Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style 2021 Review
The ticket of entry to Volkswagen’s T-Roc small SUV has dropped by $7K to less than $34,000Not so long back, Volkswagen failed to offer an SUV smaller than the mid-size Tiguan. But with the launch of the Golf-based T-Roc and the smaller Polo-based T-Cross, the German brand is filling out its showrooms with excellent contenders in two of the fastest-growing segments – light and small SUVs. Importantly, the Volkswagen T-Roc range has now expanded with an entry-level 110TSI variant that bridges the gap between the two model lines, and hands Volkswagen even more firepower against strong competitors such as the Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos.
For those about to 'Roc
The 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc line-up consists of two variants: the new entry-level 110TSI Style which we’re testing here, and the flagship 140TSI Sport that heralded the small SUV’s launch attack in Australia last year.
Taking into account a pricing adjustment made to the 140TSI on January 1, 2021, the Volkswagen T-Roc starts at $33,990 plus on-road costs for the 110TSI Style and now tops out at $40,990 plus ORCs for the 140TSI Sport, the latter up $500 compared to its launch price.
The smaller Volkswagen T-Cross range has also moved up in price since launch, now starting at $28,390 plus ORCs for the 85TSI Life and $31,390 plus ORCs for the 85TSI Style. With this pricing bump, and the arrival of the 110TSI T-Roc, the gap between the two model lines has narrowed to just $2600.
At the top end, the T-Roc 140TSI is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with power sent to all four wheels via VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. It also comes with a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The new T-Roc 110TSI uses a smaller 1.4-litre turbo-four that drives the front wheels only through a conventional eight-speed torque-converter automatic – good news for those who aren’t a fan of Volkswagen’s DSG.
Because it’s front-drive, the luggage area is bigger in the 110TSI, boasting 445 litres of cargo space with the rear seats upright, or 1290L with them folded. In the top-spec 140TSI, that goes down to 392/1237L. Both come with a space-saver spare wheel.
The T-Roc 110TSI comes with all the safety features you’d expect (more on that in the next section) as well as LED front and rear lighting and a gloss black treatment on the mirrors, roof and A-pillars.
Other standard features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, a leather/aluminium shift knob, electric-folding exterior mirrors, ‘Comfort’ front seats and rain-sensing wipers.
Our tester was also jam-packed with a bunch of options, bringing its as-tested price up to $40,390 plus ORCs. That’s close to what you’d pay to get into the top-spec T-Roc 140TSI, so we recommend carefully considering your priorities (and the numbers) in terms of standard equipment and engine power.
As for maintenance, Volkswagen Australia offers a three-year ($1300) or five-year ($2100) Care Plan service package with the T-Roc 110TSI. It’s also covered by a five-year factory warranty.
There’s plenty more
Even though it’s the entry-level grade, the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style comes equipped with a comprehensive driver assistance safety suite.
That includes front assist with low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) – also with pedestrian detection – as well as park assist, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.
Every Volkswagen T-Roc comes with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, backdated to its European release in 2017.
LED daytime running lights (DRLs), headlights and tail-lights come standard too, along with an auto high beam function.
Fog lights with cornering function are reserved for the top-spec 140TSI, as is VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. The entry 110TSI also misses out on features like auto brake hold and drive mode select.
But if you’re prepared to tick a few option boxes, there’s some cool equipment you can add.
Our test car was fitted with a $2000 Sound & Vision package, bringing the same high-res 10.25-inch digital cockpit found in the 140TSI, as well as a 300W Beats audio system, 8.0-inch infotainment screen with gesture control, satellite navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
A $3800 Luxury Package also adds heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof with electric sun blind, electric tailgate and Vienna leather-appointed upholstery.
There’s one 12-volt socket up front and four USB-C outlets in total (two up front and two out back) around the cabin, so if you’ve still got the regular USB-A phone cable, you’ll have to invest in a new one.
Putting the power down
As its name suggests, the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style is powered by a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. And as we mentioned above, it’s paired with an eight-speed auto that sends power exclusively to the front wheels.
