What is it?
Volkswagen has ambitions of becoming one of the world’s largest producers of SUVs, so it is trying to leave no stone unturned by developing a model to fill every category in the segment. We recently met the T-Roc 1.0 TSI that provides an answer to the more mainstream end of the class. Today, it’s the significantly more potent T-Roc 2.0 TSI that gets our attention.
This most powerful T-Roc falls into the small but increasingly significant hot crossovers sub-segment, where cooking variants of the Mini Countryman and Mercedes-Benz GLA live. As such, its firepower is provided by Volkswagen’s ubiquitous turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in 187bhp and 236lb ft form.
Our test car mates the unit to a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox and drives all four wheels via 4Motion technology, giving this T-Roc the quickest off-the-line performance statistics of its brethren. The 0-62mph dash takes 7.2sec and its top speed is rated at 134mph – that's enough to beat the cheaper Countryman Cooper S All4 but falls short of the more directly comparable GLA 250 4Matic.
Inside, our SE L-spec car - which is the top trim available until R-Line arrives in May 2018 – gets Volkswagen’s Active Information Display technology (the company's take on Audi’s Virtual Cockpit) in place of dials as standard, giving it an edge over rivals, as well as an 8.0in touchscreen on the centre console.
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Words or Style or Substance?
I know what I prefer and it isn't words or style. Yep, it's "substance"...now an almost forgotten concept that now gets downgraded to being almost being invisible.
The screeds of comments on plastic trim and style have nothing to do with whether a car is practical, economic or good to drive.
The automotive industry long ago went into overdrive in its quest to create the ILLUSION that their creations are improvements on previous models. In recent years their ambitions far outstripped their abilities.
Give me a car sans bling but with good drive-ability, economy, robustness, low depreciation, no inbuilt redundancy of over-priced parts and low maintenance costs. To Hell with smoke, mirrors, tarty styles and illusions.
Meanwhile most car buyers are being ripped of when buying a tonne or so of recycled tin foil and plastic.
Is this the new standard from Volkswagen?
I'm sure, like many members who have inspected the left-hand drive models presented recently at their local VW dealer's showroom, will agree that the model on display was below VW usual standards. The general tone of conversation from interested members of the public was not favourable. We were told that this was an early production run, European model and that the UK versions would be better. For instance, how many foks noticed that the moulded finish of the door cappings in the rear differed from those in the back? The range of models available is currently very limited. It HAS TO BE 4-wheel drive for upper model, adding greatly to price. We were told that new versions will be available in 2018. Personally, that might be too late for me and will choose another car.
In the meantime, anyone want to buy the REGISTRATION NUMBER that I bought thinking I could be buying this model?
T700 ROC
Open to offers.
LP
Opps !
Try this FOLKS -
" . . . door cappings in the rear differed from those in the front? "
Woops :-)
Dull or bland
But you are right spanner, VWs design sells well, people seem to like the conservative? grown up? Simple? Design that they have. I personally am not a huge fan of suvs and so wouldn't be remotely interested in this, but regarding VW as a whole, I am sure it only really sells well because of its badge as its SEAT and Skoda versions are always as good (even if they have less squishy plastics) and often of a more interesting design. Regarding the T roc though, to me it seems very Audi esq styling wise so that will win it sales no doubt, though if, as suggested, the price is close to the Q2 that may lose it sales.