Volkswagen T-Roc review

The T-Roc is available in three specifications – entry-level Life, luxury and comfort-focused Style, or sportily styled and driver-focused R-Line.

Life models start from £25,810 and Style models from £28,510, equipped with the 1.0-litre petrol with six-speed manual. The entry-level engine on R-Line trim, with the more potent 1.5-litre with six-speed manual, starts from £31,410. So, you’re looking at around £2.5-3k difference between each trim.

Monthly payments start at around £300, £330 and £360 respectively, on a four-year agreement and with a six-month initial payment.

Talk trim highlights to me.

Life includes LED headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch instrument cluster and infotainment display, interior ambient lighting and a suite of driver assistance systems, with the pick of the bunch being predictive cruise control.

Style models offer contrast roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED ‘Plus’ headlights with different light modes for poor weather, VW’s Digital Cockpit Pro dual-screen set-up with a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 9.25-inch infotainment display, and sports comfort seats finished in ArtVelours microfleece. Fake Alcantara, in other words.

R-Line models get body-coloured bumpers, slightly different 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, different driving modes, heated front seats, gloss black dashboard trim, stainless steel pedals, plus other tweaks to resemble R models.

Where would you put your money?

VW predicts Style to be the top-selling trim in the model range, with more than one in three T-Roc customers expected to opt for this model. We’d be inclined to agree, thanks to the slightly more stylish exterior and upgraded interior tech.

We’d suggest avoiding the lethargic 1.0-litre engine if you can, with the 1.5-litre and six-speed manual offering 148bhp for just 141g/km, and capable an official 45.6mpg (we averaged 44mpg in real world driving), only a tiny fraction worse than the 1.0-litre. We’d spec the manual, but if do a lot of motorway miles and want predictive cruise control, go for the auto ‘box.

In that spec, you’re looking at £29,995, or around £350 on lease.