The Volkswagen T-Roc crossover has been on sale in Australia since 2020, and obtained a mid-life replace final yr.
Highlights of this refresh included a redesigned entrance fascia, plusher dashboard, and extra customary gear.
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The mid-spec 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line on take a look at right here replaces the pre-update Sport, and is the one variant out there with the 140kW/320Nm tune of the corporate’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
Regardless of the entire vary receiving the semi-autonomous Journey Help system as customary for 2023, Volkswagen Australia additionally eliminated blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, as properly the Proactive Occupant Safety system for MY23 on account of element and semiconductor shortages.
The native arm additionally not too long ago bumped the worth of the T-Roc vary by as much as $1000 as a part of a wider range price increase from January 1, 2023.
The T-Roc vary now begins at $37,100 earlier than on-roads for the Fashion, and extends to $60,300 earlier than on-roads for the full-fat R mannequin.
In a hotly-contested phase with fairly a lot of associated Volkswagen Group rivals, does the mid-spec T-Roc R-Line type because the decide of the vary?
How a lot does the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line price?
The Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line is the mid-spec mannequin earlier than you step as much as the new T-Roc R variants. It begins from $45,200 earlier than on-road prices.
Our tester was fitted with the elective Black Fashion package deal with electrical tailgate that prices $3500; the elective Nappa leather-appointed seat upholstery package deal that prices $3950; in addition to Pyrite Silver metallic paint with a black-painted roof which prices an extra $700.
This brings the overall to $53,350 earlier than on-road prices, or $59,668 drive-away for Victorian consumers (every state has barely totally different taxes).
The one choice our T-Roc R-Line tester didn’t have was the panoramic sunroof, which prices an extra $2000 and would tip the drive-away pricing to over $60,000. Eep…
When it comes to opponents to the T-Roc R-Line you’re spoilt for selection.
If you wish to keep inside the Volkswagen Group household with the identical engine tune, there’s the Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4 ($50,990 drive-away), the Cupra Formentor V ($54,490 drive-away), and the Audi Q2 40 TFSI S line ($53,300 plus on-roads).
Our virtually fully-optioned tester can also be solely $950 cheaper than the recently-launched T-Roc R Grid Edition which prices $54,300 earlier than on-roads.
Different similarly-priced rivals embrace:
Costs are earlier than on-road prices
What’s the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line like on the within?
Hopping behind the wheel of the Volkswagen T-Roc feels very acquainted in the easiest way potential. When you’ve sat in a latest Golf or Tiguan you’ll see, really feel and listen to plenty of similarities.
An instance of that is the strong thunk if you shut a door. It sounds virtually financial institution fault-like and is comparable throughout all present Volkswagen fashions. I haven’t skilled any Volkswagen with a bad-sounding door thunk up to now.
One factor to level out immediately in regards to the up to date T-Roc is the extra liberal software of soft-touch plastics across the cabin. The sprint is roofed in gentle plastic that’s squishy to the touch.
You continue to don’t have to look far to search out more durable plastics, however these are relegated to locations just like the door tops and low down on the centre tunnel. It’d even be good to have lined door trays just like the Golf and Tiguan, too.
The intensive use of piano black across the cabin although is somewhat irritating; as a result of I perceive it offers the presents properly visually, however after every week it was already grubby. It was additionally scratched from being cleaned beforehand.
The seats on our tester are the elective Nappa leather-based models that type a part of the $3950 Leather-based package deal; which additionally provides energy adjustability for the motive force with reminiscence, and heated entrance seats.
The design of the entrance seats are somewhat plain however have some carbon fibre-looking panels that give it somewhat one thing. It’s a tad kitschy although.
Regardless of the plain look, the seats are extraordinarily comfy and have loads of aspect bolstering to hug you tightly. The headrests are additionally tremendous gentle which makes it very easy to get comfy on longer journeys.
It might be good if the Leather-based package deal additionally included ventilated entrance seats along with the heated seats, given the just about $4000 price ticket, as they will get uncomfortably heat on hotter days.
