2026 Volkswagen T-Roc revealed: how it compares with rivals, plus full walkaround video
The second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc aims to dramatically improve quality, without sacrificing this small SUV’s traditional strengths...
On sale Late 2025 Price from £32,000 (est)
They say it’s what’s inside that counts, but the original Volkswagen T-Roc proved that’s not always the case, because it sold in huge numbers despite having a distinctly disappointing interior. Sure, its dashboard looked nice enough at a glance, thanks to bright-coloured inserts, but closer inspection revealed that hard and hollow plastics had been used throughout.
Now, in truth, we can see why this didn’t put too much of a dent in the T-Roc’s popularity; as a small SUV, it was targeting one of the most popular sectors of the new car market, plus it was comfortable, well priced and offered a higher driving position than most rivals.
It also helped that VW made an effort to upgrade a few of the surfaces when it facelifted the car in 2022. However, the result was still an interior that was acceptable rather than outstanding – something VW basically acknowledged at the reveal of the new T-Roc by saying one of its main goals this time was to “put the focus back on quality”. And you know what? It shows.
The top of the dashboard is covered in fabric that looks and feels expensive, while the ledge below is made from soft-touch plastic that’s similarly pleasing to the fingertips. Just as crucially, VW has confirmed to us that these plush materials will be used for all new T-Rocs, not just the pricier trim levels.
It’s also great that you get proper, physical buttons on the steering wheel instead of the fiddly, touch-sensitive pads found in VW’s ID 3 and ID 4 electric cars. Meanwhile, the new touchscreen infotainment system (which measures 12.9in in high-spec T-Rocs but will be smaller for entry-level cars) is closely related to the systems in the seven-seat Volkswagen Tayron and the latest Tiguan family SUV, which means it responds quickly to inputs and features sharp graphics.
Yes, it would be easier to adjust the climate control if this was operated via physical buttons and knobs instead of a combination of touch-sensitive sliders and on-screen icons. But at least those icons are permanently on display at the bottom of the screen, rather than hidden away in sub-menus. And changing the interior temperature can also be done via voice commands.
There is, though, another missed opportunity in the new T-Roc: VW has gone to the trouble of putting a rotary controller between the front seats, but then limited its functionality to adjusting the audio volume and switching between driving modes. If you could also operate the infotainment system via this dial, it would undoubtedly reduce the amount of time drivers spend with their eyes off the road.
In better news, the distance between the front and rear wheels has been stretched by 122mm compared with the previous T-Roc. This has resulted in a useful increase in rear leg room; a six-footer will easily be able to fit behind a similar-sized driver. What’s more, there’s generous space for passengers’ feet beneath the front seats.
Our one piece of advice here would be to seriously consider avoiding the optional panoramic glass roof if you regularly carry
tall adults (or lanky teenagers) in the back of your car, because this feature appears to lower the surrounding rooflining.
In addition to improved rear leg room, the new T-Roc gives you an extra 20 litres of boot space compared with its predecessor, taking the total up to 465 litres. That’s more than you get in the rival Lexus LBX (402 litres), Peugeot 2008 (434 litres) or Ford Puma (456 litres), although the Hyundai Kona offers 466 litres and the Skoda Karoq still sets the standard here, with 521 litres.
As before, a height-adjustable boot floor boosts the T-Roc’s practicality; when this is in its highest setting, it removes the load lip at the entrance of the boot and ensures there’s no step up to the rear seatbacks when they’re folded flat. And while those rear seatbacks fold in a 60/40 split instead of the more flexible 40/20/40 arrangement you get in the Kona, the presence of a large ski hatch in the new T-Roc minimises its disadvantage.
Turning to matters of style, the new car has the same sort of beefy lower front grille as the Tayron, and there’s the option of a lightbar that connects the headlights and incorporates an illuminated VW badge. This can be mirrored at the rear with another lightbar and light-up badge. Meanwhile, some trims also feature a metallic strip that runs along the edge of the roof on either side and then down into the rear pillars, to highlight the fact that the rear window is now more dramatically raked.
Not that this sleeker body shape is there only to improve the looks. It’s also said to contribute to a 10% reduction in drag compared with the outgoing T-Roc. This should mean improved efficiency, despite the two engines that will be available from launch both being carried over from the old car.
