Review: VW T-Roc 2.0 TDI

So, here’s the diesel version of the new VW compact SUV that’s aiming to spice up the straitlaced brand persona currently established by the Tiguan.

As we already know, the T-Roc is following the SUV’s slightly weird, aspirationally-driven evolution trace of combining a high-riding car with the design appeal of a low-riding coupé. On one level it makes more sense with the T-Roc as it’s actually replacing (sort of) the low-selling Scirocco in the VW range. How times change.

And here’s another change. Not so very long ago, diesel engines would have been the default choice in cars like the T-Roc. Not now, though. Volkswagen is saying that only one in five of UK-sold T-Rocs will be diesel-powered. Much of that is down to the fact that three in every four T-Roc sales will be made to private individuals, not fleets. Well, that and Dieselgate, presumably.

Anyway, the three TDI engines that will be available are the usual suspects: a basic 113bhp 1.6-litre, only with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox; the enduring 148bhp 2.0-litre unit in either FWD or AWD flavours and the choice of a manual or a DSG twin-clutch automatic gearbox; or the same 2.0-litre engine in 187bhp strength which you can only have with the part-time 4Motion AWD system and a DSG.

We’ve just been trying out the 2.0 148bhp TDI with the 4Motion AWD and the DSG box. Our car was in the European Designline spec, which will be on a par with SE-L here in the UK. Standard kit will include dual-zone climate control, radar cruise and an array of active safety systems.

The T-Roc has presence and a certain chiselled appeal, but its sharpened-up panels conceal another reworking of the increasingly ubiquitous MQB architecture. Skoda’s very similar Karoq demonstrates the urgency with which this burgeoning marketplace is being populated.

Of course, the glass half-full view is that the T-Roc feels as ‘engineered’ as you’d expect any VW to be, and that its endearing qualities – practicality, refinement, spaciousness, and (with a caveat) good driveability – will find it a ready home on many driveways.

The driving caveat being that, having tried both TDI and TSI petrol T-Rocs on the same roads, our choice would definitely be the TSI. You can’t argue about the diesel’s low-rpm thrust, but it feels distinctly lazy next to the perky 187bhp 2.0-litre TSI. Drive the diesel gently and you will be perfectly happy, but asking it to press on towards its harsh-sounding 4500rpm rev limit is something you’re unlikely to do more than once. The engine feels out of kilter with the willing and clean-shifting seven-speed DSG gearbox, a bit like a bouncing puppy that’s been saddled with a hopelessly unfit walker.

Leaving the transmission to get on with things and enjoying the T-Roc’s cruising refinement is your best plan. That way, only a modicum of wind noise will perforate your peace. In terms of cabin practicality, it’s OK but not exceptional with limited rear legroom and a beefy B-pillar making access more difficult. For genuine family space, you’ll need a Tiguan.

It would be unfair to expect sportscar handling from a vehicle like this, but it has to be said that the T-Roc does better on twisty roads than most of the opposition. Grip isn’t leech-like, and naturally it will display body roll under pressure, but the overall balance is good even without the optional adaptive dampers fitted.

The balance of expense laid out on the outside and the inside is interesting. Your feeling is that the sheet metal designers have had a bigger budget than the cabin engineers, who (it seems) have been tasked with transferring the switchgear and touchscreen interface over from the Tiguan and Golf.