Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet review

When a designer has toiled to craft and sculpt a new car until it looks right from every angle, it must be galling when somebody comes along and just cuts the top off of it. Particularly when doing so seems at odds with the original concept. 

Sure, certain slinky, sporty cars seem destined to be offered as a convertible, but others, like the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet, can seem like an evolution too far. Especially when you consider that, as well as the roof, Volkswagen has trimmed away one of the practical T-Roc small SUV’s rear seats, two of its doors and done away with its hatchback boot opening. 

The only other open-top SUV we’ve seen in recent years was the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, which was received with a certain bemusement when it was launched in 2016 before vanishing in 2018. The closest things to true rivals for the T-Roc Cabriolet are the Mini Convertible and BMW 2 Series Convertible. 

Of course, while Volkswagen has cut back on the T-Roc’s roof, you can be sure there’s been no trimming of the price; the entry-level T-Roc Cabriolet costs thousands of pounds more than the regular car, and even more again than the cheapest Mini Convertible. It’s available with a choice of two petrol engines and two trim levels, but is it worth the price premium in any guise?

Read on to find the answer to that question as well as how it compares with rivals, how it drives and how much space there is. If you’re sold on a topless T-Roc, or any other car, don’t forget that our New Car Buying pages can take the pain out of your purchase.