The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a chunky and is wrapped in leather-based. It even has some perforated sections for these with scorching and sweaty arms.
The buttons on the steering wheel are of the closely criticised touch-capacitive selection. When you’re coming from conventional steering wheel buttons they may really feel extremely unusual at first.
Whenever you press a button there are half and full press choices that aren’t instantly apparent. Consider Drive Contact for older iPhone and Mac customers. There are additionally swipe gestures for adjusting issues reminiscent of quantity or content material on each screens.
To save lots of all the trouble it will be a lot simpler if the T-Roc, plus a lot of different Volkswagen fashions, got here with common steering wheel buttons as a substitute. Even Volkswagen Passenger Automobiles CEO Thomas Schäfer has stated the corporate plans to convey again the hard-button steering wheel.
Forward of the motive force is a well-known 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit cluster that’s very configurable. You can also make a lot of the show menus – together with the map view – full-screen which is a cool social gathering trick.
I predominantly caught with the normal rpm and velocity gauges and had the map view within the center. I additionally swapped out the map view at instances to view the gas consumption.
Transferring throughout is the 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that sadly seems to be somewhat small in its housing. It’d be good to have the display just a bit bit bigger just like the R flagship (which will get a 9.2-inch unit).
The touchscreen is flanked by a spread of touch-sensitive buttons and two knobs. The facility icon on the amount knob spins round with use which drives me completely insane as a result of it doesn’t keep upright except you place it there and use the steering wheel to regulate the amount.
The display itself takes a short time to get booted up correctly however as soon as it does it’s fairly snappy to work together with. Swiping is fairly fast however depart smudgy fingerprints in every single place. There may be gesture management although, which can be utilized on a number of the menus.
Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary on the T-Roc R-Line, and every little thing seems to be good on the high-resolution show. Swiping could be a little bit laggy at instances, however within the grand scheme it really works fully effective.
What was annoying was the wi-fi cellphone charger not working with my iPhone 11 Professional Max. I’ve had my cellphone work on many wi-fi cellphone chargers beforehand however the T-Roc R-Line’s didn’t prefer it one bit. I additionally tried with my cellphone case on an off to no avail.
Satellite tv for pc navigation comes as customary on the T-Roc R-Line and it’s very complicated and clunky to function. It additionally takes its candy time to search out addresses if you’re looking.
I wouldn’t advocate utilizing the built-in satellite tv for pc navigation and would as a substitute recommend utilizing Google Maps or one thing of that ilk with smartphone mirroring.
Underneath the touchscreen are but extra touch-capacitive buttons, for the local weather management this time. They’ve contact and slide controls which is a cool social gathering trick, however may actually be push-buttons as a substitute just like the outdated one.
When you’ve by no means used Air Care in a Volkswagen earlier than you’ll be blown away with how shortly it could possibly eliminate yucky smells within the automobile.
On the centre console there are some strangely-shaped cup holders with a piccolo espresso cup spot proper within the center. There’s even an ideal area for the important thing close to the electrical park brake.
The centre armrest is properly padded, however the space for storing beneath it’s fairly puny.
Talking of different storage choices up entrance, the glove field is very large and isn’t impeded by the proprietor’s handbook as there’s a particular spot for it below the entrance passenger’s seat.
Transferring to the second row there wasn’t a lot area for me behind my very own driving place at a leggy 182cm tall.
Whereas leg room is kind of compromised for adults, head and toe room is kind of good. In an effort to get comfy I discovered I needed to splay my leg on both aspect of the seat in entrance. Shorter adults and children will likely be at house at the back of the T-Roc although.
The rear seat itself is kind of plush and the armrests are gentle and squishy. There are additionally air vents and USB-C ports on the rear centre console.
One thing I’ll observe is when getting out of the T-Roc I needed to step out like a ladder. The door opening is kind of slender and I couldn’t contort my legs sufficient to get out the usually.
The boot within the T-Roc R-Line measures in at 392 litres with the rear seats down. That is incrementally smaller than the bottom T-Roc Fashion.