More specifically, these are 114bhp and 148bhp 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol units that send their power to the front wheels and come with a seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard; there’s no manual alternative. It’s worth noting that in the current car, even the lower-powered option delivers perfectly acceptable performance, but despite the improved aerodynamics, fuel economy is unlikely to match that of full hybrid rivals.
To address this, next year VW will expand the T-Roc line-up to include an all-new full hybrid set-up of its own. This will be available with a choice of power outputs, although VW hasn’t yet confirmed what these will be.
In addition to its mild hybrid units (which provide some electrical assistance to the petrol engine but never power the car entirely), VW already offers plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology in several of its models, allowing them to travel up to 88 miles purely on electric power. But while the full hybrid T-Rocs will allow only shorter bursts of pure electric running (such as when manoeuvring or driving in stop-start traffic), they’ll never need plugging in and will cost considerably less to buy than a PHEV version would, due to their smaller batteries.
Indeed, VW has confirmed that it won’t offer PHEV or pure electric versions of the T-Roc. However, it is planning a four-wheel-drive 2.0-litre petrol model and a successor to today’s high-performance T-Roc R, with the latter due to join the line-up in 2027. There’s no word yet on what the T-Roc R will be powered by, but the 328bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine from the Golf R seems a likely candidate.
As for the unusual, T-Roc Cabriolet version of the the outgoing car, VW is remaining tight-lipped about whether this will be replaced. However, a successor wasn’t ruled out when we asked the question.
Sales of the new T-Roc will start towards the end of this year, and we’d expect a price hike compared with the outgoing model to reflect the stepchange in quality. That said, VW can’t afford to push prices too high, given that the LBX – a former What Car? Car of the Year, no less – is sold exclusively as a full hybrid and available from just £29,995. After all, what’s inside only counts for so much.
How the new Volkswagen T-Roc compares with its rivals
Alfa Romeo Junior
Alfa Romeo’s first ever small SUV is offered in hybrid and fully electric forms. Either way, it blends sharp handling with a good ride, but it can’t match the new T-Roc for space or quality.
What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5
Full Alfa Romeo Junior review >>
Ford Puma
One of the more car-like small SUVs to drive, while its Ecoboost 125 engine is punchy yet frugal. It’s just a shame quality is more reminiscent of the old T-Roc than the new one.
Let down by its small boot, tight rear head room and noisy petrol engine. However, it does have clever folding rear seats, and unlike the first of the new T-Rocs, it comes with hybrid power.
What Car? rating 3 stars out of 5
Full Honda HR-V review >>
Hyundai Kona
Available with a choice of petrol, hybrid and electric power, and closely matches the new T-Roc for passenger and boot space. The ride could be better, though, particularly around town.
What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5
Full Hyundai Kona review >>
Lexus LBX
Related to the super-efficient Toyota Yaris Cross, but you’d never guess as much, because it’s quieter and has a much classier interior. Not as practical as the new T-Roc, though.
What Car? rating 5 stars out of 5
Full Lexus LBX review >>
Peugeot 2008
A smooth-riding choice, and its interior runs the new T-Roc’s close for visual and tactile appeal. Unfortunately, the driving position isn’t as good as the T-Roc’s.
What Car? rating 3 stars out of 5
Full Peugeot 2008 review >>
Skoda Karoq
Combines a comfortable ride with tidy handling, plus it’s spacious and gets close to the new T-Roc for quality. Only the lack of hybrid options disappoints.
What Car? rating 5 stars out of 5
Full Skoda Karoq review >>
Toyota Yaris Cross
Not as spacious as the new T-Roc, but this is the most economical car we’ve ever put through our Real MPG test, with it returning 103.3mpg around town.
What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5
Full Toyota Yaris Cross review >>
Tester's notes
Back in 2017, I attended the launch of the original Volkswagen T-Roc, and in most respects I came away thoroughly impressed by the brand’s first small SUV. However, there was one area that disappointed: the interior plastics.
At the time, this came as a real surprise; I was used to VWs of that era feeling very upmarket from behind the wheel. Sadly, though, it turned out to be a sign of things to come. And not just at VW.
For all the ways that cars have improved during the past eight years, standards of interior quality have generally gone down. But having been at the forefront of this unwelcome trend, perhaps VW can now spearhead a renaissance.
After all, the brand’s head of design, Andy Mindt, has spoken about wanting to “kick out cheap plastic materials”. And the new T-Roc shows there's substance to that statement.
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