Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife 2023 Review

How much does the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife cost?

For the rest of 2023, VW Group Australia will offer national drive-away pricing for its top-selling Volkswagen T-Roc compact SUV.

As such, the new 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife will be on sale into early 2024 as a special-edition model designed to combat supply issues and potentially distract buyers from higher pricing across the remainder of the range.

Priced from $35,990 plus on-road costs – or $36,990 drive-away – the CityLife slots in below the 110TSI Style, which will resume its entry-level status when the CityLife has run its course.

The 110TSI Style is now priced from $38,890 plus ORCs ($41,990 drive-away), while further up the line the T-Roc 140TSI R-Line costs $47,090 plus ORCs ($51,990 d/a).

Meanwhile, the spicy T-Roc R hot SUV is priced from $61,990 plus ORCs ($64,990 d/a), but Volkswagen Australia announced this week that its T-Roc R Grid Edition – a cheaper alternative to the R but with the same performance bits – will no longer be offered.

What equipment comes with the Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife?

The good news is that although it’s priced to attract cash-strapped Aussies wanting a new set of wheels, the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife is still loaded with all the latest tech and equipment.

Riding on 17-inch alloy wheels (down an inch compared to the T-Roc Style), the CityLife comes in five conservative colour options – Pure White, Ascot Grey, Deep Black, Iridium Grey and Petroleum Blue. Unlike the two-tone paint scheme on other T-Roc variants, the CityLife is a body colour all over.

Other standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights (DRLs) and headlights, high beam assist, black roof rails, a space-saver spare tyre, Comfort front seats and dual-zone climate control with Air Care cleaning function.

The CityLife cabin also has black ‘Ceramique’ cloth upholstery, missing microfleece inserts found on the Style.

Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit comes standard, along with an 8.0-inch central touch-screen. Four USB-C ports feature around the cabin, along with a six-speaker audio system and a wireless phone charging pad up front.

Volkswagen covers the entire T-Roc range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with services due every 12 months/15,000km, priced at $455, $695 and $442 over the first three years respectively.

How safe is the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife?

The 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife comes with a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating that dates back to 2017.

It’s equipped with VW’s IQ safety suite, which includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, lane assist with departure warning, park assist, travel assist, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue warning and a reversing camera. 

It also gets brake assist and multi-collision braking, along with ISOFIX child seat anchorage points on the outboard seats at the rear.

What technology does the Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife feature?

Although it’s the most affordable variant, the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife features plenty of standard tech, so you don’t feel like you’re missing out if you get the cheaper T-Roc.

That includes VW’s Digital Cockpit display behind the steering wheel, which offers multiple display options, easily customised via buttons on the steering wheel. It’s a high-resolution screen with an intuitive layout that we reckon most people will like.

An 8.0-inch touch-screen features as the central display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, Bluetooth connectivity and digital radio. This, too, is easy to navigate, responsive to inputs and loaded with great high-res graphics.

The addition of Volkswagen’s latest piano black (and touch-sensitive) dual-zone climate control panel adds a touch of luxury to the CityLife and makes it feel more expensive.

The buttons are controlled through haptic touch, rather than push, and although the piano black panel is a serial fingerprint collector, we tend to prefer it over regular plastic buttons and switches.

What powers the Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife?

Under the bonnet of the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife is the same 110TSI powertrain used across many of the German brand’s products, including the T-Roc 110TSI Style.

Power comes from a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, good for maximum outputs of 110kW and 250Nm of torque.

As with the T-Roc Style, that power is sent directly to the front wheels in the CityLife via an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

It’s a powertrain that feels well-suited to the small SUV, which doesn’t require much motivation to get its 1400kg mass moving. It’s not a particularly thrilling combo, but there’s a good dose of torque to thrust you forward, even if there’s a slight delay from the turbo.

That surge of turbo boost can make the T-Roc feel a bit unpredictable at times, because rather than slowly piling on the torque, it seems to drop it all at once.

Even so, it manages to get going with very little wheel spin, and thrums along seamlessly at higher speeds.

That eight-speed auto is a treat, too, shifting with ease and really intuitive on the move.

How fuel efficient is the Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife?

Of the powertrains offered in the T-Roc small SUV range, the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife is fitted with the most frugal.

Volkswagen says the 110TSI will sip 6.3L/100km on the official combined cycle, compared to the bigger-engined T-Roc 140TSI R-Line, which is thirstier at 7.3L/100km.

We’ve hit an average of 8.0L/100km on previous outings in the 110TSI Style, however we didn’t have enough time during the local launch of the CityLife to beat that figure.

What is the Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife like to drive?

We’ve always been impressed by the ride and handling of the VW T-Roc – which is one of the best in the compact SUV class for on-road manners – and the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife continues the trend.

It tackles rough roads with poise and glides over potholes and imperfections with ease, thanks to a combination of 17-inch wheels wrapped in chunky Hankook rubber.

For the most part, it’s a comfortable and compliant ride, with sporty suspension that allows the taut little SUV to whip around corners like a hatchback.

There isn’t a peep of body roll, and the T-Roc handles quick changes in direction without fuss, only breaking a sweat when its budget-friendly Hankooks struggle for grip – which, admittedly, takes some encouragement and a lot of enthusiastic cornering.

Elsewhere, steering feel is light and precise, and the cabin is surprisingly quiet on the move, filtering out road noise to leave you with a pleasantly hushed atmosphere.

Visibility is decent all round, only obstructed slightly out the rear corners due to the sizeable C-pillars. 

What is the Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife like inside?

At this price point, cabin materials in the 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife are so-so.

Beyond the fancy climate control panel and digital screens, the interior of the CityLife doesn’t feel special.

The steering wheel is wrapped in soft leather-appointed trim, however the rest of the cabin is almost exclusively covered in black plastic. 

The front seats are manually adjustable – offering a huge range of adjustability – but the cloth upholstery can feel scratchy on bare skin.

Longer drives might also leave you pining for more cushioning as the seat back and base aren’t overly padded.

As before, there’s adequate room in the rear seat for a pair of adults, with access to air vents, a centre arm rest, two USB-C ports, and bottle storage in each door pocket.

Meanwhile, the boot holds a generous 445 litres of cargo, while a space-saver spare tyre comes standard.

Should I buy a Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife?

The 2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife is a great option for those wanting to save some cash and get into a new T-Roc today.

It does almost everything the T-Roc 110TSI Style does – with a $2900 saving – and still includes plenty of good stuff: LED headlights, digital instrumentation, keyless entry and push-button start, as well as loads of safety equipment.

There’s also tipped to be “significant numbers” of the CityLife available Down Under, which should make it easy to get your hands on one.

2023 Volkswagen T-Roc CityLife at a glance:
Price: $35,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 143g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

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