Volkswagen's T-Roc Cabriolet offers the fashionistas a welcome extra option. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the improved model.

Ten Second Review

The T-Roc Cabriolet is that rarest of things - an open-topped SUV. A few compromises were necessary to create this design, but they're not things that many potential buyers of this model will be too bothered about. At heart, it's still a T-Roc. And this car still has all the quality, style and character of a memorable open-topped Volkswagen, especially in this improved form. Which makes it, in its own individual way, very desirable indeed.

Background

Given the fashionable demographic of SUVs and Crossovers, it's surprising that we haven't seen more convertible ones. Before the introduction of the open-topped model we look at here, the Volkswagen T-ROC Cabriolet, the only one we'd previously seen was the short-lived range Rover Evoque Convertible. Undaunted, Volkswagen was determined to bring T-TOC buyers this wind-in-the-hair variant, perhaps because all the brand's other cabrios of recent years (the EOS and open-topped versions of the Golf and the Beetle) are all long gone. It doesn't seem right that the VW brand should be without a convertible. And now that it isn't, what do we think of this one?

Driving Experience

This is very much a boulevardier cabriolet for fashionistas - who'll want to know about the hood. It's a multi-layered fabric affair that lowers at the press of a button in under 12 seconds and stores itself neatly above the luggage compartment behind the rear seats. It certainly doesn't feel particularly sporty, first because you sit at SUV height. And second because the extra 194kgs of weight that this Cabrio variant has to carry around will become quite evident in the unlikely event that you're minded to try and start chucking the thing about. There are no petrol engine changes as part of this update: surprisingly, Volkswagen isn't introducing its mild hybrid tech. So, as before, there's a choice of two TSI units: a 115PS 1.0-litre TSI offered only with 6-speed manual transmission. And a 150PS 1.5 TSI EVO unit offered with either that manual 'box or a 7-speed DSG auto. Even that 1.5-litre version isn't exactly a ball of fire, making 62mph from rest in 9.6s en route to 127mph. We'd be tempted to stick to the smaller unit. There's the option of plusher 'R-Line' trim with lowered suspension and larger 19-inch wheels which together will give a noticeably firmer ride. Try before you buy. All versions of this car get a standard 'Drive Profile Selection' driving modes system that allows you to tweak throttle response, steering feel and, on DSG variant, gearshift timings to suit the way you want to drive.

Design and Build

Volkswagen turned to specialists Karmann to design this car, who in turn quickly realised that quite a few fundamental changes to the T-ROC chassis would be needed if the top was going to be chopped off this model. 37mm has been added to the T-ROC wheelbase, which has in turn added 34mm to this car's overall length. Plus a range of strengthening measures have been introduced for the floorplan, the doors, the sills and the windscreen surround. It doesn't stop there either. The four framed doors you get in a hard-top T-ROC here make way for a pair of longer frameless ones - and the usual B-pillars have been dispensed with too. At the wheel, the added rake of the windscreen and the closer proximity of its header rail (which is positioned rather close to the extent of your peripheral vision) gives a more enclosed, intimate feel than you get in a conventional T-ROC. You might quite like that. Less welcome is the fact that this cabrio design has a relatively high shoulder line, a shallower glass house and quite a high rear end, all these things contributing to more restricted over-the-shoulder vision. The boot capacity is predictably much reduced too -down to just 284-litres (it's 445-litres in an ordinary T-ROC). You can still get a couple of adults in the back for shorter trips though. The exterior styling tweaks made to this updated model are subtle. LED headlights and darkened rear tail lamps total the changes but you can add to them by paying extra for the brand's 'IQ LIGHT with LED matrix headlights' package. Inside, there's a smarter dash trimming panel. And a redesigned, more 'tablet'-like central infotainment screen, which can now be had in larger 9.2-inch form as well as the usual 8.0-inch size. All variants now get a digital instrument cluster too - optionally upgradeable to 10.25-inches in sizes in 'Digital Cockpit Pro' form. There's also a redesigned steering wheel and higher quality fabric door trim.

Market and Model

Prices start from around £30,500 and there are two trim levels - 'Style' and 'R-Line'. That's around £3,000 more than an equivalently-specified version of the fixed-top model, so you've really got to want the open-topped vibe here. You have to have entry-level 'Style'-spec if you're to have the base 1.0-litre TSI 115PS petrol engine. Otherwise, it's the 1.5 TSI EVO 150PS petrol powerplant, available in either 'Style' or plusher 'R-Line' levels of trim. With this larger engine, there's the option of a 7-speed DSG auto gearbox for an extra £1,600. Go for that with 'R-Line' trim and you'll need well over £34,000. Still, there's plenty of kit fitted across the range - in addition of course to the fully powered fabric hood. Even 'Design'-spec gets you 17-inch alloy wheels, Adaptive Cruise Control, ambient lighting, a Driver Profile Selection driving modes system and a Discover Navigation infotainment system with an 8-inch centre-dash screen. The 'R-Line'-spec version adds larger 19-inch wheels, lowered sports suspension, an R-Line styling body kit, LED headlamps, front fog lamps, more responsive 'Progressive steering' and a 10.25-inch 'Active Info Display' digital instrument cluster screen. Safety kit across the range includes autonomous brake ('Front Assist' and 'City Emergency Braking System'), plus lane Assist and a Driver Alert system.