The boot has a height-adjustable ground however due partially to the subwoofer that varieties a part of the $2900 Black Fashion package deal’s Beats premium sound system you’ll be able to’t change the extent.
The subwoofer is mounted contained in the area saver spare wheel which is good to have given a lot of its premium rivals have runflat tyres.
What’s below the bonnet?
The Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 140kW of energy and 320Nm of torque.
The same model of this engine and tune is offered within the Skoda Karoq Sportline, Cupra Formentor V, and Audi Q2 40 TFSI.
The turbo petrol engine is mated to a seven-speed ‘DSG’ dual-clutch automated transmission, with drive despatched by a 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
The T-Roc R-Line is the second most-powerful mannequin within the present line-up earlier than you step as much as the fire-breathing T-Roc R, which produces 221kW and 400Nm.
Claimed mixed gas financial system for the T-Roc R-Line is 7.three litres per 100km, although throughout our time we noticed a mean of 8.6 litres per 100km over a mixture of freeway and metropolis driving.
It has a 55-litre gas tank and requires a minimal of 95 RON premium unleaded petrol.
How does the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line drive?
Identical to the inside, driving the Volkswagen T-Roc feels very acquainted. Sure components of the driving expertise are harking back to the Golf, whereas others are just like the Tiguan.
The R-Line therapy will get you somewhat extra pep in your step, with the two.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 140kW of energy and 320Nm of torque.
From a standstill the T-Roc R-Line lags for a cut up second earlier than taking off no matter which drive mode is chosen. That is possible as a result of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission in our tester was nonetheless in its studying interval.
Over time the car would get used to the way you drive and calibrate the transmission and throttle response accordingly.
What this meant for the time we had our tester although is you’ll be initially overtaken on the visitors lights except you’ll be able to preempt when the lights will go inexperienced.
When you do get shifting, issues get much more seamless and silky easy for probably the most half. You’ll even hear a Golf GTI-esque soundtrack in the event you punch it a bit.
The primary few gear adjustments can typically rev out to 3000rpm which is a bit more than I’d like in a small-capacity turbocharged engine, however past second gear the dual-clutch transmission is raring to shift up gears and maintain the revs down low.
Across the metropolis the T-Roc R-Line soaks up highway imperfections like a dream when in a comfort-oriented drive mode. That is wonderful given the actual fact our tester was fitted with the elective 19-inch Misano alloy wheels which is a part of the Black Fashion package deal.
This elective package deal additionally provides adaptive chassis management with adaptive dampers, which lets you choose a drive mode that may both dial up the sportiness or make you are feeling such as you’re driving on a cloud.
You possibly can actually really feel a distinction when biking by all of those drive modes. There are even a lot of off-road drive modes for many who frequent the snow or have to get to a camp web site, for instance.
Whenever you dial up the velocity the T-Roc R-Line turns into much more dynamic. It positively has somewhat little bit of heat hatch about it.
The progressive steering is greatest attributed to the sensation of dynamism at larger speeds because it feels very direct. You additionally don’t have to enterprise removed from the steering’s centre level to start altering instructions.
The engine does start to expire of puff considerably at freeway speeds nevertheless it nonetheless has loads of punch to do an overtake if needed.
One factor that may drive you insane in the event you go for the elective Black Fashion package deal is the highway noise from the 225/40 R19 Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres. It’s very boomy and also you’ll be reaching to show up the music.
Identical to within the metropolis, the T-Roc R-Line feels very compliant on the open highway and doesn’t bounce round a lot in any respect on rougher sections. It picks up a extra refined multi-link rear suspension setup in comparison with the entry-level Fashion’s rear torsion beam setup.
When it comes to security gear, the T-Roc R-Line’s adaptive cruise management works extraordinarily properly. The way in which it interacts with different autos that lower you off and are travelling barely quicker than you is extraordinarily pure.
It additionally accelerates to the set velocity progressively which is significantly appreciated as it may be unsettling have a automobile rev considerably to achieve 100km/h as shortly as potential.
The lane-keep and Journey Help programs labored properly in most city situations however obtained simply confused when the lane markings pale on regional and rural roads.
