12. The VW T-Roc blends perky personality with a punchy powertrain
The stylish new T-Roc both turns heads and administers last rites as it ushers in a new era at Volkswagen.
The sporty crossover SUV – initially poo-poo’d as a neither-fish-nor-fowl for those who can’t make up their minds – has proved something of a global success. From the purveyors of automotive exotica, Lamborghini, to “the people’s car” brand, VW, all now boast an aggressively styled, lowroof-silhouetted SUV in their model lineup. And with the rise of one segment has come the death of another.
Much like SUVs sent the sedan into retirement, so has this sports SUV signalled the end of the road for the sedan’s flashier sibling: RIP the coupé. In fact, the vehicle you see here is as much an example of current tastes as it is a dynamically styled and aerodynamically tuned tombstone – its launch in Europe three years ago coincided with the announcement that VW was ending production of its only coupé, the Scirocco.
Now available in South Africa, the T-Roc has settled between the T-Cross and the Tiguan in the T-flavoured Volkswagen SUV range (topped by the Touareg). An urbansophisticate athlete whose proportions persuade your eye more to the performance than the practical, this is the GTI of the Volkswagen SUV lineup. It even shares a chassis with the Golf.
DESIGN
A high-sculpted waistline is met by a descending roofline and muscular shoulders that bunch over large, 19-inch wheels in the top-spec R-Line model. The elongated grille, narrowed further by headlamp-to-headlamp slats, accentuates the sleek profile, while the raked windscreen encourages your gaze along sharp creases and swooping chrome detailing along the roofline and roof racks.
Complementing those racks, it’s the dark plastic cladding around the wheel arches and side sills, along with faux scratch plates and a mildly raised ride height, that nod to the T-Roc’s off-road crossover credentials. But it’s highly unlikely that new owners will be looking for any ability beyond the asphalt – and that’s a good thing: the adapted Golf chassis means responsive onroad dynamics and, for the most part, a supple ride.
The T-Roc feels sure-footed through corners, although road imperfections do jolt a little through the thin 19-inch rubber. (I’d look to spec 18- or even 17-inch wheels.)
INTERIOR
Inside, the T-Roc has received criticism for what feels like hard, cheap plastic on some of the interior trim, but it’s made up for by a crisp, modern aesthetic that proves good design doesn’t necessarily mean you need expensive materials.
Appropriate for the young, savvy urban market, the T-Roc makes a strong digital play with an interactive cockpit that includes a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an optional 11.7-inch screen. VW’s WeConnect Go app is also standard in the range; it allows you to pair your T-Roc to your smartphone and get access to vehicle data, the nearest or preferred VW dealer, and a digital tax logbook.
If you’re looking for a statement SUV crossover that complements your modern, curated lifestyle, the T-Roc is your bag. While it may be lacking refinement in a couple of areas, its stylish looks, perky personality and punchy powertrain options make it very appealing in a competitive market segment.
THE T-ROC RANGE
• 1.4 TSI 110kW Design | R489 400
• 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION DSG Design | R548 300
• 2.0 TSI 140kW 4MOTION DSG | R593 600
(Including 3 year/120 000km warranty, 5 year/90 000km VW service plan, and 12-year anti-corrosion warranty)
ITS PROPORTIONS PERSUADE YOUR EYE MORE TO THE PERFORMANCE
THAN THE PRACTICAL.