Volkswagen T-roc R Tips on choosing your ideal spec
There’s no better way of saying this: the Volkswagen T-roc R is an absolute hoot to drive. Its 296bhp petrol engine provides hot hatch pace and, in combination with the T-roc’s thrilling handling, makes for a truly engaging package; that’s why it’s our favourite sports SUV for less than £40,000.You get plenty of equipment as standard, but here’s our guide to adding more luxuries without breaking the bank.
BEST BUY Volkswagen T-roc R 2.0 TSI 4Motion DSG List price £38,450 Target Price £36,236
Options we’d add Akraprovic titanium sports exhaust system (£3000), Dynamic Chassis Control (£695), Driver Assistance Pack (£205), rear-view camera (£185), matt decorative inserts (£115)
Cost of options £4200
The £205 Driver Assistance Pack adds kit such as lane-keeping and traf c jam assistance, as well as electrically heated door mirrors and automatic wipers.you might not bother with each item individually, but collectively they’ll make the T-roc R more relaxing on longer trips, and the pack doesn’t cost much.
To get the most out of the T-roc R, you’ll want to upgrade to Dynamic Chassis Control (£695), which allows you to switch the car’s suspension between three settings: Sport, Comfort and Normal. In Sport, the T-roc R has less body lean than rivals, making it even more engaging to thread along country roads. Front and rear parking sensors come as standard on the T-roc R, but to make sure you don’t inadvertently reverse into the neighbour’s wall, you’ll want to get a rear-view camera for £185. It gives you extra reassurance, and could prevent a ‘watch me park’ moment from ending with an embarrassing phone call.
You might wince at spending £3000 on what is, essentially, a purely soundtrack-enhancing upgrade, but the truth is that the T-roc R’s standard exhaust is a little, well, tame. With this one from specialist Akraprovic tted instead, there’ll be no mistaking your arrival for anything other than in a thoroughbred sports SUV. We think that for a car with the T-roc R’s brief, the standard interior is actually very drab.that’s why we recommend upgrading it with inserts for the dashboard and centre console which match the exterior colour of your car.these are plastic, but they lift the T-roc R’s ambience and, at £115, don’t cost a lot.