Everything you need to know about the Volkswagen T-Roc

Despite a lockdown launch, the Volkswagen T-Roc has proven to be a popular alternative to the compact family sedan. Find out why this recipe works as well as it does here.

By Chad Lückhoff

Published: 30 August 2022, 13:40

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In this article:

Who is the Volkswagen T-Roc a good car for?

What is the Volkswagen T-Roc like to drive?

Tech features in the Volkswagen T-Roc

Volkswagen T-Roc price

Similar cars to the Volkswagen T-Roc

Is the Volkswagen T-Roc a good car?

The Volkswagen T-Roc is one of the more recent introductions from the German manufacturer, a B-segment compact crossover that slots in between the new Taigo and Tiguan. First introduced during the lockdown in 2020, the T-Roc has received a mild facelift for the 2023 model year.

Who is the Volkswagen T-Roc a good car for?

Where the Taigo is a sportier take on the T-Cross and the Tiguan broaching the 7-seater territory (although available in both 5- and 7-seat configuration), the T-Roc can be likened to the same sort of space that you would get from a Jetta, if the Jetta was still available locally. This makes it great for the smaller, atypical families with two children whether they're still toddlers with prams and bags or teens who are slightly older and are carting sporting equipment and bigger school bags.

Is the Volkswagen T-Roc a good first car?

Inexperienced drivers may find the overall size of the T-Roc intimidating but they should fear not as the higher-spec T-Roc offerings provide you with a raft of safety and driver assistance systems to make navigating tighter confines such as parking lots, considerably easier.

Is the Volkswagen T-Roc a good family car?

That's what it's designed to be! It makes a great family car and offers up seating for 5 with a boot that measures in at 445-litre for the 2-wheel drive version and 392-litres in the AWD 4Motion versions. Both will see the load area expand when the rear seats are folded forward, giving you between 1290 and 1237-litres, depending on the model.

Is there a Hybrid Volkswagen T-Roc?

Customers will only be able to choose between two petrol engine options, a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder or a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder with no hybrid or electric option in this range.

View the latest used Volkswagen T-Roc for sale in South Africa

What’s it like to drive?

Reviewer's opinion

"We've had the run-of-the-mill Volkswagen T-Roc for some time now, but the new, high-performance 2.0TSI R-Line is a whole other ball game. It's crammed with tech and is as safe as houses, but we can't help but feel that there are a few critical oversights."

- Chad Luckhoff, AutoTrader

Read the full Volkswagen T-Roc review

What does it look like?

Exterior

Interior

What is the Volkswagen T-Roc like inside?

While attractively styled, the T-Roc is still built to a particular price point and this is most noticeable in the interior where not all of the surfaces carry the same level of luxury. The items you interact with are well-trimmed but move away from that and the cost savings start to show. The interior is also not as spacious as the exterior styling would lead you to believe and those with larger builds may find it a little too cossetting.

Style

The T-Roc carries a distinct coupe element to its design, despite offering up five doors and a raised platform. Sharp creases and trapezoidal design elements help differentiate it from the rest of the lineup, even if the latest Taigo and T-Cross bear some resemblance. It's an attractive 2-box design that gives the impression of size and bulk while managing to retain sporty elements such as the front bumper air dam and pronounced rear arches.

Tech features

LED headlights and taillights
Multi-colour Digital Cockpit
2-zone Climatronic air-conditioner
Composition Media Radio
Park Assist with Park Distance Control

Price and specs

Which is the cheapest Volkswagen T-Roc?

The cheapest Volkswagen T-Roc one can currently buy is the Volkswagen T-Roc 1.4TSI 110kW Design that will set you back R563 800 before options.

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How much does it cost?

Model	Price
Volkswagen T-Roc 1.4TSI 110kW Design	R563 800
Volkswagen T-Roc 2.0TSI 140kW 4Motion Design	R627 300
Volkswagen T-Roc 2.0TSI 140kW 4Motion R-Line	R660 400