. But while it’s necessary to change down a gear or two quite often on hilly roads, the engine performs rather well. Turbocharging helps to push peak pulling power to 185lb ft, not far off the torque output of some small diesel engines. What’s more, it’s delivered all the way from 1500-4000rpm, so performance is reasonable across most of the rev range. Hill starts do need a careful balance of clutch and throttle, but the e-brake releases smoothly and it’s possible to pull away on slopes as steep as 1-in-6 without undue drama. That’s not always the case if you want to pull away quickly, though. Go for a gap in traffic and it’s easy to spin the front wheels briefly in the dry. In wet weather, we’d expect this shortage of traction to be more pronounced. Four-wheeldrive versions of the T-roc should cure this, but they’ll be considerably more expensive and 4x4 isn’t an option with this engine. You’d need to choose the 2.0 TSI or 2.0 TDI diesel. Once up to speed, engine noise fades into the background, and the T-roc cruises along happily. For such a small tow car, stability is solid. We noticed some side-to-side movements in crosswinds when towing without a hitch stabiliser at this year’s Tow Car Awards testing. When pulling the Expression 480 with a damper fitted, such movements were less frequent. Arriving at your destination, the T-roc copes well with low-speed manoeuvres. Thick rear pillars do hamper the view over the driver’s shoulder a little, but there was no sign
The T-roc is fine for two, but it would be a bit of a squeeze for a family
of protest from the clutch after reversing onto the pitch. There’s good clearance around the towball and although the electrics are tucked under the car, they’re not so far back that the bumper gets in the way. Solo driving The T-roc is very enjoyable to drive, certainly with the optional Dynamic Chassis Control fitted. That’s not cheap, at £1025, but it does contribute to the VW’S broad range of abilities. The standard setting keeps the car tied down on country roads without feeling too stiff. ‘Sport’ adds weight to the steering and firms up the suspension, but you will feel imperfections in the road surface more. ‘Comfort’ takes the sting out of bumps, but feels a little floaty on country roads. Without the weight of a van, the 1.5-litre engine is willing and lively. On the motorway there’s little sound under the bonnet, but there is a bit of road noise. Space and practicality The T-roc is fine for two, but would be a bit of a squeeze for a family. What’s more, we found the standard of interior finish rather disappointing. The dashboard plastics are hard and shiny – nowhere near as appealing as you’d expect of a Volkswagen. At least the body-coloured panels (which are a no-cost option) brighten up the interior. There’s enough adjustment for seat and wheel for drivers of most shapes and sizes to be comfortable – we had no aches or pains after a day of towing. Rear-seat space is not so generous – there’s enough headroom, but legroom is tight. Boot space is a reasonable 445 litres with the seats upright. The floor can be set to two heights – the higher sits level with the tailgate opening, the lower makes for one large space. The rear seats fold to give 1290 litres of luggage room. Buying and owning The T-roc isn’t cheap. The Seat Arona is only slightly smaller, but can be had with the same engine for around £1500 less. Strong resale values (52% after three years and 36,000 miles, according to What Car?) help offset the high price. Running costs should be low, thanks to a keen insurance group rating and very good fuel economy. The car achieves 53.3mpg on the official combined cycle, partly thanks to some clever technology that shuts down two of the four cylinders under light loads. We were impressed by the 26.1mpg the T-roc achieved while towing. Verdict Setting aside the low-rent interior, the T-roc is a very likeable small tow car.