2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Review

Designed as an SUV take on the iconic VW Golf, the T-Roc is billed as a refined and well-equipped little SUV that doesn’t disappoint behind the wheel.

So far, the recipe has been working nicely, with the T-Roc becoming the company’s best-seller here in Australia - let’s take a look at the 2024 T-Roc lineup to see which is the pick of the bunch.

Volkswagen T-Roc Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Volkswagen offers the T-Roc in four different flavours here in Australia in 2024, with prices for the entry-level T-Roc CityLife kick off from $36,890 while the T-Roc Style is priced at $39,790.

Stepping up to the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line brings the price to $47,990.

Finally, the range-topping, performance-focussed T-Roc R is priced at a sizable premium of $63,490, but as you’ll discover, it’s a completely different beast to the rest of the range.

These prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Volkswagen T-Roc - 110TSI STYLE (RESTRICTED FEAT) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Volkswagen T-Roc Have?

Volkswagen’s entry-level T-Roc CityLife comes riding on 17-inch alloys and receives LED headlights, keyless entry & start, dual-zone climate control, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, roof rails, a digital instrument cluster, a wireless smartphone charger and wheel-mounted paddle shifters. 

Stepping up to the T-Roc Style adds 18-inch alloys, upgraded Anthracite upholstery, black wing mirrors, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as lumbar adjustment for the driver and passenger.

Over that, the T-Roc R-Line picks up upgraded 18-inch alloys, a sporty R-Line styling package, sports suspension and steering, sports seats wrapped in Nappa leather, a sporty steering wheel and some interior upgrades.

Finally, the range-topping T-Roc R picks up 19-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, a host of styling upgrades inside and out, R Sport seats with Nappa leather upholstery and a 9.2-inch navigation system.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The majority of Volkswagen T-Roc variants come packaged with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display, which is paired with a six-speaker sound system.

The high-definition display looks crisp, feels responsive to inputs and is easy to navigate thanks to its user-friendly design.

Stepping up to the range-topping T-Roc R adds a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen display as well as an upgraded 300-watt sound system courtesy of Beats which features an eight-channel amplifier and a subwoofer.

Does the Volkswagen T-Roc Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers should keep in mind that wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto are not included in the entry-level T-Roc CityLife, instead requiring a cabled connection via the USB-C ports.

In order to get your hands on wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, you’ll need to upgrade to the T-Roc Style or above which pick up the wireless smartphone connectivity.

Is the Volkswagen T-Roc Comfortable to Drive?

As per usual with vehicles from Volkswagen, the T-Roc feels rock-solid and premium on the road, while the flagship T-Roc R is an absolute rocketship.

Thanks to its Golf underpinnings, the T-Roc proves itself a great package on the road, particularly for buyers living in the city.

Under the bonnet, the T-Roc CityLife & Style come powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that pushes out a modest 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, powering the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic.

Stepping up to the T-Roc R-Line adds a larger 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot that produces 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque and benefits from a confidence-inspiring all-wheel drive system.

Finally, the performance flagship T-Roc R pushes out a mighty impressive 221kW of power and 400Nm of torque which drops its 0-100km/h sprint to just 4.9 seconds.

In base form, the T-Roc is a quiet achiever with smooth shifts from the transmission and sharp handling that makes it a perfect companion for the urban jungle.

The suspension package errs on the firmer side, as we’ve come to expect from European packages, though this does make the T-Roc feel light on its feet when darting around town.

Hit the open road and the T-Roc feels nice and planted, with the base models offering the most comfortable ride quality on rougher, country roads.

Upgrading to the T-Roc R-Line adds a sportier suspension package that adds to the firmness on the road, though the trade-off here in even sharper handling.

Finally, the flagship T-Roc R is an absolute beast for the small SUV segment, with its razor-sharp agility, all-wheel drive stability and monstrous acceleration making for one of the leading performance options in the small SUV segment.

Is the VW T-Roc Fuel Efficient?

With three different engines on offer, entry-level versions of the VW T-Roc are the best for  fuel-efficiency, while the pursuit of pace in the R-Line and T-Roc R result in some thirstier consumption figures.

Officially, the entry-level T-Roc CityLife & Style are reated at 6.3L/100km on a combined cycle, which make for a pair of fuel-efficient compact SUVs at the base of the range.

