Clicking into place like a Lego block, the new Volkswagen T-Roc slots into the space between the T-Cross and the Tiguan – the newcomer built on the Golf platform.

The SUV market is growing rapidly in South Africa and from 2015 to 2019, it increased by 44%. International experts estimate the compact SUV segment worldwide will almost double in size over the next decade – hence the T-Roc.

In the local market, the T-Roc will be available in the following derivatives; 1.4 TSI 110 kW Design, 2.0 TSI 140 kW 4MOTION DSG Design and the 2.0 TSI 140 kW 4MOTION DSG R-Line.

At the front of the five-seater is a wide radiator grille unit with integrated dual headlights and repositioned light signature. The lines of the elongated silhouette are characterised by a chrome element that runs from the A-pillars across the complete side roof line all the way into the C-pillar and is reminiscent of a coupé.

The T-Roc will also be amongst the first Volkswagen models to display the new Volkswagen logo in South Africa and is the first Volkswagen SUV that will be available to order in two-tone paintwork with visually contrasting roof section (including the A-pillars and exterior mirror housings).

On the Design derivatives, customers have a choice of pure white, red and black on the roof and exterior mirror housings. These roof and exterior mirror housings can be paired with various exterior colours, thus giving T-Roc customers 26 different colour options. The R-Line derivative will have 21 different colour options.

The Design derivatives come standard with the 17-inch Mayfield alloy wheel and have two further options of an 18-inch Montego alloy wheel as well as an 18-inch Grange Hill alloy wheel. The R-Line derivative comes standard with the 19-inch Suzuka alloy wheel.

The T-Roc is 80 millimetres longer than the T-Cross and 162 millimetres shorter than the Tiguan. When all five seats are occupied, luggage space is 445 litres. The backrests can also be folded down in a 60/40 split, yielding luggage capacity of up to 1 290 litres.

To further enhance the individual offering, the Design derivative, in addition to the standard limestone grey dashboard colour, has a further three interior colours to choose from, whilst on the R-Line derivative, the interior dashboard colour is Caribou Grey. Ambient lighting, which is white for the Design derivative and red for the R-Line derivative, completes the interior style design.

The T-Roc will come standard with Composition Media radio and App-Connect. The Composition radio has an 8-inch colour touch screen with two USB ports easily located in the centre console of the vehicle. In the T-Roc App-Connect has been upgraded to Wireless App-Connect, meaning you no longer need to connect your smart phone to the USB port in order to get this functionality (this is only available with Discover Media system). 

 In addition to being able to charge your phone via the USB ports, the Composition Media radio also has the option for compatible phones to be charged inductively. This mobile inductive charging function is standard on the R-Line derivative. If integrated navigation is required, Discover Media infotainment is available as an optional feature.

We Connect Go is also standard in the range and allows T-Roc customers to pair their vehicle to their smartphone. The We Connect Go app functionality includes the following; vehicle data, access to the nearest or preferred Volkswagen dealer, records for the tax log book and gamification.

In the T-Roc, the level of passive safety features included are Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Park Distance Control, LED Headlights, Light and Vision Package, Blind Spot Monitor and Fatigue Detection.

In addition to these safety features, IQ Drive technologies are also available on the T-Roc. The technologies support Volkswagen’s journey to autonomous driving and represent the relevant driver assistant systems which aid the parking, driving and security of the T-Roc. The I.Q Drive technologies included in the T-Roc are Park Assist, Emergency Assist, Front Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist.

Pedestrian Monitoring, which is a new offering, is an extension of Front Assist. It utilises two sensors at the front to acquire information from the front of the vehicle. If required the vehicle will trigger an audible and visual signal to warn the driver of obstructions and could also brake the vehicle if required within system limits.

Standard specification on the 1.4 TSI Design and 2.0 TSI Design derivatives are details such as climatronic air-conditioning, the Composition Media infotainment system, connectivity via the We Connect Go app, Voice Control, LED tail light cluster, visual underbody guard (black) and Park Distance Control (front and rear).

The top-of-the-range T-Roc R-Line comes standard with high-tech systems such as Front Assist area monitoring with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and the lane keeping system Lane Assist. Also standard on the top-of-the-range R-Line derivative are the Light Assist package, LED daytime running lights in the bumper and dynamic cornering lights, 19-inch Suzuka alloy wheels, the latest generation Active info display, Keyless entry, Mobile phone inductive charging, Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and Vienna leather seats.

Optional features on all derivatives includes; the panoramic sunroof, electronic trailer hitch, smoker’s package, Discover Pro navigation system with a 9.2-inch screen, the Beats sound system and the Park Package.

The Volkswagen T-Roc comes standard with a 3 year/120 000 km warranty, 5 year/ 90 000 km Volkswagen Service Plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service interval is 15 000 km.

The T-Roc 1.4TSI 110 kW Tiptronic Design and 2.0TSI 140 kW 4MOTION® DSG® R-Line will officially go on sale in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana from November 2020. The 2.0TSI 140kW 4MOTION® DSG® Design derivative will go on sale in January 2020.

Due to the volatility of exchange rates in the last few months, Volkswagen South Africa will only announce pricing for the T-Roc range in August 2020.