Cost of Ownership

The base 1.0-litre petrol model manages a minimum of 44.8mpg on the combined cycle and an emissions high of up to 142g/km of CO2. Upgrade yourself to the 1.5 TSI EVO petrol engine which can shut down un-needed cylinders of the engine when not in use and the figures are up 43.5mpg and up 149g/km for the manual or the DSG auto. Those figures are for based 'Style'-spec; they fall a little further with the 19-inch wheels of 'R-Line' trim. As for servicing, well as usual with Volkswagen models, there's a choice of either 'Fixed' or 'Flexible' maintenance packages. You'll choose the 'Fixed' approach if you cover less than 10,000 miles a year and with this, the car will typically be looked at every twelve months. If your daily commute is more than 25 miles and your T-Roc will regularly be driven on longer distance journeys, you'll be able to work with a 'Flexible' regime that can see you travelling up to 18,000 miles between garage visits - or every two years, whichever is sooner. And warranties? Well the standard package is three years and 60,000 miles.

Summary

Can this car provide everything? The desirability of a cabrio, the promise of sporty motoring and the practicality of an SUV? Of course it can't. But the target market probably won't care. The T-ROC Cabriolet looks great, it makes a great streetside statement and it won't require a lottery win to buy. Potential buyers will be sold already, whatever we happen to say here about stodgy handling, limited interior boot space, higher pricing and slightly compromised efficiency. So we won't bother to carp about any of that. This is, after all, a pleasure purchase that should be unconstrained by thoughts of sensibility. Yet you could own and run it (ideally as a second car) with very few practical compromises. And when the sun comes out, you'll be in your element.

Body Glass

Rain sensor

Power windows with comfort operation and circuit breaker

Heat insulating glass windscreen

Windscreen wiper with intermittent wipe light

Brakes

Front assist with autonomous emergency braking

Front and rear disc brakes

Volkswagen roadside assistance

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) including ABS, ASR and EDL

Electronic parking brake

Carpets/Rugs

Front and rear carpet mats with black stitching

Communication

Online services

Driver Aids

Advanced driver attention and drowsiness monitor

Modified key software - reduce switch off time for key status change to Long no motion

Multifunction front facing camera

Adaptive cruise control and speed limiter

Park assist including front and rear parking sensors

Driver Convenience

Tailgate/trunk lid release from outside

Start/stop system with brake energy recovery

Driver Information

Car information display

Brake pad wear indicator

Warning sound and light for front seatbelts unfastened

Multifunction computer with visual gear change recommendation for fuel consumption

Emergency call service

Driver tips and journey analysis

Speedo and rev counter, electronic odometer, trip, service interval display and exterior temperature gauge

Driving Mirrors

Auto dimming interior rear view mirror

Exterior mirrors aspherical on driver side, convex on front passenger side

Remote electrically foldable door mirrors, puddle lights and reverse activated passenger door mirror

Entertainment

SMS functionality - read, compose and send SMS messages using touch-screen display

Music playback - MP3, WMA and AAC files

Diversity antenna for FM reception

Title and cover art display

USB-C Interface and USB charging socket

We Connect and We Connect Plus functionality

Mobile phone interface with inductive charging feature

Exterior Body Features

Body colour door handles

Power operated canvas convertible top

Black roof

Volkswagen roundel

Rear boot

Rear exhaust tailpipe

Body colour rear boot spoiler

Chrome effect left and right trapezoid exhaust tailpipe fascia surround

Body coloured bumpers and radiator grille with chrome trim and front fog lamps with chrome bezel

Exterior Lights

Without exterior ambient lighting

Dark red rear combination lamps in LED technology

Dusk sensor

Headlight range control

Automatic hazard lights activation under emergency braking

LED rear number plate lights

Ambient lighting with logo projection

LED 3rd brake light

Automatic headlight control with LED separate daytime running lights with coming/leaving home function

Rear fog light on one side and reversing lights on both sides

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Air care climatronic air conditoning system with active combination filter and 2-zone temperature control

