The Volkswagen T-Roc is a subcompact crossover/SUV positioned between the larger VW Tiguan and the smaller VW T-Cross crossover. The T-Roc was first revealed in 2017 and it has gotten a hefty refresh this year which made it in line with the rest of the VW lineup. However, is Volkswagen T-Roc a good car?
Yes, it is. The T-Roc is a good car for a few different reasons. The first ones are engines because they are efficient, strong enough, and are sophisticated. The design of the T-Roc is modern which means that it manages to portray the contemporary VW futuristic design both inside and out, especially the refreshed model.
Reliability-wise, the T-Roc manages to offer an overall good experience, but the most common issues are indeed worth dwelling into. The T-Roc is a relatively affordable car as well which means that it offers all the modern amenities you’d expect from a VW, but without costing as much as some of its competitors.
The T-Roc is also decently practical, more so than its T-Cross compact cousin. All in all, the T-Roc is a popular car because it resides in one of the most popular market segments. It is indeed a good car which means that you should consider it if you are in the market for a subcompact crossover/SUV.
VW T-Roc – The powertrain
The VW T-Roc engine lineup starts with the 1.0L 3-cylinder engine with 110 or 115hp. The 1.5L 4-cylinder is the most popular engine of the bunch because it offers 150hp and it manages to be almost as efficient as the smaller 3-cylinder unit. The best T-Roc engine is the 2.0L TSI engine with either 190hp or 300hp for the top-of-the-line R model.
The T-Roc is also famous for its diesel engines, especially in Europe where the 1.6L TDI 4-cylinder with 115hp is the most efficient T-Roc engine of them all. The best 2.0L TDI is the best diesel engine because it offers 150hp but it is almost as efficient as the 1.6L TDI.
The T-Roc is primarily a FWD car but the higher-end models such as the 300hp R model come with 4MOTION AWD. The T-Roc is also mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox which manages to shift gears in an effortless manner without you even noticing it.
You can expect up to 40-45MPG with the most efficient gasoline engines while the diesels can even go up to 60MPG. All T-Roc engines are sophisticated and smooth which makes them perfect for a comfortable daily driver experience.
VW T-Roc – Design and chassis
The design of the VW T-Roc is futuristic and striking, especially the refreshed model which offers a really good-looking exterior. If you equip it with the R-Line package, the T-Roc manages to be one of the best-looking cars in this segment. Interior-wise, the T-Roc is highly dependent on the options you go for which means that it can both look great, and cheap.
The chassis and suspension tuning of the T-Roc is predominantly comfort-oriented which means that it is no sports SUV. The R model is a bit sportier, but nothing close to the likes of the Porsche Macan or the Alfa Romero Stelvio.
VW T-Roc – Reliability and common issues
The T-Roc is a reliable car overall, but it does suffer from issues associated with the seats, ignition coils, steering system clockspring, and brakes. The good news is that most of these can be resolved through timely and thorough maintenance while the bad news is that skipping maintenance is likely to make these even worse.
The T-Roc has also been part of many recalls most of which have been associated with the seats, more specifically the seatbelts and the seat headrests.
VW T-Roc – Value and practicality
VWs have always been cars with a clear emphasis on value which means that the T-Roc is also such a car. You can get it in many different price categories depending on the model year, the mileage, the equipment list, and the overall condition.
The T-Roc is also a really practical car which means that it is closer to the Tiguan than it is to the smaller T-Cross. It offers enough seating space while cargo space is also fairly generous. Moreover, the T-Roc is also a decent family car, even though most people use it as a daily driver.
FAQ Section
Is the VW T-Roc better than the VW Tiguan?
The Tiguan has been around a lot more than the T-Roc because the Tiguan resides in probably the most popular SUV segment on the market. Comparing these two mostly falls down to the size and the price which means that if you deem the T-Roc to be too small, the Tiguan is likely going to suit you a lot better.
On the other hand, if you are more than satisfied with the space you get from the T-Roc, the T-Roc is the better option for you. The Tiguan is indeed a better car objectively speaking because it resides in a higher category. However, it all boils down to what you want from a car.
Is the post-facelift T-Roc better than the pre-facelift T-Roc?
The post-facelift VW T-Roc is a lot better than the pre-facelift model because the refresh is a substantial one. Some refreshes such as the one between the pre-facelift and post-facelift 2nd gen Touareg models are minimal and are not all that obvious at first glance while the refresh between these two T-Roc models is a lot more thorough.
As such, the post-facelift model is a lot better in almost every possible way. This does not mean that the pre-facelift is not a good car, but it is not as good as the post-facelift model.
Is the VW T-Roc a safe car?
The VW T-Roc is indeed a really safe car, just like any other VW model nowadays. VW is known to make some of the safest cars on the market. The T-Roc is viewed by VW as a family car which means that VW is aware that many of these will be used for family hauling purposes.
The bad news is that most active safety features are part of optional packages which means that you will have to pay quite a bit more money to enjoy the safest experience possible.
