Volkswagen T-Roc Style 2024 Review

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc is priced from $36,890 plus on-road costs for the base-grade CityLife and tops out at a rather lofty $63,490 plus ORCs for the tyre-slaying T-Roc R.

For this test we’re evaluating the mid-spec T-Roc Style that opens at $39,790 plus ORCs but pushes up considerably once you start adding options – as found on our review car, which we’ve detailed in the next section.

Given its sharp pricing – for a European import – the T-Roc Style bumps into Asian higher-spec competition, such as the Mazda CX-30 (from $32,990), Hyundai Kona (from $32,000) and Nissan QASHQAI (from $33,890), as well as established luxury models like the Lexus UX (from $46,085).

Like those Japanese and Korean small SUVs, the VW T-Roc comes with a fairly typical five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, and while service intervals of 12 months or 15,000km (whichever occurs first) are pretty good, the $3091 cost over five years equates to an average annual servicing cost of $618, which is on the higher end of the scale.

While it’s not the best-looking small SUV in my view, the 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style is neatly groomed and presents well thanks to its 18-inch alloy wheels and bold front-end design, complete with large daytime running lights (DRLs).

A sloping rear window adds a bit of sportiness to the rear-end, as does a roof spoiler, and the contrasting gloss black roof fitted as standard is a nice touch. Our vehicle has the Petroleum Blue metallic paint, which costs an additional $700.

Once inside, features such as keyless push-button engine start, a wireless phone charger, 8.0-inch central touch-screen, digital instrument panel and touch-sensitive dual-zone climate control convey a suitably upmarket vibe.

Our car was fitted with a lovely panoramic glass roof but it’s a $2000 option.

‘Sports comfort’ seats deliver very good support and reasonable comfort but the grey-black Vienna leather-appointed upholstery of our test car (costing $3450) didn’t exactly feel premium.

Despite adding power seat operation with lumbar and memory functions – but only for the driver – not to mention heated front seats, we’re not convinced this particular option is great value at almost $3500.

If you want an electric-powered tailgate, it’s a $600 option, which isn’t too steep. But the lack of an auto-hold function (that automatically holds the brakes once stopped, at traffic lights for instance) or automatic rain-sensing windscreen wipers is disappointing.

The T-Roc Style does get automatic headlights, though.

From January 1, 2024, the Volkswagen T-Roc goes without an ANCAP safety rating. That’s because the previous five-star rating is no longer considered applicable based on testing that dated back to 2017, when the protocols were much less stringent than they are today.

That’s not to say the Volkswagen T-Roc isn’t safe. It’s fitted with six airbags as standard and has a strong suite of driver assist systems, albeit without traffic sign recognition.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist (with adaptive lane guidance), rear cross traffic alert and a reversing camera are all fitted as standard, as are auto-levelling low- and high-beam LED headlights.

An auto-dimming (monochromatic) rear-view mirror is part of the package, as is a driver fatigue detection system, hill start assist and semi-automatic parking assistant.

The German-designed, Portuguese-built 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style comes with plenty of tech, including a pair of digital screens – an 8.0-inch central touch-screen (with gesture control) for infotainment duties and an even bigger 10.25-inch digital instrument display.

Both systems have excellent depth, graphical resolution and functionality and really elevate the driving experience as a result.

The T-Roc Style lacks a head-up display but the digital instrument panel is so effective – including very good mapping and navigation details – it’s not really missed.

The central screen also features GPS sat-nav (albeit with dorky, dated visuals) along with wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, so you’ve got plenty of options there.

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style’s four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine is quite small (1.4-litre) but still propels the small SUV from standstill to 100km/h in a reasonable 8.7 seconds.

Its 1395cc mechanical beating heart drives the front wheels through a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission (not VW’s often-laggy and sometimes-unreliable dual-clutch DSG) and it feels really rapid from 0-60km/h.

Peak power of 110kW is generated at 5000rpm while peak torque of 250Nm adds extra potency and hits low in the rev range at 1500rpm and creates a nice flat torque plateau until 3500rpm, after which it drops off.

According to the car-maker, the 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style will drink 95-octane premium fuel at a rate of 6.3L/100km on the official combined cycle, which is pretty good for a small SUV that weighs around 1.3 tonnes.

