This is “not like a normal SUV.”
Volkswagen’s new compact SUV, the T-Roc, is only days away from its full reveal, but it seems that executives in Wolfsburg want us to know more about it right now. These are exciting times for the company, as it appears to finally be rebounding from the depths of the Dieselgate scandal (which hasn’t really yet been resolved in its entirety), with the company focused wholeheartedly on its electrified future as well as its increasingly-efficient vehicles of today.
The T-Roc is certainly a car that exists in the latter. Nothing says more about the decade we’re in now than compact SUVs, a segment that has exploded in recent years and has little indication of backing down. UK auto publication Autocar was invited to take a look at the T-Roc ahead of its introduction, with the following report revealing plenty of salient details. You might be wondering what’s taken Volkswagen so long to introduce a compact SUV, but Volkswagen’s head of research and development Frank Welsch is optimistic:
“I don’t know why we are late. With the Touran we were late, with the Sharan we were late. I cannot explain why, but here we are. I’m happy to have this car now.” — Frank Welsch, R&D chief, Volkswagen
The R&D boss was particularly chatty throughout the preview drive, which revealed that the T-Roc is touted to have “more emotion than you would normally expect from a Volkswagen,” with the interior and exterior design packing a more colourful and vibrant design language that we certainly have not seen from the company’s offerings in some time.
There will be six engine options available at launch, with displacements measuring in at 1.0-litre, 1.5-litres, and 2.0-litres for both petrol and diesel options, producing 85kW, 109kW, and 140kW respectively. All-wheel drive should feature here (expect to see the 4Motion system miss the entry-level car, be offered on mid-spec variants, and possibly be standard on the flagship), along with the offering of a six-speed manual and seven-speed double-clutch DSG automatic.
There is mention of a T-Roc R, with Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess suggesting that there might be room for such a model way back in May. Asked about the possibility, Welsch admitted that there is a T-Roc R “for testing” because he “likes the idea.” While the future of a hot T-Roc is “not decided yet,” it’s certainly being kept under consideration, given the strong demand for such cars in some markets.
“It’s working here, and given all the feedback we get on the car, I’m sure there are lots of customers who would like this combination. We have a 140kW T-Roc which is more than the competitors offer, and we’ll see if lots of people take that. Then, it’s time to decide.” — Frank Welsch, R&D chief, Volkswagen
Despite being similar in size as the Volkswagen Golf, the T-Roc gains its own unique suspension architecture, with a multilink setup all round. No torsion beam here, which Welsch explains is due to the T-Roc’s “SUV genes,” continuing that they “can do more than a Golf does.” The higher ride height and larger wheels contributed to the decision to bin the torsion beam setup too.
The cabin of the T-Roc has yet to be photographed, but multiple reports have suggested that we’ll see things like body-coloured trim inside the cabin, along with tasteful ambient lighting dotted throughout the place. While the cabin certainly aims to excite, the drive might not necessarily do the same, with the R&D boss saying that “people like more and more comfort,” and that the T-Roc fits their “clear idea of how a Volkswagen should be.” The emphasis on comfort has resulted in a focus on reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels, firming its position as a young-family proposition.
Further enhancing that proposition is the sheer amount of space, with no less than 440L of cargo room in the rear (besting the Golf’s 385L) and an accommodating interior. And aside from the design that is clearly aimed to capture the imagination of a younger audience, there’s been strong emphasis on connectivity and infotainment, with the T-Roc confirmed to enjoy the full suite of Volkswagen’s latest technology out of the box. “It’s a 100% connected car,” Welsch assures.
The T-Roc will be joined at the end of this year by a new Touareg (which we’ve spied here), as well as a smaller, more compact SUV that will sit beneath it. The T-Roc will be a global offering, given the continued global demand for small, high-riding SUVs like this.
“Everywhere, in all markets,” Welsch explains, “this is a stable trend. And this is why we say that what could be next is not all boxy SUVs but more crossover concepts and coupé-like concepts like the T-Roc.”
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