Volkswagen T-Roc R 2020 long-term review
Is it worthy of its R badge and does it make a good Golf R alternative? Let’s find out
*Why we’re running it: *To see if VW can succeed where rivals have failed and give us a fast crossover that’s as good to drive as a hot hatch
-Month 1 - Specs-
-Life with a VW T-Roc R: Month 1-
*Welcoming the T-Roc R to the fleet - 5 August 2020*
Temporarily, at least, the T-Roc R represents the pinnacle of Volkswagen’s performance division output. From an enthusiast’s perspective, that might seem a somewhat strange mantle for a jacked-up compact crossover to assume, but with the Mk7 Golf R mega-hatch being withdrawn from sale shortly after the T-Roc R’s launch last year, that’s the situation in which we find ourselves.
For what it’s worth, I think the launch of a more hardcore version of Volkswagen’s second-smallest SUV is a pretty encouraging statement of intent. In fact, when the T-Roc R was first unveiled, Jost Capito – the man who heads up Volkswagen’s R division – told Autocar that the task he’d been given was to “make R to Volkswagen what M is to BMW”.
That’s by no means an aim lacking in ambition, but based on the news that has been emerging from Volkswagen over the past few weeks and months, it isn’t an idle one, either.
So there’ll be an R version of the Arteon four-door coupé in a few months’ time, as well as a shooting brake model. The recently facelifted Tiguan will join the R range in the autumn. We got a look at the plug-in hybrid V6-engined Touareg R earlier this year, and the Golf R will make its return in Mk8 guise before the year’s end. Capito and his team have certainly been busy.
But for now, it’s the T-Roc R. Its arrival on the Autocar long-term test fleet will provide an opportunity for us to determine whether or not it represents a worthy addition to the R family while we also examine the pros and cons of living with a performance crossover compared with, say, a more traditional hot hatch. Given the fact that the last long-termer my road test colleagues and I ran in earnest was a Renault Mégane RS, I’d say we’re pretty well placed to find out.
For anyone well versed in small, fast Volkwagens (or Audis and Cupras, for that matter), the T-Roc R’s mechanical specification won’t come as much of a surprise. It’s based on the VW Group’s MQB architecture and uses the same EA888 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine that appeared in the previous Golf R. It develops the same 296bhp and 295lb ft as it did in its hatchback sibling and deploys it through a familiar combination of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and part-time Haldex clutch-based four-wheel drive system.
Dimensionally, it’s a bit different, of course, being both shorter in length and wheelbase than the previous Golf, but also taller, wider and (slightly) heavier than the hatchback. There’s a more aggressive suspension tune that makes its ride height 20mm lower than a standard T-Roc’s, as well as a new aluminium front subframe and revised engine mounts. UK cars get smart-looking 19in Pretoria alloy wheels as standard and the larger performance brakes that were once an option on the Golf R are also included free of charge.
All of this combines to paint the T-Roc R as a seriously quick cross-country machine, at least on paper. With its standard-fit launch control engaged and Race mode selected, it can cover 0-62mph in just 4.8sec, Volkswagen claims, and it has a top speed of 155mph. So it’s easily in the same ballpark as the likes of the Cupra Ateca, Audi SQ2 and BMW X2 M35i in terms of performance, although with a base price of £40,735, the T-Roc R is pricier than its VW Group compatriots, if cheaper than the BMW.
And when you delve into the options list, there’s scope to bump up that price even further – as demonstrated by our, shall we say, enthusiastically specced, £47,844 long-termer. Its headline option is the titanium Akrapovic sports exhaust, which adds a hefty £3050 to the bill but, as well as shaving 7kg, makes the T-Roc R sound a bit naughtier than it otherwise would.
Other options include – but aren’t limited to – a rearview camera (£190), Lapiz Blue metallic paint (£755), a Winter Pack with heated front seats (£305) and keyless entry (£400). The most important option, however, is the £695 Dynamic Chassis Control, which adds adaptive dampers and an all-important Comfort drive mode. Many of the fast crossovers we’ve tested in the past year either came without or weren’t available with any variability in their suspension settings, and they suffered from overly firm, brittle rides as a result. I recall the X2 M35i being a chief offender in this regard.
As far as our T-Roc R is concerned, those dampers are paying dividends already. With the engine needing to be run in properly before any B-road thrashes can really take place, my trips have so far been limited to short dashes to the supermarket and a few lengthier drives up the motorway for the small number of photo shoots we’ve been able to make happen as lockdown eases further.
Although there’s undoubtedly a firm edge to the T-Roc’s ride, even with the dampers in their most forgiving setting, I’m not yet looking for excuses to avoid making any particular journey. Quite the opposite, in fact.
And while I can’t say I’m particularly fond of the cabin plastics, I’m willing to overlook these for now in the hope that the T-Roc R will put its best foot forward when I can finally show it a good B-road.
*Second Opinion*
Its list price looks strong and VW’s online finance calculator suggests you’ll pay at least £100 a month (over four years, after a good deposit) more than for the Mk7 Golf R you might be giving up. Can a ‘performance crossover’ be worth that? I actually quite like the way this car drives, but I’ve still got big reservations. This is me, trying to keep an open mind.
*Matt Saunders*
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-Volkswagen T-Roc R specification-
*Specs: Price New* £40,735 *Price as tested* £47,019 *Options *Akrapovic titanium exhaust £3050, Lapiz Blue metallic paint £755, Dynamic Chassis Control £695, Vodafone tracker £534, keyless entry £400, Winter Pack £305, Driver’s Assistance Pack Plus £205, rearview camera £190, pre-crash preventative occupant protection £150
*Test Data: Engine* 4 cyls in line, 1984cc, turbocharged, petrol *Power* 296bhp at 5300-6500rpm *Torque* 295lb ft at 2000-5200rpm *Kerb weight* 1575kg *Top speed* 155mph (limited) *0-62mph* 4.8sec *Fuel economy* 32.5mpg *CO2* 176g/km *Faults* None *Expenses* None
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