A GTI for a more mature audience shows how it’s done
Volkswagen tells us that its Golf-sized premium compact crossover T-Roc 2.0 TSI R-Line delivers a cool blend of functionality, dynamics, and technology. Plus maximum personalisation, digitalisation, and connectivity. Sound familiar? It should.
T-ROC IS STYLISH, COMFY, SPACIOUS
The T-Roc sits above the T-Cross, Taigo and Tiguan and below the Tiguan Allspace and Touareg in Volkswagen’s now allegedly completed SUV range. Sharing its basic platform with the Golf, this 5-seat T-Roc is longer than Taigo, shorter than Tiguan. It’s stylish and comfortable and mostly offers ample passenger and luggage space. It’s a tad cramped in the back. Cool for kids though.
Looks wise, it’s, well, typical top-end Volkswagen. They simply slice that wurst to different lengths these days. Its stark and quite austere in a decent, angular design. But then so is the Touareg. And Tiguan. And the T-Cross. Even the new Amarok, mind you. But a family face is a family face, no?
COLOUR IT IN
Our metallic sweet red wine R-Line had a little faux trim, a neat set of blackened 19-inch alloys and whole lot of other dark trim to go with those midlife VW styling tweaks to set it apart. Step aboard and T-Roc blows hot and cold. Its new digital interactive cockpit gets VW’s Active Info Display 8-inch colour touchscreen with Composition Media radio, App-Connect and the kitchen sink thrown in.
Once again, it’s typical premium VW fare. The high resolution 11.7-inch instrumentation and Infotainment is good but not the best in terms of ease of navigation. Some cabin components also seem a tad cheap. Sadly, it’s all let down by those horrid touch sensitive pads rather than buttons. We already know that will all change back to buttons, so let’s leave it at that. Pity T-Roc missed that update.
IT CHURNS OUT A RSPECTABLE 140KW, 320 NM
So, how does it run. Well, first let’s take a look at what makes it tick. This sporty R-Line version gets
gets the familiar Golf GTI spec VW EA288 direct petrol injection 2-litre turbo lump churning out a respectable 140 kW and 320 Nm.
It also gets a 7-speed double-clutch trannie. They promise it will manage 100km/h in a hot-hatch like 7.2 seconds and top 216 km/h, while sipping 8.3 litres per hundred. T-Roc does come with all its wheels driven, never mind a whole lot of cool terrain modes that give it a certain Amarok appeal.
T-ROC. IT’S BASICALLY A GROWN UP GOLF
On the road, this VW deceives to flatter. Our test figures revealed it to be a silent assassin. Not much is made of its launch control system, but man, does it work! Half a second quicker to 100 km/h than claimed, we went back twice and re-ran the numbers to be sure. Most of this pace a comes courtesy of its wonderful launch control.
While it certainly is handsome, the T-Roc 2.0 TSI may not be the most appealing or sexiest car in its class at first sight. Yet this get-up certainly sets it apart, and this Volkswagen delivers brilliantly, in spite of a fair premium. So much so that we’d say that this grown up Golf GTI T-Roc is hard to beat in its class.
ROAD TESTED: Volkswagen T-Roc 2.0TSI 4M R-Line
Engine: 140 kW 320 Nm 2-litre turbo petrol I4
Drive: 7-speed DC AWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 2.94 sec
0-100 km/h: 6.63 sec
0-120 km/h: 9.21 sec
0-160 km/h: 16.59 sec
400m: 14.7 sec 152 km/h
80-120 km/h: 4.61 sec
120-160 km/h: 7.38 sec
CLAIMED:
Vmax: 216 km/h
Fuel: 7.3 l/100 km
CO2: 177 g/km
Range: 750 km
Warranty/Service: 3y 120K/5y 90K km
LIST PRICE: R713K
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