Test: VW T-Roc

do you know her best selling Vehicles from the past year in Germany? In 1st place is still the Golf (84.000 units), albeit badly plucked compared to his best times. There are many reasons for this, but it is also due to the models in 2nd and 3rd place, the SUVs Tiguan and T-Roc from the same company, of which around 59.000 were sold each, and which may have encouraged some former Golf drivers with back problems to switch. Wait a minute, the T-Roc in third place? You hardly ever see him. That's not entirely true, it's overlooked.

Because the vehicle moves so unobtrusively in traffic that the “T” in the name could also stand for “magic cloak”. Especially since not only his drivers like to dress in the wide range of colors between stone and mouse gray, but also like to make their vehicle exciting Paintwork in black, dark blue or grey.

The striking design details also include the T-Roc's slanting C-pillars

The design of the T-Roc

The design of the T-Roc is quite successful. What at second glance at the one that has been built since the end of 2017 but was thoroughly revised at the end of 2021 five-seater striking is, for example, its beefy front end with elegant cross braces, the striking wheel arches or the harmonious side line with the roof sloping slightly backwards and the wide, conspicuously sloping C-pillar. However, the positive impression may also be due to the fact that the Wolfsburg-based company only offers its crossover in the 2.0 TSI version that we drive in the sporty R-Line Equipment deliver, to the beautiful 17-inch aluminum, that sports suspension and progressive steering.

At 4,25 meters, the T-Roc is almost exactly at Golf level, and since it is of course also based on the so-called modular transverse matrix (MQB) is based, you could also see it as a kind of golf jacked up. Surprisingly, the rear seats are relatively narrow. And that too trunk, here by the standard all wheel drive anyway a bit smaller than the less powerful versions, at 392 liters it is just almost 20 liters larger than the bestseller, the maximum value when folded down backseat is even identical at 1.237 liters. You would expect a little more from a vehicle of this length with SUV claims.

Since the big facelift, the T-Roc has had soft-touch surfaces on the inside instead of hard plastic, and the analog instrument cluster has been replaced with a digital one

space in the interior

But at least the front is very generous, the driver and passenger have plenty of space and also sit on excellent chairs. the Service is no longer self-explanatory, as is unfortunately usual at Volkswagen today. After all, since the big facelift, there are now soft-touch surfaces instead of hard plastic and the analogue instrument cluster was replaced by a digital one. Finally, LED headlights are always on board and also the newest ones assistance systems, for which, however, surcharges are sometimes required. Speaking of price: At 40.780 euros, the T-Roc in this version is an expensive pleasure, especially since 50.000 euros and more quickly become due with a few sensible equipment. But it is also cheaper, for example in the basic version as a 1,0-liter TSI for 24.345 euros with sparse equipment.

If you look closely at the rear lights, you will notice a striking LED signature

The engines of the T-Roc

In the Engines Luckily, Volkswagen still offers a fairly wide range of choices petrol engines with 110, 150, 190 and 300 hp up to diesels with 116 and 150 hp. The 2.0 TSI in the more civil variant we drove has 140 kW/190 hp and a torque of 320 Newton meters. For the sake of completeness, these are also included here performance mentioned: The T-Roc accelerates to 6,8 km/h in 100 seconds and the maximum speed is 218 km/h.

The MOTOR does its job excellently. In front of all the tested e-cars and plug-in hybrids, you almost forgot how much fun such a high-torque one is gasoline engine can make. The two-liter is good on the gas and makes the almost 1,7 ton all-wheel drive felt light-footed brother. that one all wheel drive also ensures that the T-Roc with its very comfortable sports chassis can be moved through curves as if on rails. Unfortunately that holds Dual-clutch transmission not with and shows its well-known weaknesses, to which above all lack Comfort heard when starting, slowing down and reversing. The seven-course is obviously no longer up-to-date.

Consumer behavior of the T-Roc

So much fun that Power Type also power, the efficiency takes its toll. Despite a predominantly moderate driving style, we still managed to add over one and a half liters to the 7,4 liters promised by the manufacturer, so that in the end it was a little more convincing test consumption of 9,1 liters per 100 kilometers. By then we would actually have one at the gas station magic hat desired.

Peter Eck / SP-X