Volkswagen T-Roc R | Test Drive

5 September 2020 Redazione News, Tested

After a few hours driving we literally forgot the comparisons we would have liked to make with the Golf R, not because they are different to drive – in reality they are still similar – but because the involvement of the T-Roc R is visceral and trust me this thing is madness.

Words by Andrea Balti / Photos by Richard Montagner

Introduced in 2017 and able to collect those customers looking for extra centimeters from the ground in the legendary Golf, however without having to opt for the Tiguan, thus effectively entering the world of SUVs, the T-Roc is one of the many crossovers available today on the market. It is one of those cars that are chosen rationally and therefore if you need space on board and you don’t have a private garage, if you travel often and in five people and therefore limiting fuel consumption with a car body whose dimensions are not too far from those of a traditional hatchback, therefore suitable for everyday coexistence, taking advantage of its sensible ground clearance that will come in handy on various occasions, also because the four-wheel drive guarantees safety and the possibility of leaving asphalted roads without too many worries.

Sales numbers is proving it right and in the wake of enthusiasm, VW have decided to make it available also as a Cabriolet and especially as R version, the one that interests us most. Aesthetically recognizable by different front and rear bumpers with black details, light alloy rims with more generous dimensions and 2 centimeters lowered suspension, the T-Roc R could almost come as the consequence of some engineers’ fall ended with a loud bang on their head, but in reality the fact of basically sharing everything with the Golf R cousin has facilitated the optimization of costs during the project procedure. The T-Roc R therefore counts on the same 4-cylinder 2.0 TSI with 300 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, the same 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive mentioned above, obviously without counting the entire multimedia compartment and the inevitable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit in front of the driver. What changes here is the outfit and the fact that in Normal mode you can drive it like any family car. Set to Dynamic and instead you will have the quickest way to leave your children on their own.

Not really, to be honest. This is because the T-Roc R is capable of transforming itself from a crossover into a frenzied curves hunter and once thrown into the fray it shows itself as one of the most amazing cars I have ever been able to test. To be honest, the T-Roc R is truly shocking. The incredible power/weight ratio is essentially the same as the Golf R and if with the due proportions to the greater ground clearance you would expect a less precise behavior when the road becomes winding, be prepared to question every slightest doubt about the performance of this car. The TSI gets its torque peak at 2,000 rpm, after an almost imperceptible delay in delivery, but once in full force, the thrust of the 300 horses becomes progressive to the point of making you believe you are on a roller coaster. This is also because the grip seems endless and is the closest thing to traveling on a rail, with cornering you would not have believed possible and coming out of bends leaving only dust in your wake, regardless of the most powerful sports car that was chasing you thinking – Oh this is just another family hatchback!

Where the chassis plays a fundamental role here, the Akrapovic exhaust system with double split tailpipe is the soundtrack that amplifies the whole driving experience, a seriously powerful roar that launches hand grenades as you go through the gears. Finally the music that we always want to hear on cars of this type. So after a few hours driving we literally forgot the comparisons we would have liked to make with the Golf R, not because they are different to drive – in reality they are still similar – but because the involvement of the T-Roc R is visceral and trust me if I tell you that I never thought I’d love a crossover so madly, not even after having experienced the equally phenomenal Cupra Ateca, with which it shares the same main ingredients. This little family car takes 4.8 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 kph and has a top speed electronically limited at 250 per hour, while weighing just over a ton and a half (1,575 kg) it can move from a corner to the other as you would do with something more politically correct, a hot-hatch so to speak. But can we consider this a hot-hatch?

Assuming that the T-Roc is part of a very specific segment – that of crossovers – it still remains a 5-door 5-seater that in the R version offers stratospheric performance that can be obtained even by an inexperienced driver. And this is another of the wizardry that Volkswagen has thrown into the cauldron. With a price starting at € 45,500 it is certainly not for every pockets, but if it comes home with you, be sure that will bring with a complete package consisting of a car for your home-to-everything and a beast for the weekend. The T-Roc R is the sports car you don’t expect, one of those models that if it doesn’t cross your path would risk going almost unnoticed, but the moment you hold that steering wheel and treat it with respectful violence, it slingshot among those cars you won’t easily forget. This is the beautiful madness of a car that in its exaggeration finds total usability and a proper – but maniacal – purpose.

VOLKSWAGEN T-ROC R

Layout   –  front-engined, all-wheel-drive

Engine  –  4 cylinder  1.984cc – turbo

Transmission  –  7-speed automatic gearbox

Power  –  300 hp @ 3.500 rpm

                      400 Nm @ 2.000 rpm

Weight  –  1.575 kg

Acceleration  –  4,8 sec.

Top Speed  –  250 kph

Price  –  from € 45.500