Bucket Seat: Volkswagen T-ROC

Volkswagen has officially introduced the all-new T-Roc in South Africa, and I have to say, this is probably one of the better-looking Volkswagen SUVs to hit the market in recent years.

The second-generation T-Roc gets a completely new design, and while it still looks unmistakably like a Volkswagen, there is something quite different about it. Personally, I really like the way it looks. There are certain elements that remind me of the Volkswagen ID.4, particularly the cleaner front-end design, the lighting signature and the overall proportions. It has a much more modern and sophisticated appearance than the outgoing model.

It is also bigger than before, with the new T-Roc growing by 122mm in length and gaining 28mm in wheelbase. That translates into a more substantial road presence while also creating more room inside. The design is probably the biggest change, though, with the illuminated Volkswagen badge, continuous light strip and sharper rear treatment giving it a much more premium look.

Inside, Volkswagen has also brought the T-Roc up to date with a much more digital cabin. Depending on the model, you get either a 10.3-inch or 12.9-inch infotainment display, a digital cockpit, ambient lighting and Volkswagen's new Drive Experience Dial. The higher-spec R-Line models add features such as IQ.Light LED Matrix headlights, sports comfort seats and additional technology.

There are three models available in South Africa, starting with the T-Roc Life, followed by the sportier R-Line and range-topping R-Line Black Style.

But perhaps the biggest surprise for me is the pricing.

The new T-Roc starts at R599,900 for the 1.4 TSI Life, with the R-Line priced at R689,900 and the R-Line Black Style coming in at R709,900, all including VAT and emissions tax.

What makes this interesting is that the new T-Roc is actually cheaper than the outgoing model, despite being larger, newer and significantly more technologically advanced. That immediately makes it a much more interesting proposition in the highly competitive compact SUV market.

Power comes from a 1.4-litre turbocharged TSI engine producing 110kW and 250Nm, paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. It isn't trying to be a performance SUV, but the combination should offer a good balance between performance and everyday usability.

Practicality hasn't been forgotten either, with seating for five and a 475-litre boot, making it a fairly sensible option for families and everyday driving.

For me, though, the new T-Roc is all about the combination of design, technology and price. I really like the way Volkswagen has evolved the styling without making it look like just another generic SUV. It has a bit of that ID.4 influence that I think works particularly well, while still retaining the familiar Volkswagen identity.

At R599,900 to start, the new T-Roc also undercuts its predecessor while offering more space, more technology and a completely fresh design. That could make this one of the more interesting Volkswagen launches for the South African market.

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. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0-litre TSI
Gear Box	7-speed DSG
Torque	320Nm
Power	140kW
Fuel economy	7.2L/ 100km/h
Price	R660,400*

 

Bucket Seat: VW T-Roc 2.0 4Motion R-Line

This year saw me finally get behind the wheel of a VW to review and I have to say, the folks at Volkswagen SA really know how to win you over with their first model delivered to my drive way was the all-new, hip and funky T-Roc. It's a crossover with attitude, a car aimed at the young and young at heart, a mode that really captivates you from its looks to its driving, a complete package that definitely set to ruffle a few feathers in the industry. After spending a week with the T-Roc, handing the keys back was not easy but alas it had to be done, here are my thoughts of one of SA's much loved brands latest arrival. 

DESIGN

Much had been said about T-Roc before it even touched local shored but ignore what you read on the forums because it is so much more than just a "Golf on stilts", it has its own charm and character. The design is bold and striking with a coupe like silhouette adds to the cars sexiness and the angular front end which is almost like a fusion of the smaller T-Cross and the larger Toureg showing that it means business. The model I had was in Deep Black Pearlescent paint with aluminum accents around the exterior to break the colour, there is also a bi-colour option which has the roof and A-pillar in another colour of your choice which looks pretty good too. The car, in keeping with VW's new design philosophy has trade-mark folds and creases as well as recognizable shapes such as the day time running LED lights which are house in the front bumper just below the main headlamps. Like its bigger brother the Tiguan, the wheel arches on the T-Roc are very pronounced and give a bolder look to the car. The T-Roc came fitted with 19" multi-spoke R Line rims which accentuates the cars sporty nature but still shows that it's not afraid to get dirty. Moving onto the interior, VW really are making great strides in this aspect with their welcoming spaces, tri-colour seats, full digital instrument cluster as well as an 8" touch screen media center of which I'll touch on a little later and the different colour stitching which adds that added element of class to the car. 

PERFORMANCE

With two engine options currently available in the line-up, I had the range topping 2.0 4Motion which is basically VW's all-wheel drive system. The engine produces 140kW and 320Nm of torque which translates to a nippy 0-100km/h time of just 7.2 seconds. Not bad for a big bulky crossover. The came fitted with VW's legendary 7-speed DSG gearbox which timing is impeccable with gear selection while on the road. While there are different driving modes to the T-Roc I could happily drive it in the normal one al day long and not have a hassle. The performance is everything you'd expect and more from a car like this, often at times it felt like I was driving a Golf, just with a better view thanks to the added ride height. VW claim an average combined fuel consumption of 8.3 litres per 100km which I got pretty close to at 8.7 during my time with it. In the urban areas, the car is quite content with good feedback at lower speeds and managing the speed bumps with ease. On the open road, the engine has no strain in picking up the pace when needed, as it picks up speed without a fuss. I managed to get a decent 483km from the 55 litre tank and probably could have gotten more if I wasn't so heavy on the accelerator. 

COMFORT

Getting back to that interior, not only to the tri-colour seats look good but they feel good too! There is lots of various textures and trims to the cabin that give the T-Roc quite a robust look with the hardy plastics at the bottom but as you make your way up they're soon replaced with softer plastics, high gloss finishes and leather with red stitching. The multi-function steering wheel with flat bottom is pretty comfy in hand but it didn't have any controls for the phone which I found odd, it had me answering and putting them down via the infotainment screen. Maybe there was another way and I missed the trick? Other than that minor inconvenience everything else is well laid out and easily accessible. There are two USB inputs up front but there are the new Type-C jacks. The T-Roc comes with dual-zone climate control for the driver and front passenger with the rear also getting vents and two USB Type-C jacks. The car comes with mobile phone applications such as Apple Car Play and Android Auto, which is a simple plug & play, the car also came with PDCs and self park which I test out anytime I had to parallel park. What surprised me is at how quick it does it, while you still have to control the speeds with the brake, the T-Roc manages it with ease all from a touch of a button. The luggage space is huge with the boot offering 392-litres and if you fold down the rear seats, it increases to 1237-ltires. 

VERDICT

Don't believe everything you read online, the T-Roc is worthy competitor from a well trusted brand which has been in the country from as long as I can remember. With the German heritage and proven reliability, this is just proof of another great product from the brand. With the pricing point being a major talking point with it being priced quite close to the Tiguan, I can see why many would say "I rather pay more and get the bigger car", while that point is valid, one has to ask if you need all that space? If not, this would be more than perfect, with the added space of the bigger car you won't get the same performance as you would with the T-Roc, not to mention the great looks. As with every brand now, there more choices you have the better it is for the individual as each persons tastes varies and there really is a car now for everyone. This one should attract more than the average numbers given its styling and offering. The car comes with a 3 year/120 000km warranty as well as a 5 year/ 90 000km service plan with 15 000km intervals. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L 4 Motion
Gear Box	7-Speed DSG automatic
Torque	320Nm
Power	140kW
Economy	8.3L per 100km
Price	R593,600*

*base price