New 2026 Volkswagen T-Roc Review

Can this new Volkswagen T-Roc break the boring SUV mould that everyone is doing?

Exterior – Front

So, we are going to be looking at the R-Line version today in this cool looking bumble bee look with its canary yellow paint and black roof and door mirror caps, but we will also look at the base model too just to show you the differences. So, starting with the front of the T-Roc and the design is completely different that before but we do have a slight outline of the old grill. The headlights are very slim looking and have a similar outline to the Volkswagen ID.4 but they do look sharper. These are connected with this lightbar and light up logo too which every Volkswagen now has. The central grill takes up the full width of the car giving it a menacing look which I do quite like and on this R-Line model it connects to the lower smaller central air vent. You also get an ID.4 Esque bonnet which gives it an aggressive look too which is nice. On the normal T-Roc it does tone the aggressiveness down slightly, but the central grill still takes up the whole front but now has a much bigger mesh pattern and some body colour panels too which I do quite like. Really then both models do look great so trim level really isn’t important anymore on looks.

Exterior – Side

Moving round to the side of the new T-Roc and we can clearly see the previous T-Roc has paid a big part in its design. To start with we get this rear crease just like the previous version, but they have now also added a front crease to help it look more modern. We also get a similar lower crease and some mat black wheel arches and lower sills again just like the old model. The rear C-Pillar is almost the same as before too but is slightly slimmer. We also get some cool looking wheel of which these are 19 inches which may look like they affect the ride comfort but if you opt for the adaptive suspension then you wouldn’t actually notice although it isn’t a necessity to have as the T-Roc does have quite soft but sharp handling. On the blue model it sits on 17-inch wheels which does look a bit small but still look decent.

Exterior – Rear

Moving round to the back and this is where it does look different to the previous T-Roc. To start with the boot area now has an indent to give it a sporty look but we also get a set of taillights with a light bar and light up badge just like the more premium Tiguan which I do think helps this car no end. We also get a coupe style rear end and a big spoiler too to give it a sporty look, and I also like the half X pattern in the taillight. The bumper is quite plain looking but it does still look sporty with its fake diffuser but thankfully no fake exhausts this time. Overall then it does look very nice. What do you think. Let me know in the comment section below and whilst you are at it don’t forget to like and subscribe. Right, lets have a look and see what engine and gearbox options you can have with the new Volkswagen T-Roc

Car and engine specs and price

So, at launch the Volkswagen T-Roc will be available with 2 engine options all with mild hybrid power. Lets start with the first engine. This uses the usual 1.5 litre eTSI petrol unit with 115 bhp. this can do 0-62 within 10.5 seconds and power is sent to the front wheels through the 7 speed DSG gearbox. The next engine is the same engine but this time the power has increased to 148 bhp and this has reduced the 0-62 time down to 8.9 seconds. Now this is the engine that we have on our test car today and this is actually very efficient and returned around 48 mpg which isn’t bad for a big car like the T-Roc. Now the next engine is expected to be released within the next 12 months, and this is an all new 2.0 litre eTSI turbo with 4-wheel drive. This has 200 bhp and it can do 0-62 within 6.9 seconds which is quite quick. This also uses a 7 speed DSG gearbox. Also, in the next few years there will also be a pair of full hybrid engines, a first for Volkswagen. These will be in 134 bhp and 166 bhp version and wont just be available on the T-Roc. They will also be coming to the Golf and Tiguan too and maybe other Volkswagen group cars. The last version to finish the lineup will be the top spec R model which will have 328 bhp and 4-wheel drive as standard. The price of the new Volkswagen T-Roc hasn’t been announced yet at the time of making this video, but we do expect it to start anywhere between £29,000 and £34,000 with higher end models possibly scraping below the £40,000 mark to avoid the luxury car tax. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like.

Interior – Design

So, before we climb inside the new T-Roc I just want to mention that the previous T-Roc always did feel like a cheaper version of the Tiguan inside, but this has changed for this generation. The interior I would say even feels more premium than the Tiguan. To start with I want to talk about the top part of the dashboard. For the first time it is made of this soft feeling fabric that you would find on speakers. It looks and feels premium, and this is complimented with this chrome strip which goes the length of the dashboard. We also get this big single air vent which you can thankfully adjust. Now the dashboard does look a bit plain, but it isn’t the worst I have seen. The rest of the dashboard design is quite minimalistic. We do get the latest MiB 4 infotainment system which like I have said before is very easy to use and works quite well. Ill link a review in the top right-hand corner for you. The instrument cluster is sort of integrated but doesn’t look too bad and is fairly easy to use. The indicator stalks are ok, and we get the usual Volkswagen steering wheel too with physical buttons and some darker silver elements on it too. now the centre console is quite interesting as it is dominated with the wireless charging pad which is cooled. It also houses 2 USB C ports too. we also get Volkswagen’s new multifunctional dial which can adjust multiple things like the volume or the driving mode. There is also a decent amount of storage in it too. the seats are new and are much more supportive than before and are comfier too. right, finally the door cards that I do want to mention as there has been quite a lot of criticism of the placement of the door handle. Yes, it has moved but it isn’t a button like a tesla. It is still a physical handle on the end of the arm rest, and it works how the window switches work. It actually feels easier and more natural to use and it is one of those things where if you try it, you will be able to use it straight away. Right, with that over, lets have a look and see what the rear seats are like.

Practicality

So, climbing into the back of the T-Roc and we do get a decent amount of legroom for a 6-footer, but headroom isn’t the best because of the sloping roof but it isn’t that bad like a full-on Coupe SUV. The rear seats are also quite comfortable too and you also get your own climate control with air vents, an arm rest and USB C ports. Right, lets have a look and see what the boot space is like.

Boot Size

So, opening the boot to the new Volkswagen T-Roc and you are welcomed with a 475 litre boot space which is more than its rivals which is great but because the rear has more of a sloping roof than its rivals it does make it not as practical. If you fold the seats down though 40:20:40 then it does increase to 1,350 litres. What I will also say is that the opening is quite high so lifting heavy items in won’t be as easy, but you do get a flat through load floor as well as underfloor storage and no boot lip which is ok.

Summary

So, in summary then what do I think of the new Volkswagen T-Roc. Well, for a Volkswagen the T-Roc feels different from other Volkswagen Cars. Yes, it looks similar to the Tiguan, but the design feels fresh and free and not restrained to a German straight design like the Tiguan. It feels premium and Volkswagen still yes, but I do think it will attract a lot of younger people who want a different looking car. it’s a bit like what the Juke did all those years ago. The only difference this time you know it has excellent build quality and it is by a German brand. When this comes out in the next few months it is definitely worth looking into if you are in the market for a quirky SUV.

Exterior 5/5

Interior 5/5

Practicality 3.5/5

Total 13.5/15

Model	Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line
Engine	1.5 eTSI Petrol, 148bhp, 0-62 = 8.9 Seconds, Front Wheel Drive
Transmission	7 Speed DSG Automatic
Price	TBA
On Sale	Spring 2026