John Kendall finds there’s more to the T-Roc than meets the eye.

Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line 1.5 TSI 150 DSG

P11d: £34,265 BiK: 32% for 2023/24 MPG/CO2: 46.3mpg/138g/km Test mpg: 44.3mpg

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There’s an array of driving modes on hand

Our T-Roc does not lack variety. Take the digital instrument display ahead of the driver, for example. It takes some time to work through all the options but, if you want traditional instruments, navigation mapping, general fuel consumption and trip information, it’s all possible, as are some combinations of these. Drivers can’t complain that the T-Roc leaves them underinformed. There is also interaction with the central touchscreen display, so passengers can join in too.

Then there is the array of driving modes, which can be called up at the touch of a button – yes, a real one. The ‘Mode’ button beneath the central display enables the driver to personalise driving modes or switch between Economy, Normal, Comfort, Sport and Individual, similar to other Volkswagen Group models with equivalent equipment. Keen drivers can’t complain that the DSG gearbox leaves them with little to do. Basically if you want to sample the T-Roc’s spritely performance on the open road, switch into Sport and use the paddle shifts for some entertainment. On the other hand if you’re just eating up the motorway miles and are in no particular hurry, switch into Economy and let the car breeze along while minimising fuel consumption. Boring family car it is not.

John Kendall

VW’s small SUV offers 17% more luggage carrying ability than the Golf with all seats up

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Our T-Roc scores well when compared to other similarly sized models in this sector from Volkswagen

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The SUV is, we’re told, the default option for user-choosers, which is why Volkswagen offers so many of them in the UK. But aside from looks and that awful ‘lifestyle’ rating, how should businesses steer their drivers to ensure they’re opting for the best SUV?

Poking around on Volkswagen’s website I discovered a couple of excellent calculator tools giving you lots of running cost and taxation information. And our T-Roc scores well when compared to other similarly sized models in this sector from Volkswagen.

The best tool for businesses is the ‘monthly life cost’ calculator, which factors in all costs associated with running a vehicle – depreciation, VED, National Insurance, SMR (service, maintenance and repair), finance, insurance and fuel.

Over three years and 30,000 miles, our T-Roc 1.5 TSI R-Line DSG will have a monthly cost of £932 – that’s £156 a month cheaper than the identically engined and equipped Tiguan and £217 a month less than the identical Taigo.

So a solid running costs advantage for the T-Roc, helped by its strong residual value prediction – it’s estimated to retain 46% of its cost new after three years and 30,000 miles. In comparison, the Taigo’s lower 39% figure hits its wholelife costs.

The Taigo does lead the way in BiK tax, costing a base rate tax payer £162 a month compared to £182 for the T-Roc and £220 for the Tiguan. However, having spent six months in the Taigo I would suggest drivers would be willing to pay an extra £20 a month in tax for the T-Roc as it’s a better car all round.

And finally, a reminder that not every user-chooser decision has to be an SUV. The same calculators show that a new Golf 1.5 eTSI R-Line DSG will cost just £160 a month in company car tax.

It would appear that Volkswagen really does have all bases covered in this small family sector – the only problem is selecting which model to go for.

Julian Kirk

The T-Roc has a more assertive onroad presence than our former Taigo

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As one Volkswagen SUV leaves the office car park, another one swiftly arrives… taking the place of our Taigo is its slightly bigger T-Roc stablemate.

There are some immediate differences between the two – the T-Roc looks much more of a chunky SUV than the slightly ‘weedy’ Taigo, while inside it feels a level above in terms of interior trim.

And it doesn’t take many miles behind the wheel to realise the T-Roc is a much better all-rounder than the Taigo, too.

The T-Roc’s 1.5-litre petrol engine has so much more ‘oomph’ than the 1.0 TSI in the Taigo, while in terms of emissions and economy, there’s isn’t much to choose between them – the more powerful T-Roc returns a claimed average of 46.3mpg and emissions of 138g/km, while the Taigo records 47.8mpg and 134g/km.

On the road and the differences become much clearer – the T-Roc feels much more planted on the road and its ride quality is so much better than the Taigo’s. It feels like a proper junior Tiguan, whereas the Taigo feels like something of an interloper to the SUV party.

Our T-Roc is pretty much at the top of the tree in terms of specification – R-Line trim brings navigation, the user-friendly digital cockpit, bigger alloy wheels, sports body styling and some zingy interior trim upgrades.

There are some optional extras which swell the price upwards towards £38,000 though – the rear view camera is £275 well spent to avoid those careless parking dings, Dynamic Chassis Control is a debatable £1,065 investment, while the IQ.Light LED Matrix headlights and illuminated front grill is £1,650 (we’ve had no chance to test these out yet).

The remaining optional extras fitted are a set of inch-larger alloy wheels (the 18-inch rims fill the arches well and help support the slightly slabby side profile of the T-Roc) and keyless entry and electric tailgate are a £580 option well worth specifying for making getting in and out so much easier.

Julian Kirk