Our Garden Route-based motoring journalist, Gero Lilleike, spent the holiday season driving the Volkswagen T-Roc 1.4TSI Design. In a crowded segment, does the entry-level T-Roc make a strong case for itself – and should you consider buying it?
Exactly a year ago, I had the pleasure of testing Volkswagen’s T-Cross Comfortline R Line and the diminutive compact SUV proved hugely impressive – so much so, that I almost bought one!
Now, a year later, I was afforded an extended (end-of-year holiday) test of Volkswagen’s larger, facelifted T-Roc and I undoubtedly had high expectations of Wolfsburg’s stylish (or “boutique”) small crossover. How well would the T-Roc serve me throughout my wild holiday adventures? I was keen to find out!
In this holiday review, my aim is to share my T-Roc holiday experience with you, including the things I loved (there’s a lot to love) and the things I didn’t. Hopefully (if you get to the end of this article) you should have a better idea if the entry-level T-Roc 1.4TSI Design should be on your shortlist – or not.
Let’s dive right in then, shall we?
FAST FACTS
- Model: Volkswagen T-Roc 1.4TSI Design
- Price: R563 800 (January 2023)
- Engine: 1.4-litre turbopetrol
- Power/Torque: 110 kW / 250 Nm
- Transmission: 8-speed automatic
- Fuel consumption: 6.3 L/100km (claimed)
- Luggage/Utility space: 445-1 290 litres
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Does the Volkswagen T-Roc look good?
Design is subjective, but the T-Roc must score some style points – it’s one of the best-looking compact SUVs on the market today, especially when finished in Kings Red, as seen here. Would you agree?
It’s not a brash or bold design, but rather a clean, sophisticated and uncluttered one. The T-Roc is well-proportioned with a tapering coupe-like roofline that many potential buyers will find attractive.
Chrome elements (on the roof rails, window line, beltline and grille) give the T-Roc a sophisticated, upmarket look and, should you decide to do some gravel travel with the T-Roc (more on this below), all-around plastic cladding provides much-needed lower-body protection from scratches and scuffs.
The T-Roc comes fitted with 17-inch “Johannesburg” alloy wheels and this test unit was equipped with optional extras such as a panoramic sunroof (R15 500) and IQ Light Matrix LED headlights (R17 000).
Let us know if you like the look of the T-Roc!
What’s the interior of the Volkswagen T-Roc like?
The T-Roc’s interior exudes a sense of quality; there’s a distinct solidity to the fit and finish of the cabin trim. Indeed, the perceived build quality is excellent and, moreover, Volkswagen has used a desirable mix of soft-touch surfaces and hard-wearing plastic elements to create a pleasant interior environment.
The cabin insulation is top-notch too – it contributes to the (recently facelifted) T-Roc’s overall refinement, which is just another highlight in a lengthy list of positive attributes (more below)!
The seats are well-contoured and suitably bolstered to provide maximum comfort on long drives and the platinum grey leather trim adds some tasteful contrast to the interior. Volkswagen’s optional Discover Media infotainment system (R18 800, with integrated navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, Bluetooth and voice control) was fitted and I was quite impressed with how it seamlessly connected with my smartphone while providing, well, superb audio quality for my music playlists!
The infotainment screen displays the feed from the optional reverse-view camera (R4 800), but it does not have dynamic guidelines, so you also have to rely on your side mirrors when reversing at an angle!
There is also ample charging capacity for devices, with 4 Type-C charging ports (2 front, 2 rear) as well as an optional inductive charging pad (R4 200) for easy wireless charging on the move.
Volkswagen’s digital Active Info display is also useful in that it’s easily configurable (using the controls mounted on the steering wheel) and, once you have set it up to your exact preference, vital information is displayed directly in front of you, which eliminates the need to flip through the trip-computer menus.
As far as driver assistance is concerned, this base T-Roc is equipped with adaptive cruise control as standard, but if you want, you can additionally specify technologies such as lane-keep assist, a lane-change system, Travel Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist. Standard safety features include half a dozen airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist and electronic stability control with traction control.
Overall, the T-Roc’s interior is not only attractively designed with good ergonomic functionality… it’s equipped with an adequate number of comfort features.
How practical is the Volkswagen T-Roc?
It is tricky to work out in which segment the T-Roc sits just by looking at it. It’s almost the same length as the “smaller” T-Cross and rides on a 2 590-mm wheelbase, which is 11 mm shorter than that of its Audi Q2 cousin. But the Volkswagen’s arguably better packaged than the Audi – it’s 26 mm longer overall and offers notably more space in the load bay (445 litres versus 405 litres, according to stated figures).
Meanwhile, the load bay floor can be adjusted to either hide delicate/valuable items or increase the load volume, while 60:40 split folding rear seats provide extra flexibility should you need to load larger items.
As far as rear passenger comfort is concerned, legroom is adequate for adults – but not generous – and the central armrest is equipped with a convenient cupholder.
There are admittedly larger and more spacious new vehicles available at this price point (R563 800), so buyers will have to decide whether the T-Roc’s sheer stylishness makes up for its limited interior space.
How does the T-Roc 1.4TSI perform on the road?
I travelled almost 2 500 km in the T-Roc. Much of that distance comprised tar roads, but I also ventured onto a variety of dirt roads to find out how well the VW would cope with typical gravel-travel conditions.
Suffice it to say, the Volkswagen is most at home on tar and even though its suspension tune is on the firmer side of pliant, the T-Roc’s ride quality is very refined/resolved, which makes this “city slicker” surprisingly well-suited to undertaking long-distance journeys on less-than-well-maintained roads.
