2020 Volkswagen T-Roc: A stylish, fun to drive SUV

The German automaker Volkswagen has recently introduced the 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc for the South African market featuring distinctive styling, punchy turbo engine, and lots of advanced tech. The subcompact crossover SUV is fourth in the VW utility vehicle’s line up, positioned below the Tiguan (162mm shorter) and above the T-Cross (80mm longer). Today, we will highlight the most prominent features of the new T-Roc.

The 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc is accessible in two trim levels, namely Design and R-Line, with two engine choices. The standard engine is a 1.4L turbo petrol generating 110 kW and 250 Nm of torque assisted by eight-speed automatic gearbox powering the front wheels. The more powerful 2.0L TSI petrol engine churns out 140 kW and 320 Nm of torque. This engine pairs with a seven-speed DSG gearbox and 4Motion all-wheel drive. It is standard for the R-Line and optional for the Design variant. 

The T-Roc boasts two-tone individualisation for the first time (in the SUV segment), offering 26 distinct colour choices for the Design variant with contrasting roof in black, white, or red. Additionally, the R-Line gives you 21 different colour choices. The Design sports standard 17-inch Mayfield alloys while the R-Line comes with 19-inch Suzuka alloy wheels. 

Peek inside, and you will find VW’s Composition Media 20.3cm touchscreen infotainment touchscreen allowing you to connect your smartphone through App-Connect. The instrument cluster is a 26 cm (10.25 inch) TFT colour display. The boot space stands at a significant 455 litres.   

The base variant comes equipped with Park Distance Control (front and rear), ESC stability control, Blind Spot Monitor, and Fatigue Detection. The range-topping R-Line comes with more goodies boasting Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist with Auto Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, Lane Assist, Keyless Entry, and Inductive Phone Charging. The optional facilities include Panoramic Sunroof, Beats Sound System, Discover Pro Navigation System with a 9.2-inch screen, Electronic Trailer Hitch, Smoker's Package, and the Park Package.

The 2020 Volkswagen gives you a multitude of options to accessorise your SUV. The interior accessories range from door strip, protective film for the sill rail, textile, and all-weather floor mats, boot mat, cargo liner, boot inlay, and boot tray. The exterior accessories include mud flap, loading sill protection, protective strip for the tailgate, and footboard. There is even infotainment, electric, and transport accessories.

Volkswagen hasn’t revealed the price yet, owing to the present volatility of the Rand. However, the company has started taking orders. Reportedly, the base Design model will begin at around R500,000, while the R-Line may cost approximately R600,000. Volkswagen offers a five-year/90 000km service plan, a three-year/120 000km warranty, and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The SUV will hit the roads in November this year.

The 2020 Volkswagen T-Roc is a healthy addition to the South African SUV market. It’s easy to customise, excellent to drive thanks to the VW MQB platform it’s built on and looks stylish. However, it is expensive, and some of its competitors offer better value for money. 

Before investing in a new vehicle, online research is essential… and the MotorHappy blog is a good place to start. Our blog is packed with information about the latest cars to hit SA roads, new laws, insurance updates and car maintenance tips. Click here to start reading!

Please note the imagery supplied in this blog was taken off www.cars.co.za