But during our week-long test, the best we could manage was 8.4L/100km.

The powertrain features an automatic engine idle-stop system to save fuel when the car is stationary, and when in eighth gear it trundles along at highway speeds fairly efficiently.

But if you’re doing any sort of urban driving don’t expect to match VW’s fuel consumption claims of low sixes.

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style is great to drive, simple as that.

It is arguably the benchmark small SUV – from a mainstream brand – when it comes to driving dynamics, a nuanced and expertly tuned suspension set-up delivers a compelling experience in almost all scenarios.

Driven at full whack through some challenging roads encompassing rapid changes in elevation and direction, the T-Roc feels confident and balanced, tracking through corners with ease – even at full throttle.

There’s not a lot of body roll and the Bridgestone Turanza tyres generate predictable mid-corner grip, all of which makes it a very satisfying car to drive on open roads.

At the other end of the spectrum, ride comfort and everyday liveability is likewise almost without equal in the segment, with perhaps only sister brand Skoda’s Kamiq coming close. Indeed, the T-Roc flows over poor-quality pockmarked roads with an effortlessness that’s at odds with its dynamic character.

It’s a relaxed and quiet cruiser on the freeway with only mild wind and tyre noise intruding into the cabin.

Despite all the praise around its engaging character, the VW T-Roc is happy in the suburbs, exurbs and in town – where most owners will spend most of their drive time. The light steering, zippy engine and responsive gearbox give the T-Roc a decisive persona.

Right now, there’s a cheap-and-cheerful Chinese new-car assault going on in the Aussie car market, with the likes of the Chery Omoda 5, GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS surging up the sales charts – the latter standing tall as the top-selling small SUV in Australia last year by a long, long way.

But all these vehicles would do well to take a leaf out of the T-Roc’s book and adopt a well-rounded suspension set-up.

Perhaps the only way the VW would be a better drive would be with the adoption of an auto-hold function, moving the indicator stalk to right-hand side of the steering wheel and upgrading the reversing camera, which has a dreadfully low resolution.

It all depends how you define ‘off-road’. If it’s gravel or dirt roads, with a few nasty potholes, then sure, the 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style is up to the task.

With 155mm of ground clearance, it puts a little more distance between the body and the ground (21mm higher) than its donor car, the Volkswagen Golf. But proper off-roading? No way, Jose.

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style’s interior is best described as classy and confident.

It has a mature, grown-up feel, and while there’s cheap plastics in places, it’s artfully hidden by clever design and fit and finish is generally very good.

Ergonomics are also pretty good, with most controls where you would expect them, and the seat adjustability allows for a wide range of positioning to suit different-sized drivers.

There’s ample room up front for two large adults and storage solutions are good for a small SUV, largely due to the massive door pockets, which will fit seriously large drink bottles.

The glove box is large, you get twin USB-C ports plus a 12V socket up front but average cup holders (with no spring-loaded security) and a small central bin bring it down a notch or two.

Back seat room is a bit cozy, with average legroom and headroom, but it is comfy thanks to contoured cushions and some of the best rear head restraints this side of the goose-down pillows in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. There’s also twin USB-C charge ports and air vents in the back.

Hop out of the small SUV to check the boot and things are fairly peachy, the reasonably-sized boot (for a small SUV) offering plenty of flexibility with 445 litres expanding to 1290 litres with the rear seats folded away.

It also gets a useful dual-level boot floor and a space-saver spare wheel.

The 2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style is an impressively executed European small SUV without the premium price tag.

It’s remarkably fun to drive on the open road and won’t be opposed to road trips, yet is also a stylish city runabout that performs well in other areas of assessment, including safety and tech.

There’s nothing really groundbreaking about the T-Roc, however it nails all the basics, has most modern conveniences customers demand nowadays and delivers a compelling drive experience.

It doesn’t come cheap, especially with a few options thrown in, but after spending a week with the trendy little Euro, it’s easy to see why it’s now Volkswagen’s top-selling vehicle in Australia.

2024 Volkswagen T-Roc Style at a glance:
Price: $39,790 (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: Unrated