the Bucket: Bucket Seat: Volkswagen T-ROC 2.0 TSI R-Line

It feels like just the other day I had the very first T-Roc on test, it was a brand new model from Volkswagen, another variant of their crossover/SUV range and one that was set to break boundaries in the segment. You see, the T-Roc is based of a Golf platform and with the market trend moving to SUV's and Crossover, VWSA took a brave decision by not bringing in other engine variants for the much loved Golf in the country as the only one in the Golf 8 range is the GTI with the R coming in early next year. So if you wanted a different engine but in a Golf sized car, you either opted for an Audi A3 or this, the T-Roc. A few weeks ago I got to spend time with the face-lift T-Roc, funny enough it was the same engine as I drove when the previous model was launched so it gave me a good opportunity to gage the difference between the older and the face-lift model, here's experience on the new T-ROC.

DESIGN

Much of the T-Roc design remains the same, with minor tweaks made to accentuate the looks and overall shape of the car. The major changes to the front comes with the large chain type grille with the VW badge being prominent in the center. The headlights have been revised with it sporting the latest in VW's IQ light technology, the day time running lights have also moved up from the fog lamp house to the bottom of the headlamps which form part of the solid bar which are prominent in all of VW's latest models. The fog lights also have changed shape with it going for a more modular shape that's vertically. The bottom end of the bumper has a more sportier styled diffuser which is part of the R-Line kit which this car was fitted with. It obviously does give the T-Roc a more aggressive look, with the car being a crossover more than SUV, its essentially a hatchback with a raised suspension so it gives the designers a better platform to work from. The large wheel arches give the car a bolder look with the 19inch sport rims, and the chrome detailing makes the side profile look sporty but elegant at the same time. Moving onto the back, the general shape remains the same with the rear lights benefitting from a new design styling with new LED lights which follow the lights of the car and make it a very integrated finish rather that stick out like a sore thumb. The rear bumper and diffuser feature fake air-vents with gills that make the rear look menacing and with the R-Line it features the quad tail pipe look which is finished in chrome that is a lovely contrast between the deep black pearlescent paint work. The interior remains more or less the same as the previous model with subtle changes to the infotainment screen and a lot of high-gloss black finishes.

PERFORMANCE

The engine gets some slight tweaking but power output remains the same with the 2.0 TSI engine producing 140kW @ 4500-6,200 rpm and 320Nm of torque. All of this is controlled by the 7-speed DSG gearbox, which does wonders to control the revs and maximizes the power delivery to the wheels. This particular model came with VW's 4MOTION technology which is essentially there four-wheel drive system and works rather well, when navigating on bends and high speeds and also in wet weather where I got to experience it the most. The handling is superb as it feels like a hatch but with the raised ride height gives you a better view of the road ahead. The 0-100km/h speed is 7.2 seconds which isn't bad for a car of this nature and the top speed maxes out at 216km/h. Volkswagen claim a combined fuel consumption of around 7.3-litres per 100km but with my mixed driving, of which mainly being urban pumped it up to around 10.2-litres per 100km which still gave me a decent 530km from a tank of which has 55-litre capacity.

COMFORT

The T-Roc is super comfy, even with it being just slightly bigger than the golf, the seats are nicely padded to ensure you have a good ride. The options fitted in this model included a panoramic sunroof which I didn't use a lot but it had a curtain which was great to let in the natural light. It had wireless mobile phone integration with mobile apps preloaded, the front passenger and driver each get a USB C outlet as well as an option wireless charging tray. Dual climate control is always a handy feature to have, especially in Durban with its sporadic weather changes. It came with front and rear PDC's as well as a reverse camera which is neatly hidden in the VW badge at the back. Another optional extra that was fitted to this car was the Adaptive Chassis Control which features on the front and rear shocks and has a rear stabilizer bar with progressive steering, this coupled with the four-wheel drive added that extra precision when driving. The rear passengers have their own ventilation but its temperature is controlled by the front passenger and it has one USB C charging port for them to fight over. Luggage capacity in the T-Roc is generous with the boot normally coming in at 392-litres and with the rear seats folded down, 1237-litres.

VERDICT

Overall the revised T-Roc is pretty much the same as the previous model but with much need technological upgrades. The IQ Drive system which has a host of safety features which includes blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control with collision detection, all of which are vital safety features in cars for today. The ride quality for a car like this is exceptional and feels like a much large SUV. While the love for the VW Golf in South Africa will always be there, one can understand the compromise VWSA made in opting to bring variants of this into the country and limit the Golf models to just the high performance models. The T-Roc is a perfect fit for the young families with it have an elegant appeal with luxury aspects that rival some of the other German brands.