Opting for the T-Roc R-Line brings that fuel economy figure up to 7.3L/100km, while the range-topping T-Roc R consumes 8.0L/100km on a combined cycle.

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen T-Roc Use Around Town?

• T-Roc CityLife City Fuel Consumption: 7.8L/100km

• T-Roc Style City Fuel Consumption: 7.8L/100km

• T-Roc R-Line City Fuel Consumption: 9.1L/100km

• T-Roc R City Fuel Consumption: 10L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Volkswagen T-Roc Use on the Highway?

• T-Roc CityLife Highway Fuel Consumption: 5.4L/100km

• T-Roc Style Highway Fuel Consumption: 5.4L/100km

• T-Roc R-Line Highway Fuel Consumption: 6.3L/100km

• T-Roc R City Highway Consumption: 6.8L/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While it’s not the biggest SUV in the Volkswagen stables, thanks to its platform borrowed from the iconic Golf, the T-Roc is a strong performer for interior space in the small SUV segment.

Up front, there’s a healthy amount of headroom for tall drivers, an adjustable driving position that welcomes drivers of different sizes and decent forward and side visibility for confidence driving in the city.

The T-Roc cabin looks great, with a clean layout that looks understated yet premium and the much-welcomed readdition of physical buttons on the steering wheel, replacing the previous touch-sensitive inputs.

In terms of storage, the T-Roc offers a tray hiding behind the gear lever that doubles as a wireless charger, a pair of cup holders, added storage inside the armrest and glovebox and bottle holders on either side.

Move to the second row and the T-Roc offers a decent amount of accommodation, even for adults, though tall passengers will have their knees touching the front seats.

Having said that, this is common for the small SUV segment, and the T-Roc’s seats feel nice and supportive while headroom is very healthy for tall adults sitting back here.

The second row of the T-Roc is packaged with a pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts that allow for a range of forward and rear-facing child seats to be installed, with amenities like USB-C ports, air vents, door bins, map pockets and a folding armrest.

How big is the Volkswagen T-Roc’s Boot?

Typically in the case of a small SUV, boot space is a mere afterthought - not in the T-Roc, though.

The majority of the T-Roc range has a boot measuring a very healthy 445L, giving some midsize SUV packages a genuine run for their money, while 4Motion all-wheel-drive variants have a boot measuring 392L.

Fold down the 60:40 split rear seats and the VW T-Roc’s boot space expands to 1,290L in front-wheel drive variants, with the T-Roc R-Line and R flagship’s boot capped at 1,237L.

Is it Safe?

The T-Roc benefits from a healthy list of active safety equipment, though some key bits of kit are reserved for higher-ranking members.

As standard, the T-Roc CityLife comes fitted with forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with lane centring, lane-keep assist, a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, driver attention alerts, collision warnings and six airbags.

Stepping up to the T-Roc Style and above adds important safety features like rear cross-traffic alerts and blind-spot monitoring, which is something to keep in mind if safety equipment is a key priority.

Does the Volkswagen T-Roc Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

ANCAP has given the Volkswagen T-Roc range the five-star safety tick after testing in 2017 saw it post the following results under European-equivalent Euro NCAP testing conditions.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 96%

• Child Occupant Protection: 87% 

• Pedestrian Protection: 79%

• Safety Assist: 71%

What Warranty Does the Volkswagen T-Roc Come With?

Volkswagen offers the T-Roc range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, as well as the choice of three- and five-year servicing plans.

A prepaid, three-year servicing package for the T-Roc CityLife & Style totals $1,450 while a five-year plan totals $2,450.

Three- and five-year servicing costs for the T-Roc R-Line stand at $1,700 and $2,850, respectively, while service costs for the flagship T-Roc R stand at $1,700 and $2,950 for three- and five-year plans.

Our Verdict: Is the Volkswagen T-Roc Worth it?

The Volkswagen T-Roc range does not disappoint as a premium, well-equipped and versatile little SUV that is comfortable and sharp around town.

With a large boot, impressive fuel-efficiency in base models and outlandish performance in the range-topping T-Roc R, there’s a wide range of options for different buyers with varying demands from their small SUV.

If you’re in the market for a new compact SUV of your own, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.  

Five Volkswagen T-Roc Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Three engines available with FWD & AWD systems

3. 6.3 - 8.0L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures

4. 392L boot in AWD variants expands to 445L FWD base models

5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating