Item: Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

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Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet carries a hefty price premium, costing thousands of pounds more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">regular T-Roc</a>, and is available in two generously-equipped trim levels: Design and R-Line. Design comes with with dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. R-Line brings a sportier feel with 19in alloy wheels and styling tweaks that include restyled bumpers, and adds LED headlights and a 10.25in digital driver’s display.

Heated seats and a spare wheel cost extra, as does that useful wind deflector. Plenty of safety systems are included as standard, including lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a>, which we consider vital.

Running costs shouldn’t be too bad. The 1.0-litre engine officially returns 44.9mpg, which is roughly the same as the lower-powered engine in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a>. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">Official CO2 emissions</a> are also considerably lower than those of the BMW 2 Series Convertible; this means company-car users will pay <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">lower benefit-in-kind tax</a> should they choose the T-Roc Cabriolet as a breezier way to commute to the office.&nbsp;

The Cabriolet hasn’t been tested specifically by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/euro-ncap-safety-ratings-2019-%E2%80%93-how-safe-is-your-car/n17044">Euro NCAP</a>, but the&nbsp;T-Roc on which it’s based received the full five stars when it was tested in 2017. That T-Roc didn’t score particularly well in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, though; it finished low in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-small-suvs/n20062">small SUV category results</a>.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">Volkswagen&nbsp;finished mid-table</a>&nbsp;as a brand –&nbsp;in 16th place out of 31 manufacturers – and provides&nbsp;a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty and one year of European breakdown cover as standard.

The T-Roc is already a favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUV</a> of ours, but it’s no surprise that turning it into a convertible has had an effect on the way it drives. You get the same choice of engines, though, the cheapest being a 1.0-litre petrol with 113bhp. We’re yet to try it in the Cabrio, but it packs a relatively mighty punch in the regular T-Roc, providing plenty of pace both around town and when accelerating to motorway speeds.&nbsp;

The other option is a 1.5-litre petrol with 148bhp. On paper, it turns in less performance in the Cabrio than it does in the regular T-Roc, but it still musters plenty of oomph from relatively low engine speeds. You’ll have no problem scooting away from a junction or accelerating up to the speed limit.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox is a little notchy, but has a short shift action so it isn’t too much of an effort to change gear. A <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022">seven-speed automatic gearbox</a> is optional with the 1.5-litre engine.

With sensitive steering, the car can feel a little twitchy at motorway speeds, while the front tyres have a habit of following the road camber&nbsp;on the road. Poor road surfaces are smoothed over comfortably, though, and larger imperfections, such as potholes or expansion joints, aren’t too jarring. R-Line models get a lowered sports suspension setup that we’re yet to try; hopefully it will be far more forgiving than that of the overly firm <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a>.&nbsp;

To combat the loss of rigidity that comes with the removal of the roof, Volkswagen has added reinforcement to the T-Roc Cabriolet’s structure, and that means extra weight. You become slightly aware of this on twisty roads; you’ll notice a bit of body lean when you start to push on.

Unsurprisingly, having a fabric roof means you’re not as well isolated from the outside world as you would be in the regular T-Roc. Wind and road noise – including tyre roar from passing vehicles – are all fairly obvious from inside the car. Our test car also suffered an annoying wind whistle from the top of the windscreen, whether driven with the roof up or down. Generally, though, open-air motoring is calm and comfortable; you’re well protected from buffeting, even at motorway speeds. There’s also a wind deflector as a relatively inexpensive option if you need a little more protection from the elements.

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

1.0 TSI

10-tsi

1.5 TSI EVO

15-tsi-evo

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.&nbsp;

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/small-suv">small SUV’s</a> rear seats, two of its doors and done away with its hatchback boot opening.&nbsp;

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAMGwqGJVKM"></iframe>

The only other open-top SUV we’ve seen in recent years was the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/sports/review/n17203">Range Rover Evoque Convertible</a>, which was received with a certain bemusement when it was launched in 2016 before vanishing&nbsp;in 2018. The closest things to true rivals for the T-Roc Cabriolet are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/sports/review/n126"> BMW 2 Series Convertible</a>.&nbsp;

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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/convertible">New Car Buying pages</a> can take the pain out of your purchase.