Performance figures are nothing to write home about, although Volkswagen claims T-Roc 110TSI is good for an 8.7sec dash from 0-100km/h. This compares to 7.2sec in the 140TSI with its 140kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo and DSG/AWD combo.
Despite the smaller engine, the 110TSI feels plenty powerful for a machine this size. It’s eight-speed auto is also more enjoyable to get around in than the laggy DSG found in other Volkswagen models, including the T-Roc 140TSI.
It can feel a little jerky during take-off in the 110TSI, as torque is delivered from around 1500rpm without any real subtlety. Put your foot down hard to take off and it’ll deliver a nice load of wheelspin.
Once going, gear changes are smooth and the little turbo-four moves along with ease. There’s negligible cabin noise, aside from the usual drone on coarse-chip surfaces.
Volkswagen claims the T-Roc can deliver combined-cycle fuel consumption of 6.2L/100km in 110TSI form and 7.2L/100km in the 140TSI. We managed an average of 6.8L/100km over a week of suburban and highway driving in the 110TSI.
Easy does it
There’s nothing overly spectacular about the driving experience in the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style. It really is just easy.
It certainly rides higher than the Golf on which it’s based, but from behind the wheel it still feels almost as low to the ground as the hatchback. This points to the fact that this is more a crossover hatch than a typical SUV.
A benefit, though, is how easy (given its small car proportions) the T-Roc is to navigate on the road.
The driver’s seat comes with copious amounts of manual height adjustment which you can use to reinforce that feeling of this being either more like a regular hatch or higher-riding like a ‘proper’ SUV. The front seats installed on our tester, as high-grade items from the Luxury Package, also have lumbar support and a good amount of side bolstering to hold you in place.
Vision feels restricted until you become more familiar with the interior, owing to narrow glass areas in every direction and chunky rear C-pillars making blind spots even more difficult to negotiate. Blind spot monitoring is, of course, on board, but people who don’t like to rely on that tech will need to get used to the T-Roc’s cabin design.
Like the small car it’s based off, the T-Roc offers decent accommodation for rear passengers. Two adult passengers get adequate headroom and legroom, while air-con vents, dual USB-C outlets, deep door pockets and a centre arm rest add to the experience.
A third adult would be a squeeze, but three smaller passengers in the rear would likely be fine. There’s also two child seat ISOFIX points for the outboard rear seats.
On the road, it’s a comfortable drive, erring more on the sporty side when it comes to steering and suspension tuning. The T-Roc manages bumps and potholes without feeling unsettled, while asking a bit more of it when cornering is no sweat.
Food for thought
If you’re wondering why you should spend $40K on an optioned-up Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style instead of the full-hog 140TSI Sport, we don’t blame you.
But there are a few reasons we’ve mentioned already that are worth noting again.
The drivetrain, and lack of DSG auto, in the T-Roc 110TSI Style is arguably easier to live with (read: less frustrating). There’s also extra boot space in the front-wheel drive T-Roc, and the running costs are lower, thanks particularly to better fuel consumption.
I also really like the fully-digital instrument cluster and panoramic sunroof, and can’t help but think how bland it’d be without those cost options added on.
While it doesn’t necessarily break new ground for this genre, the Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI does all the right things, is easy to drive and brings a welcome German twist to the segment.
How much does the 2021 Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI Style cost?
Price: $33,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 142g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)
Related: Volkswagen T-Roc 110TSI 2020 Launch Review
Related: Volkswagen T-Roc 140TSI 2020 Launch Review
Related: Volkswagen T-Roc – what you need to know
Related: Volkswagen T-Roc Carsales Car of the Year Contender 2020
Related: Cheaper Volkswagen T-Roc confirmed
Tags
- 110kW 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine provides sufficient power
- Good amenities in the back seat, including air-vents and twin USB-C outlets
- Optional sunroof increases ambience
- Wireless Apple CarPlay can be slow
- Optioned-up 110TSI costs roughly same as the more powerful top-spec 140TSI Sport model
- Space-saver spare is never a welcome sight compared to a full-size fifth wheel
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