VW

VW T-Roc: with an Eco-label to be a perfect best-seller

Eight years after its launch, the Volkswagen T-Roc has sold more than 100,000 units in Spain and is, to date, Volkswagen's most successful model, following the trend and rise of compact SUVs, to which the market has been shifting for some time.

The German brand decided to update the model, which sold two million cars in Europe in recent years, but was denied a pass that has become vital in large cities: the ECO-label for low-emission zones (LEZ). This new T-Roc, which will arrive in Spanish dealerships on November 24th, features micro-hybridization (a 48V mild hybrid) across all its engines and is expected to have a full hybrid HEV (not plug-in or self-charging) by mid-2026. This will fundamentally become the anti-Toyota, the brand currently dominating sales with the Yaris Cross, the Corolla Cross, and above all the C-HR.

Insider Autonews was able to attend the T-Roc's first presentation in Madrid, a city that in just over two months will ban any car without a DGT label within the M-30 (following a last-minute moratorium in 2024). Therefore, there will be a large group of drivers exploring the vehicle change, and this VW could be the perfect fit. 

Mechanically, the new generation of the T-Roc starts with exclusively gasoline engines, a 1.5-liter eTSI mild hybrid with a 48V battery (with ECO label), with two power outputs: 116 hp and 150 hp, both with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. This isn't a noisy and slow torque converter like some other brands, but rather the best transmission on the market in decades, which is a huge advantage for many VW Group loyalists.

In 2026, reportedly around July, two HEV (full hybrid) versions will be launched, with 130 hp and 170 hp (with a fuel consumption of 5 liters), which could represent real competition for models from Renault, Stellantis, and other Japanese brands. This is the niche they want to recapture and where most of their sales are currently concentrated, amid fierce competition.

In terms of trim and equipment, the new T-Roc comes in three trim levels: T-Roc, Plus, and R-Line. The first offers a balanced combination of ride comfort (essential for many urban users) and safety, while the second offers more exclusive equipment details.

The R-Line starts with the inclusion of IQ.LIGHT Matrix LED headlights, very important if you travel for hours at night. It also features 19-inch wheels (20-inch wheels are optional), heated front sports seats, a multifunction sports steering wheel and fully automatic parking functions, as well as four cameras for a 360-degree view — cutting-edge equipment for VW that the previous model didn't even have as an option.

The static presentation allowed us to explore some of the new features, such as the aviation-style retractable interior door handles, which are integrated alongside the window, mirror, and central locking controls.

The VW T-Roc, now bigger...The first thing that catches your eye is that the new T-Roc is larger, about 12 cm longer. It has a cleaner, less angular design, especially its well-defined front end, with a higher hood and headlights that merge with the horizontal LEDs, front and rear, very much in the style of Chinese cars (a global trend) and its electric ID siblings. The brand logo is backlit (always on the R-Line version), as is the case with the new Audis and the recently refreshed Tiguan.

It appears larger, but also appears sportier, with the rear window much more angled than the current model. Despite this, the trunk has grown to 475 liters (30 liters more than the current one), which becomes 1,350 liters with the seats folded down. And clean lines aren't just a visual impression; They improve aerodynamics (from 0.34 to 0.29 in terms of Cd coefficient), reducing fuel consumption (by 10%) and noise. It doesn't have built-in handles on the exterior, as is common among many brands to further reduce air resistance, but they aren't bulky at all.

In the R-Line version we saw, the leather interior provided excellent visual and tactile quality. The steering wheel regains physical controls, and a wireless phone charger is incorporated into the console, just in front of the multifunction control, as in Volkswagen's top-of-the-line models. The perforated fabric doors and customizable interior ambient lighting are other distinguishing features.

It will be a success thanks to its attractive aesthetics, the ECO engine so desired by many, and a gearbox not available in all brands. The starting price will be €29,600 for the 116 hp model and €32,900 for the 150 hp model, placing it squarely among its competitors.

Autonews