In an age the place demand for crossovers and SUVs continues to rise, the Golf-based Volkswagen T-Roc proves that there’s something to this development.

Launched in Australia final yr following a collection of delays, the T-Roc was initially solely bought in flagship 140TSI guise. Whereas that variant has since been joined by the 110TSI, it was the 140TSI Sport that we just lately sampled.

In creating an SUV based mostly on the identical MQB A1 platform because the Golf, Volkswagen merely may have raised the suspension on the ever-popular hatch, tweaked the styling, and referred to as it a day. As an alternative, it went to city on differentiating the T-Roc not solely from the car it’s based mostly on but in addition all different SUVs in its lineup. The result’s a car which to our eyes not solely seems higher than the Golf however most different VWs as properly.

Purposeful seems

The aggressive form is a key spotlight. A purposeful entrance fascia flows seamlessly into the flared entrance wheel arches whereas a placing design line above the door handles guides your eyes to a suave rear-end with uniquely-shaped taillights. The thick C-pillars and tapered roofline add to the general aesthetic of the SUV.

All 140TSI Sport fashions bought Down Beneath are outfitted as normal with the R-Line bundle and roll on a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. One key design spotlight are the daytime working lights that wrap round fake air intakes within the entrance bumper. The Flash Crimson paint scheme made our check automotive all of the extra placing.

Volkswagen has obtained the design of the inside excellent as properly. The cabin feels ethereal and noticeably greater than the Golf. That is particularly apparent within the second row the place there may be heaps of headroom and legroom and regardless of the huge C-pillars proper subsequent to the headrests, it doesn’t really feel claustrophobic. The trunk swallows up 392 liters (13.8 cubic-feet) of cargo, barely greater than a Golf. There’s loads of space for storing on the entrance too.

Most notable is the absolutely digital gauge cluster which, identical to many different VW fashions, will be configured to your tastes and shows all of the very important info you can ever want. The flat-bottomed steering wheel with crimson distinction stitching is a pleasant addition, as is the crimson stitching on the shifter boot. An 8.0-inch infotainment display screen additionally comes as normal and contains Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Native consumers have two choice packages obtainable, particularly the Luxurious Bundle and the Sound & Model Bundle. The primary of those is priced at AU$3,500 (US$2,696) and contains individually heated entrance seats, a panoramic glass sunroof, and Vienna leather-appointed seat upholstery. The AU$2,000 (US$1,541) Sound & Model bundle brings satellite tv for pc navigation, adaptive chassis management with Driving profile choice, a Beats 300W premium sound system, Composition Media audio system, and progressive steering. Our check automotive had this bundle and it’s properly definitely worth the cash.

You don’t want a GTI or R badge to have enjoyable in a VW

Because the identify of the mannequin implies, it delivers 140 kW (187 hp) (and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque) because of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. That’s all you can presumably want for a compact SUV like this and including to the bundle is VW’s wonderful seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission which drives all 4 wheels through the 4MOTION AWD system.

In case you had been to shut your eyes and pin the throttle (one thing we don’t suggest), one might be simply fooled into considering they had been driving a scorching hatch. The acceleration of the T-Roc 140TSI Sport may be very spectacular. It builds up pace with refinement and ease, pushing you again into your seat because the transmission snaps by the gears. We suspect most homeowners can be greater than happy with the efficiency, despite the fact that this isn’t the full-blown R variant supplied in some markets.

Learn Additionally: McChip’s Stage 4 VW T-Roc R Can Beat The Tiguan R All Day, Any Day

Within the T-Roc you possibly can select between numerous completely different modes suited to each on- and off-road driving. We discovered the ‘Sport’ setting to be the best choice for the road because it helps to liven the whole lot up and make the car really feel that a lot tauter by the bends. Talking of the bends, the T-Roc performs properly at cornering, though it’s fairly straightforward to push into understeer should you overstep the boundaries of adhesion.

Volkswagen has additionally offered the T-Roc with Offroad, Offroad Particular person, and Snow modes. Whereas these are good inclusions you received’t discover on a Golf, they definitely don’t rework the SUV right into a hardcore off-roader.

One significantly attention-grabbing side of the driving expertise is how small the T-Roc feels. Certainly, it feels no bigger than an Mk7 Golf, permitting you to get pleasure from all some great benefits of an SUV with the all-wheel drive system with out feeling such as you’d tower over a Golf on the site visitors lights.

All T-Roc fashions bought in Australia come loaded with heaps of vital security techniques. These embody autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and bike owner detection, adaptive cruise management, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross site visitors alert, lane-keep help, and park help. We discovered the lane-keeping help system to be significantly efficient.

Native pricing begins at AU$31,700 (US$24,426) for the 110TSI mannequin and will increase to AU$40,490 (US$31,200) earlier than on-road prices for the 140TSI Sport that we examined, freed from any choices packages.

I’ll be the primary to confess that I haven’t at all times been keen on the development in the direction of crossovers and SUVs. Nonetheless, after spending per week with the T-Roc, I’m beginning to see why so many customers favor them.

Photograph credit: Brad Anderson / CarScoops