Interior Features

Chrome plated surround to light, mirror and window switch

Door and side trim panel with leatherette insert

Height/reach adjust steering wheel

Front centre armrest

Black door lower parts with chrome trim

Front cupholders x 2

Lockable glove compartment with light

Front door pockets

12V socket in centre console storage area

Heated multi function steering wheel

Interior Lights

Instrument lighting, white adjustable panel illumination

Luggage compartment lighting

2 LED front reading lights

Interior lighting with switch off delay and contact switches on all doors

Interior light delay

Interior light in footwell

Interior white ambient lighting and surround lighting

Packs

Driver assistance pack without proactive passenger protection - T-Roc cabriolet

Safety

Driver and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation

Tyre pressure loss indicator

Rigid safety cell with front and rear crumple zones

Predictive pedestrian protection

2 x 3-point seatbelts/outer rear seats with ECE label

Driver and front passenger safety-optimised head restraints

Three point height adjust front seatbelts + pretensioners

Pedestrian monitoring

Side airbag/thorax airbag system, for front passengers

Drivers seatbelt reminder

Two tone horn

Seats

Easy entry backrest release

50:50 Split folding rear seat backrests with fixed rear seat bench

Isofix child seat preparation

2 seat bench in 2nd row

Single front passenger seat

Front seat back storage pockets

Rear head restraints

Security

Electronic engine immobiliser

Anti-theft alarm system with interior protection and central locking system with SAFELOCK, radio remote control and 2 remote control folding keys

Vanity Mirrors

Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Wheels

Trims for alloy wheels

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 142

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 153

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 142

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): 74.5

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): 85.7

CC: 1498

Cylinders: 4

Number of Valves: 16

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: TURBO DIRECT INJECTION

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Layout: FRONT TRANSVERSE

Transmission: MANUAL

Gears: 6 SPEED

Engine Code: AC83LD

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

WLTP - MPG - Low: N

WLTP - MPG - Medium: N

WLTP - MPG - High: 50.4

WLTP - MPG - Extra High: 41.5

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 43.5

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEL: 36.7

WLTP - MPG - Low - TEH: 34.9

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEL: 44.8

WLTP - MPG - Medium - TEH: 41.5

WLTP - MPG - High - TEL: 52.3

WLTP - MPG - High - TEH: 47.9

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEL: 44.1

WLTP - MPG - Extra High - TEH: 40.9

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 44.8

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 42.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low: N

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium: N

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High: 5.6

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High: 6.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEL: 7.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Low - TEH: 8.1

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEL: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Medium - TEH: 6.8

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEL: 5.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - High - TEH: 5.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEL: 6.4

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Extra High - TEH: 6.9

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 6.3

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 6.7

General

Coin Series: Style

Coin Description: TSI

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 25E

Service Interval Mileage: 9300

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 12

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 150

Badge Engine CC: 1.5

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 10

Top Speed: 127

Engine Power - BHP: 150

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 110

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 184

Engine Torque - NM: 250

Engine Torque - RPM: 1500

Engine Torque - MKG: 25.5

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 215/55 R17

Tyre Size Rear: 215/55 R17

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 17" ALLOY

Wheel Style: JOHANNESBURG

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4271

Width: 1811

Wheelbase: 2630

Width (including mirrors): 1998

Height: 1527

Height (including roof rails): N

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1464

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1910

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 50

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 1500

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 446

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 284

No. of Seats: 4

Max. Roof Load: N

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): N

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11

Chassis/Suspension

Dynamic chassis control (DCC) - variable suspension settings sport, comfort and normal with progressive steering

Driver Aids

Rear view camera

Driver Information

Discover pro navigation including streaming and internet - 6 speakers, wireless app-connect, road sign display, radio, voice control, car-net security

Digital Cockpit Pro with 10.25" Display

Embellishment Trims

Silver silk matt decorative inserts for dashboard, centre console and front door trim panels

Gloss kings red decorative inserts for dashboard, centre console and front door trim panels

Exterior Body Features

Pearlescent paint

Signature metallic paint

Special solid paint

Wind deflector

Metallic paint

Exterior Lights

IQ LED matrix headlights

LED performance headlights

Packs

Vienna leather pack - T-Roc cabriolet

Black design pack - T-Roc cabriolet

Sports pack - T-Roc cabriolet

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Smokey grey

Metallic - Ivory silver

Metallic - Ravenna blue

Metallic - Petrol blue

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Deep black

Paint - Solid

Solid - Teal blue

Paint - Special

Special solid - Pure white

Signature metallic - Kings red

Security

Keyless entry

Towing

Removable/lockable towbar

Trim - Cloth

Tracks 4 cloth - Titan black/ceramique when bought with silver silk matt dashboard

Tracks 4 cloth - Titan black/ceramique when bought with pewter metallic dashboard

Tracks 4 cloth - Titan black/ceramique when bought with kings red glossy dashboard

Tracks 4 cloth - Titan black/ceramique when bought with piano black glossy dashboard

Trim - Leather

Vienna leather pack - Palladium/ceramique when bought with kings red glossy dashboard

Vienna leather pack - Palladium/ceramique when bought with pewter metallic dashboard

Vienna leather pack - Palladium/ceramique when bought with piano black glossy dashboard

Vienna leather pack - Palladium/ceramique when bought with silver silk matt dashboard

Wheels - Alloy

17" Johannesburg black diamond turned alloy wheels with low rolling resistance and anti-theft wheel bolts

18" Portimao diamond turned alloy wheels with anti-theft wheel bolts

19" Misano black diamond turned alloy wheels with anti-theft wheel bolts

19" Misano alloy wheels with anti-theft wheel bolts

Wheels - Spare

Steel space and weight saving spare wheel with tool kit and jack