It’s positively one of many higher programs on the market however I turned it off for the as a result of I used to be sick of being pushed from lane marking to lane marking.
What do you get?
T-Roc R-Line highlights:
- 18-inch Nevada alloy wheels
- R-Line exterior styling
- Sports activities suspension
- Progressive steering
- Privateness glass
- Auto LED Efficiency headlights
- Auto high-beam
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- Electrically-folding aspect mirrors
- 8.0-inch Digital Cockpit cluster
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired and Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Lava Stone Black gloss inlays
- Black headliner
- Leather-based-wrapped sports activities steering wheel
- Gearshift paddles
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- LED inside ambient lighting
- Sports activities entrance seats
- R-Line fabric/microfleece upholstery
Our tester was fitted with the next elective further packages:
Black Fashion package deal: $2900]
- 19-inch Misano alloy wheels
- Black inside and exterior styling particulars
- Black-painted roof
- Carbon-look C-pilar trim
- Adaptive chassis management
- Beats premium sound system
Leather-based package deal ($3950)
- Nappa leather-based upholstery
- Energy driver’s seat with reminiscence
- Heated entrance seats
Electrical tailgate: $600
The one choice our tester didn’t have fitted was the panoramic glass sunroof which prices $2000.
Is the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line secure?
The Volkswagen T-Roc has a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based on checks carried out by Euro NCAP in 2017.
It obtained an grownup occupant safety rating of 96 per cent, a baby occupant safety rating of 87 per cent, a pedestrian safety rating of 79 per cent, and a security help rating of 71 per cent.
Customary security options embrace:
- 6 airbags
- AEB incl. Pedestrian detection
- Aspect Help (blind-spot monitoring)*
- Rear cross-traffic alert*
- Proactive occupant safety system*
- Lane departure warning
- Lane maintain help
- Journey Help
- Park Help (bay and parallel)
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Reversing digital camera
Volkswagen Australia has eliminated Aspect Help (blind-spot monitoring) and rear cross-traffic alert for MY23, in addition to the Proactive Occupant Safety System on account of element shortages.
Our tester was fitted with these, nevertheless, because it was a MY22.5 mannequin.
How a lot does the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line price to run?
The T-Roc, like all new Volkswagens, is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Scheduled upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
Volkswagen provides three- and five-year Care Plans for all variations of the up to date T-Roc, costing $1450/$2450 for the T-Roc Fashion, $1700/$2850 for the T-Roc R-Line, and $1700/$2950 for the T-Roc R.
That is considerably dearer than the equal five-year service package deal for the Skoda Karoq and Audi Q2. It’s lineball with the Volvo XC40 although.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line
The Volkswagen T-Roc is a convincing crossover as a result of it builds on the tried-and-tested roots of the Mk7 Golf.
It gives a sought-after elevated seating place and a usable boot. It additionally doesn’t look too dangerous both!
Volkswagen has achieved a very good job sprucing up the T-Roc with the mid-life replace. The soft-touch dashboard and customary digital instrument cluster was desperately wanted.
Regardless of all of the reward, the T-Roc’s second row is considerably cramped and it will get very costly in the event you tick just a few too many choice bins.
The T-Roc R-Line shapes because the decide of the vary if you need somewhat extra pep than the entry-level Fashion, together with a correct dual-clutch transmission.
It additionally comes with options like wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in addition to satellite tv for pc navigation as customary.
If it’s further energy you’re after although, you’ll be able to go for the new T-Roc R Grid Version for not an excessive amount of extra. Sounds fairly tempting to me.
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MORE: Everything Volkswagen T-Roc
Professionals
- Dynamic driving expertise
- Silky easy experience with adaptive dampers
- Tech-heavy inside with numerous configuration
Cons
- Some security options lacking
- Costly choice packages
- Expensive servicing packages
Prime Line Specs
- Energy: 140kW
- Gasoline Sort: Premium Unleaded Petrol
- Economic system: 7.3L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 167g/km
- ANCAP Security Score: 5
