VW T-Roc 2020 review: 140TSI Sport

At long last, after years of waiting, and delay upon delay, Volkswagen’s T-Roc has made it to Australian shores.

It’s landed here to fill an increasingly large small-SUV-shaped gap underneath the brand’s popular Tiguan mid-sizer, but it’s been on sale since 2017 internationally, so is it too little, too late for VW to take on the small SUV competition in Australia?

We drove a fully specified T-Roc to find out what this Golf-based small SUV has to offer.

Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

First things first, there’s some good and bad news for VW fans who have been waiting for the brand’s first small SUV.

The good news? The T-Roc is incredibly well specified despite its age, and, to make things easy, just one variant landing in Australia: the hero 140TSI.

The bad news? At a starting price of $40,490 (before on-roads) it’s the most expensive non-premium SUV in Australia.

But VW has a strategy here. It has brought in this bells-and-whistles small SUV as part of a dual-pronged assault with the Polo-based T-Cross, which is less powerful and less well equipped in base form, but perhaps better in terms of practical value for its small form factor. The brand admits it expects the T-Cross to outsell the T-Roc in the long term, due to this pricing strategy.

Also, the brand has repeatedly stated to CarsGuide that the door isn’t shut on a lesser specified (110TSI) variant of the T-Roc in the future. So, keep an eye out for it if you fall for the T-Roc’s charm.

Where were we? Oh, yes: $40,490. Ouch. Our demo car too was fully specced out with the $5500 worth of options which can be fitted, including the ‘Sound and Style’ pack, which includes 19-inch alloys, adaptive chassis control, and the 300W Beats audio system ($2000), and the Luxury package, which includes the panoramic sunroof, Vienna leather seats, and an electric tailgate ($3500).

Very swish but, honestly, the base car has everything you need. This includes 18-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and built-in nav, a digital dash cluster, leather seats, leather wheel trim, keyless entry with push-start ignition, an auto-dimming rear vision mirror, full LED front lighting with adaptive high-beams, auto folding wing mirrors, front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera and park assist, and rain-sensing wipers.

A lot of stuff. The R-Line styling pack (standard on Australian cars), 'Progressive Steering' and the full safety offering (which we’ll get to later), partially justify the tall pricing.

Again, pricey, but that includes all the equipment you could reasonably expect in this segment and more.

CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive

#CarsGuide #Volkswagen #Troc

[sallystewart]

Vw T-roc is a great car ive just got my new one its so lovely to drive you just want to keep on driving it a big boot space such a lovely ride I thoroughly recommend this car 100%.

[casckana]

I actually looked at this the other day in person and to be honest the T roc quality is terrible compared to the tiguan and the golf. It felt cheap and mostly hard plastic. For the same price you can get a Ford escape with aeb and self driving capabilities. Or a Subaru. Just seemed like a let down from a company offering a medium to high suv quality standard and than bringing this to the table.

[d.j.z.j]

How does this compare to the skoda karoq, do you have a comparison

[wolvoman]

Sorry but those ''big wheels'' do not fill those arches, as you say.

[peterpanousis]

Great review Tom.

This car’s been on my radar for some time now and you’ve given me nothing to change my mind.

Couple of questions. You really talked it up and you genuinely seemed to like it but only gave it a 7.8. I thought it’d be higher. Why’s that?

Finally, T-Roc or Karoq?

[dexiemecompte]

Good job and nice review
Watching from Kingdom of Morocco

[smule]

With that much money, I will go for Tiguan, or maybeBMW X1, but very good review,
Just wanna to know, does it come with spare tyre, and how the suspension?

[WaygoodTravels]

Arr Ka =D Great review, looks like a good size for someone who doesn't want a CX-5 / Tiguan / Forester size

[rsoul]

So in a nutshell, this is a VW golf with a nice haircut, a different name, and wearing actionwear. They have nailed their target market.

[MrMikeTauber]

Liking the cabrio version ! High seat position, visibility, and practicality for a cabrio.

[TheHayabusa]

Anyone else spot the other VW derivative SUV? Bentayga @04:57

[Mudassar_Khan]

If it was 5 years ago, paying 50k for this car would be worth it. But now, most of those features starting to become the standard, competition is higher, prices have dropped. I would be paying $42k drive away for something like this. Maybe 48k if they had the Golf GTI engine (169kw+). OR if it had some new exciting tech. Sorry VW, looks like this time I'll pass.

[nigelb]

I think a fully loaded ex managers Karoq Sportline 2.0 190bhp makes more sense and a heap less money 😉

[madsam]

This is a good car but between this and mazda cx5 I would choose mazda anyday

[nemalavenkatesh]

So in australia, driving is similar to india, nice video.

[lincolnseloane]

These rims 0:37 comes straight out of the F15 BMW X5 playbook.... 😳😳

[rahuls]

Seems, its drawn so many que's for Audi..Not worth for $45k and that too, with just 5 yrs warranty. There are much better contenders out there..
Nice review though👍..

[dcptiv]

look at that clear skyline brought to you by Covid19. You can actually clearly see the buildings & background. Small SUV market has a few nice choices & this is 1 that I am considering.

[zanristov]

For that money you can get the Artion ex demo

[stefhuit]

Vw makes more money of all the options then the care itself.
That’s why no VW for me.