The Cabriolet’s interior is essentially a carbon copy of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">regular T-Roc’s</a>. This&nbsp;means the dashboard and centre console are logically laid out, with physical dials and buttons for the climate control for&nbsp;easy to operation&nbsp;and adjustment on the move. Still, those controls don’t feel as sturdy or well put together as those in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a>, and you’ll find plenty of scratchy plastic surfaces across the top of the doors and dashboard.&nbsp;

Included on both Design and R-Line trims is Volkswagen’s crisp and intuitive 8.0in infotainment screen. It’s responsive and easy to use, with shortcut keys on either side that make it easier to jump between menus on the move. All models also get <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone mirroring included as standard.&nbsp;

The driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment to help you get comfortable, including for lumbar support, although electric adjustment isn’t available. Naturally, being based on an SUV, you get a raised driving position for a far more commanding view forwards than you'll find&nbsp;in the low-slung Mini.

Sports

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

T-ROC

As a cabriolet, T-Roc is too compromised to really make sense

Look behind you and you’ll see only two seats in the back. Space for those passengers is limited, too;&nbsp;the rear section of the fabric roof slopes down and reduces head room, while knee room is also restricted. There aren’t even any cupholders for your hemmed-in passengers. At least adults will actually fit back there, though; the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a> will struggle to accommodate anyone with, well, legs.&nbsp;Although there are only two doors, they open quite wide to make getting in the back easy, and the sliding front seats provide extra convenience.&nbsp;

In place of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">regular T-Roc’s</a> practical tailgate, the Cabriolet’s boot has a small lid that hinges upwards to reveal a narrow opening. There’s a high load lip and, with the wheel arches intruding noticeably, the boot grows narrower the farther in you go. In fact, it loses 161 litres of space over the regular model, leaving a total of 284 litres. Even the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a> offers 215 litres of space, and that’s a small car, not an SUV. At least the rear seats fold 50/50 if you do want to attempt to carry anything longer.

Style

style

R-Line

r-line

The T-Roc Cabriolet will definitely find its audience in those wanting a small SUV with an extra dimension of fun and freedom, but even Volkswagen predicts it will only make up 7% of T-Roc purchases. With a lofty driving position, comfortable ride and the fact that it offers more rear-seat space than rivals, it can just about combine family living with wind-in-your-hair excitement. For real convertible thrills, though, the Mini Convertible is a much more enjoyable prospect. 

What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so we’re after a roof that opens (and closes) slickly and quickly and good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top&nbsp;versions of existing models. Mini will sell you a drop-top version of its style-focused hatchback, if you’re after a bit of flair. The Audi A5&nbsp;Cabriolet, meanwhile, brings all of the benefits of the regular A5&nbsp;– refined engines and a beautifully finished interior. Alternatively, the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is one of the most luxurious convertibles on sale.

Convertible

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

The original baby SUV is the Nissan Juke, which remains a popular choice, but there are plenty of better rivals to consider instead. We’d recommend you look at either the Ford Puma or Skoda Kamiq, because they offer&nbsp;a great blend of practicality and value that keeps them&nbsp;clear of the opposition. Equally, if you’ve got more money to spend, the Audi Q2 and Volkswagen T-Roc&nbsp;are both fine choices.&nbsp;

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Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet review

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Buying advice for the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

The Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet carries a hefty price premium, costing thousands of pounds more than the regular T-Roc, and is available in two generously-equipped trim levels: Design and R-Line. Design comes with with dual-zone climate control, automatic lights and wipers, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. R-Line brings a sportier feel with 19in alloy wheels and styling tweaks that include restyled bumpers, and adds LED headlights and a 10.25in digital driver’s display.,Heated seats and a spare wheel cost extra, as does that useful wind deflector. Plenty of safety systems are included as standard, including lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, which we consider vital.,Running costs shouldn’t be too bad. The 1.0-litre engine officially returns 44.9mpg, which is roughly the same as the lower-powered engine in the Mini Convertible. Official CO2 emissions are also considerably lower than those of the BMW 2 Series Convertible; this means company-car users will pay lower benefit-in-kind tax should they choose the T-Roc Cabriolet as a breezier way to commute to the office. ,The Cabriolet hasn’t been tested specifically by Euro NCAP, but the T-Roc on which it’s based received the full five stars when it was tested in 2017. That T-Roc didn’t score particularly well in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, though; it finished low in our small SUV category results.  Volkswagen finished mid-table as a brand – in 16th place out of 31 manufacturers – and provides a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty and one year of European breakdown cover as standard.,

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Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet review

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