Volkswagen T-Roc

Volkswagen T-Roc at a glance

First generation (2017–2025): MQB A1

Volkswagen showed a T-Roc concept with three doors and a removable roof at the Geneva show in March 2014. Its 2.0 diesel had 135 kW (184 PS). The production car was presented near Lake Como on 23 August 2017 and appeared at Frankfurt the following month. First deliveries followed on 25 November 2017. It shares the MQB A1 platform with the Golf VII and is about 2 cm shorter than that car. European cars came from Volkswagen Autoeuropa in Palmela, Portugal, and Chinese cars from FAW-Volkswagen in Foshan. The Chinese T-Roc has a wheelbase 90 mm longer than the European one.

Front-wheel-drive versions have a torsion-beam rear axle, while 4MOTION cars use a multi-link rear suspension. The boot holds 445 litres, or 392 litres with all-wheel drive. With the rear seats folded the figures are 1,290 and 1,237 litres. Lane Assist and Front Assist with automatic emergency braking were standard from launch.

The kW values are converted from the PS figures in Wikipedia's engine table. The full list of versions is in the Volkswagen catalogue.

T-Roc R and T-Roc Cabriolet

The T-Roc R was shown in March 2019. It uses the 2.0-litre EA888 turbo engine from the Golf R with 221 kW (300 PS) and 400 Nm. It also has standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive and suspension lowered by 20 mm. It was the most powerful T-Roc of the first generation.

The T-Roc Cabriolet was announced on 14 August 2019 and went on sale in Germany in April 2020. It is built in Osnabrück, in the former Karmann plant, and only comes with front-wheel drive and the smaller petrol engines of 85 and 110 kW. The fabric roof opens in about 9 seconds and closes in 11. The boot shrinks to 284 litres, and the roof mechanism and reinforcements add about 190 kg. Some 14,000 cabriolets were sold in 2021, the first full year. The second-generation T-Roc has no convertible version, so the Cabriolet ended with the first generation.

Facelift of 2022

Volkswagen revealed the updated T-Roc on 17 November 2021, and it reached dealers in March 2022. The exterior changed only slightly. The interior gained better materials, including a soft, foamed dashboard surface. LED headlights became standard, and more driver-assistance systems were offered. From mid-2022 the base models used the new 1.5 TSI "evo2" engine. Limited Edition Blue (800 cars) and Edition Grey (999 cars) models followed in 2021 and 2022.

Second generation (since 2025)

The second T-Roc was presented on 27 August 2025 and moved to the MQB Evo platform of the updated Golf. The body is 4,373 mm long, 1,828 mm wide and 1,573 mm tall on a 2,629 mm wheelbase (Auto Express). Volkswagen Germany gives up to 1,350 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded. Auto Express measures 475 litres behind the seats, while What Car? gives 465 litres, 20 more than before. Braked trailers of up to 1,800 kg are allowed. Inside, a 10-inch digital instrument panel and a 10.3- or 12.9-inch touchscreen are fitted.

All versions use a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and there is no manual. Volkswagen claims about 15 percent better efficiency for the full hybrid than for the mild hybrid. A fully electric T-Roc is planned on the SSP architecture in Wolfsburg towards the end of the decade. What Car? reports that Volkswagen has ruled out a plug-in hybrid.

Fuel consumption and prices

Volkswagen Germany lists combined consumption of 5.5 to 6.0 l/100 km for the eTSI versions and 5.1 to 5.5 l/100 km for the R-Line Hybrid. CO2 emissions are 115 to 137 g/km. The German list price starts at €30,995 including VAT (Volkswagen Germany, 2026). The T-Roc Style won the Goldenes Lenkrad 2025 in the category for the best car under €40,000.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the first T-Roc in 2017. It scored 96 percent for adult occupants, 87 for children, 79 for pedestrians and 71 for the assistance systems. The second generation was tested in 2025 as a 1.5 TSI Life. It reached 91 percent for adults, 87 for children, 87 for vulnerable road users and 77 for safety assistance.

Sales

From launch to December 2024, 407,312 T-Rocs were registered in Germany. In 2021, 24 percent of them were cabriolets, and the share of diesel versions fell from 27 percent in 2019 to 10 percent in 2024.

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