Not only does the T-Roc deliver amply in terms of driving comfort – it also handles rather nimbly! By small crossover standards, the Volkswagen’s steering is just about perfectly weighted, it responds accurately to inputs and it rewards its driver with precise cornering ability and negligible body roll.
The performance of the 1.4-litre turbopetrol engine is surprisingly perky, especially between 50 to 120 kph; apart from the initial turbo lag, I didn’t have any problem executing brisk overtaking manoeuvres at highway speeds. The powerplant directs its peak outputs (110 kW and 250 Nm) to the front wheels via a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission. In fact, the transmission is so slick (refined) that you’d be hard-pressed to notice when it changes gears. You can also actuate manual shifts using the ‘wheel-mounted shift paddles (if you must), but perhaps the transmission is best left to its own devices.
Understandably, the engine note does sound strained when you flatten the accelerator pedal to summon acceleration, but I wouldn’t describe the T-Roc’s mechanical soundtrack as clattery or overly noisy.
I think this engine’s outputs are adequate for this application, even when the vehicle’s loaded, but some buyers might feel that it could do with more power and torque. If you seek punchier performance then Volkswagen’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with 140 kW/320 Nm is also offered for the T-Roc.
With fuel prices surging, fuel efficiency may probably factor into your car-buying decision more than ever. As it happens, this T-Roc proved to be quite frugal during our test, when it returned an average of 6.7 L/100 km, which is what you would expect for a car of this size and engine capacity (note that Volkswagen claims 6.3 L/100 km). However, you will be filling up with fuel fairly often as the T-Roc is equipped with a smallish (50-litre) fuel tank which translates into an estimated range of 746 km.
How does the T-Roc perform on gravel?
The T-Roc ventured into the wilds of a place called Platbos Forest Reserve in the Southern Cape, where dirt roads wind through the southern-most forest in Africa – and one of the last surviving indigenous forests in South Africa; some of its trees are more than 1 000 years old! It’s an incredible place…
It must be noted that the T-Roc’s ground clearance is only 161 mm, which does limit its ability to navigate more uneven – or rutted – gravel sections. We soon discovered this on an uphill section of gravel road (with slightly raised sections) where the Volkswagen’s front wheels passed the hump, only for the front-wheel-driven T-Roc to quickly lose traction with its wheels spinning out in the dust. It was during that very episode that I was reminded that the T-Roc is more of an urban queen – not a wild child.
Even so, on your average, flat sections of gravel road, the T-Roc’s composure and ride comfort must be commended; it copes well with washboard sections of gravel. However, if you regularly drive on gravel or go off-road then perhaps the T-Roc isn’t the best choice but as a “town car”, it’s bang-on perfect!
Pricing and Warranty
Pricing for the Volkswagen T-Roc 1.4TSI Design starts from R563 800, which includes a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. Note that with a selection of optional extras fitted, the price of this particular test unit came to about R637 000!
See full pricing and specification details for the Volkswagen T-Roc range here
Final Thoughts: Should You Buy The T-Roc?
In an ideal world, yes, you should! Even in its base form, the T-Roc is an excellent car that is hard to fault – a well-rounded and competent product. It looks and feels modern, performs well, returns good fuel economy and remains relatively practical despite the fact that it is an attractively styled compact car.
We don’t, however, live in an ideal world. Anyone who has been shopping for a new vehicle in the past few years will know that new-car prices have escalated dramatically… As a result, most new-car buyers have had to reconsider their budgets and, sadly, lower their aspirations, to find vehicular solutions that meet their needs and can be purchased without running the risk of being financially overburdened.
To illustrate my point, when the T-Roc was launched in South Africa in November 2020, the 1.4TSI Design was more soberly priced (R489 400). The revised T-Roc arrived in July 2022 and, unsurprisingly, its prices went up. Yes, sure, you can argue that the current pricing accounts for the updates and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but the fact remains — the T-Roc is a pricey proposition, and unless you can afford it, it’s a tough pill to swallow, no matter how you try to cut that cake.
Within the context of the small crossover/medium SUV market, in the R550k–R650k buying bracket, the T-Roc is up against some serious contenders, many of which are larger, are much more spacious and practical, more lavishly equipped with features and, therefore, offer considerably better value for money.
For example, the same money can buy you the new Kia Sportage medium SUV, which some regard as the best buy in the family-car segment, and you will still have some chump change left to buy ice cream for the kids! The same applies to cars such as the new Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5, for example.
And then you have several Chinese contenders to consider. For the price of the T-Roc, you can buy a top-spec Haval Jolion Super Luxury and save R116 850, or, for roughly the same money, the larger H6 Super Luxury. Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro are also well within reach. Do your homework!
There‘s no doubt about it… Volkswagen makes excellent cars and its enviable small crossover- and medium SUV sales numbers prove that the local market values the Wolfsburg-based brand’s badge and its quality offerings. You will have to decide for yourself how much that VW badge means to you.
In 2022, Volkswagen sold no fewer than 2 407 T-Rocs units in South Africa; it averaged 201 units per month with its strongest month being July 2022 (with 347 new registrations). Despite Volkswagen’s solid sales performance in one of the hottest segments of the new-vehicle market, the firm’s steep pricing structure across its SUV range has, and will continue to, erode sales in a value-driven new car market.
If your heart is understandably set on driving and owning a T-Roc, but your budget can’t quite stretch far enough to buy a new example of Volkswagen’s stylish small crossover, then we strongly suggest that you buy a used T-Roc on Cars.co.za! There are some great deals waiting for you!
