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Photo by: Volkswagen<\/p>\n
Shown here in range-topping R Line trim, the 2026 T-Roc checks nearly all the boxes of today\u2019s car design trends. It features front and rear light bars, gargantuan fake exhaust tips, illuminated badges, and a sea of glossy black trim. An oddly placed R logo on the front bumper sticks out like a sore thumb.<\/p>\n
Inside, large screens replace most physical controls, with VW\u2019s touch slider included to our despair. Compared to the outgoing model, most climate functions have migrated into the touchscreen, which comes in either 10.4- or 12.9-inch sizes, depending on the version. The stripped-back dashboard may disappoint fans of old-school VW interiors, but at least the Tiguan\u2019s rotary touch dial controller has been integrated between the seats.<\/p>\n
The automaker has promised to reintroduce physical buttons and knobs<\/a> for frequently used functions, although this cannot happen overnight. Development of the new T-Roc wrapped up some time ago, making last-minute changes too costly.<\/p>\n Notice anything missing? The bulky gear lever no longer sits between the front seats. VW<\/a> has adopted a column-mounted shifter, made possible by dropping the six-speed manual gearbox altogether. The second-gen T-Roc will be sold exclusively with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.<\/p>\n Photo by: Volkswagen<\/p>\n At launch, VW is keeping the drivetrain lineup simple. Buyers can only choose a 1.5-liter mild-hybrid gasoline engine, producing 114 hp in the base model and 148 hp in higher trims. Both are paired with a seven-speed DSG sending power to the front wheels. Two hybrid powertrains \u201cdeveloped from scratch\u201d are in the pipeline, though they\u2019ll also remain FWD. For those wanting all-weather capability with 4Motion, it will be available with a larger 2.0-liter gas engine, offered with or without mild-hybrid tech. A fully electric T-Roc isn\u2019t planned.<\/p>\n The new model is a bit more practical than its predecessor. Cargo capacity has increased by 0.7 cubic feet (20 liters) to 16.4 cu ft (465 liters) when loaded to the rear seat backrests.\u00a0Because sustainability is an increasingly important priority, VW used 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of recycled plastics in the cabin, equivalent to about one-fifth of the total interior plastics. That makes the T-Roc the brand\u2019s first model with such a high share of reused materials.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 33 <\/p>\n \n Source: Volkswagen <\/p>\n Efficiency should improve slightly, too, thanks to a 10-percent reduction in drag coefficient, now rated at 0.29. Wheel sizes previously topped out at 19 inches, but customers can now opt for 20-inch alloys if they\u2019re willing to trade some ride comfort for extra style.<\/p>\n While a compact crossover is hardly the most exciting vehicle on sale, VW plans to liven things up again with a performance-oriented R version. Confirmed for an early 2027 launch, it should use the most powerful iteration of the ubiquitous 2.0-liter turbo-four. The \u201cEA888\u201d is shared with the Golf R, although the hot hatch is reportedly getting Audi\u2019s larger inline-five for a special hardcore edition<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 24 <\/p>\n \n Source: Volkswagen <\/p>\n In the meantime, regular T-Roc versions will reach European showrooms this November.\u00a0The launch of the second-generation model doesn’t actually mark the end of its predecessor. The original will continue in convertible guise until 2027<\/a>. Yes, VW still sells a vehicle with a folding top, but it’s a crossover. It’s doing better than similar oddities like the Range Rover Evoque Convertible and Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet ever did, outselling the Mazda MX-5 Miata <\/a>and BMW Z4 last year in Europe.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n