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This is Volkswagen's new T-Roc, its junior crossover, built on the underpinnings of the Golf and sitting below its big brother, the Tiguan, in the company's expanding SUV line-up. It arrives into a segment that is set to explode with new models.
What will its rivals be?
The T-Roc has to contend with plenty of in-house rivals to start with, though of course the Volkswagen Group will have carefully designed it so the various junior crossover options don't step on each other's toes too much… So, depending on pricing, the T-Roc could be up against the Audi Q2 and SEAT Arona, and presumably Skoda has a similarly sized car in the pipeline. Looking further afield, there are established alternatives such as the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008, while the Opel Crossland X and refreshed Ford EcoSport may also be worth considering in this segment, as will the attractive newcomers, the Citroen C3 Aircross, Kia Stonic and Hyundai Kona.
Any tech info?
From what we know so far, there's going to be no radical new technology for the T-Roc, though it will be available with the Volkswagen Group's latest gadgets and systems - at a price. Inside, all will feature touchscreen infotainment, starting with a modest 6.5-inch system and rising to the range-topping eight-inch option with a black glass design. More impressive still is the Volkswagen Active Info Display, which replaces traditional analogue instruments with a configurable TFT screen in front of the driver. Volkswagen is expected to ramp up the safety as standard too, possibly including Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Lane Assist and Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring and City Emergency Braking.
What will the range be like?
It's still a bit early to predict pricing, but the T-Roc is set to sit between the Polo and the Golf and should be offered in the company's usual specifications of Comfortline and Highline at the least, possibly with an optional R-Line styling package. Petrol options will include 1.0- and 1.5-litre TSI units, diesels will be 1.6- or 2.0-litre TDI and power outputs will vary from 115- to 190hp. Manual and DSG automatic transmissions will be available, and there'll even be the option of 4Motion four-wheel drive at the top of the range.
Expectations?
We expect big things of the T-Roc. It's a very attractive looking car and seems to be arriving at a time when the compact crossover can do no wrong. Some are suggesting it might eventually out-sell the might Golf, which would be quite an achievement.
