Volkswagen’s new compact crossover promises hefty features list
Wolfsburg has been cooking a compact crossover for some time now, as part of their pledge to fill their portfolio with no less than 19 such contraptions. So after an alleged Geneva 2017 debut which didn't happen and the ever-present teasers, this is the new Volkswagen T-Roc small SUV.
Trumpeted as a crossover sporting "crisp proportions and progressive design," the T-Roc CUV looks like a Volkswagen regardless of where you're looking from. So no surprises here.
Assembled in Portugal, T-Roc sits on the brand's versatile MQB architecture and slots just beneath the Tiguan.
Powertrain
Volkswagen says the new T-Roc is available with three petrol engines and three diesel units. Motor1 reports that the gasoline line-up consists of a 1.0-liter engine with 114 hp (85 kW) on tap, the new 1.5-liter Evo unit making 148 hp (110 kW) and the range topping 2.0-liter TSI delivering 188 hp (140 kW).
The latter can be mated exclusively to the brand's 4Motion all-wheel drive setup and the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox.
According to the same outlet, in the diesel camp, the range starts with a 1.6-liter mill (114 hp/85 kW) and ends with a 2.0-liter four-pot derived into two power outputs: 148 hp (110 kW) and 188 hp (140 kW).
Interior and technology
VW says the T-Roc opens the doors to a new world of mobility. The car recognizes its driver and adjusts systems like the climate control according to a previous setting.
Using a smartphone and Volkswagen Car Net, users have access to a range of online apps and services.
Buyers can turn the cabin into a hi-tech landscape as VW T-Roc offers an 11.7-inch digital instrument cluster, while the entry-level infotainment system relies on a 6.5-inch screen. There's the option of going up the range courtesy of an eight-inch display.
On the safety side, the new T-Roc offers a plethora of systems and features even for the base version. For example, Volkswagen's press blurb mentions the likes of front assist area monitoring with city emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring, automatic post-collision braking system and lane assist.
Size and proportions
The new T-Roc is 166.7 in (4,234 mm) long, which is 9.9 in (252 mm) shorter than the Tiguan.
Its wheelbase measures 102.5 in (2,603 mm), and according to Volkswagen, cargo space stands at 15.72 cu ft (445 l). Fold the rear seats, and you get a large storage area of 45.56 cu ft (1,290 l).
Price and trims
We'll see the new T-Roc in the metal at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, so the CUV should reach the market by the end of the year, beginning of 2018 the latest. U.S. launch should take place in 2019, according to recent industry chatter.
Prices are yet to be disclosed, although VW says "T-Roc will take its place in the €20,000 class segment," in Germany that is.
Three trim levels divide the range: T-Roc, Sport and Style, each with its own perks and personalization avenues.
Here's all you need to know about VW's largest SUV to date, the 2018 Atlas.