Volkswagen T-Roc review

The T-Roc starts from £31,635. That’s for 114bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder. Want the more powerful 148bhp version? That’ll be £33,700 please.

If you’re sat here thinking that doesn’t sound particularly cheap, you’re not wrong. The long-standing class leader, the Ford Puma, dips under £30k. As do the stylish Peugeot 2008 and funky Mini Countryman. You’re not short of options at this price point.

Lease prices start at around £350 over four years via VW itself, with a £5k deposit. Go third-party and you can probably find even cheaper.

What are my kit options?

In the UK you’ve three trim levels to sift through: Life, Style and R-Line. Then the high-performance VW T-Roc R will top the range out later.

Entry-level Life gets 17in ‘diamond’ alloys, LED headlights, electric folding and heated door mirrors, black roof rails, an 8.0in driver’s display, 12.9in touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, USB-C ports up top and in the back, and keyless start. 

The mid-range Style starts around £5k extra, and gets 18in ‘Torino’ alloys, dynamic LED Plus headlamps, black A-pillars and roof, silver roof rails, chrome accents, a leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, front massaging seats, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and keyless entry.

R-Line trim costs an extra £2.5k again, and gets 18in ‘Coventry’ alloys (nothing to do with the city, at least that we know of), uniquely styled bumpers, lower suspension, sportier front seats, black roof lining, and stainless steel pedals. Exactly what you’ve always wanted in your family SUV…

As ever there’s a mind-boggling spreadsheet of options to choose from, though we do like the fact that yellow is the standard (free) paint. We’d avoid options like the £765 adaptive suspension which are pricey, won’t see a value return come resale time and don’t make sense of the T-Roc R-line’s oversized wheels. 

I’ve got decision paralysis. Help me choose?

The entry-level Life is the only trim that prioritises ride comfort over looks with sensible rims, and for that reason it’s the one we’d choose. The 114bhp version is adequate the majority of the time, unless you’re regularly carrying heavy loads, in which case you might favour the extra oomph.

Company car buyer? Many who bought the old T-Roc in Europe did so because you could spec VW’s 2.0 TDI diesel engine, so it had motorway grunt and did fifty to the gallon. That isn’t an option this time, so it’s worth waiting to see how the full hybrids stack up before choosing from the umpteen machines at this size and price.

Want a second-hand one? Our review of the Mk1 Volkswagen T-Roc is here.