Modern cars are massive. They’ve just got bigger and bigger, packed with more and more stuff and the cost of it all has swollen drastically, too. I was minded of this in my local multi-storey recently. There were two drivers attempting to park. Nothing complicated, just stick it between the lines in a sparsely populated carpark. One, in a Range Rover Sport, had five attempts at this and decided, ultimately, to leave one side in another parking bay. The other, in a BMW X7, was pulling a similar stunt. Both cars have park assist capabilities. What’s the point in having all this if owners don’t even know how to use it all? The VW T Roc was something of an antidote to this.
It would be better to buy a car that a) you can actually drive and b) you know how to use. Knowing your limitations as a driver is also useful. For the record, I wouldn’t even have attempted to take a Range Rover Sport or BMW X7 into that carpark, so they’d at least got further than me. I’m quite sure the press fleet coordinators appreciate receiving their cars back with the wheels in one piece.
I do, however, understand the desire for something large and comfortable. I’m quite sure this is the reason that the VW T-Roc is now VW’s best-selling car. It was the third most popular new car in Europe in 2025, surpassing even its mighty stablemate, the Golf.
The VW T-Roc has been revised for 2026, so I wanted to see what has made it so popular. A week should be enough to reveal all…
What’s the VW T-Roc like to live with?
Things get off to a good start, because it isn’t an ugly car. Sure, it’s an SUV and they’re never gorgeous, but it’s charming in an understated kind of way. It has presence without being overbearing, which makes it manageable in carparks. The overhead camera is a useful feature in this environment, too.
Inside, there’s a remarkable amount of space. It’s incredibly practical, with loads of headroom, legroom and a 475-litre boot. VW has done much to sort out its much-maligned infotainment system here, too. The screen is large and well laid out, which makes it easy to use. The only irritation was the interruption of traffic announcements. I just couldn’t turn them off, despite turning traffic alerts off and sifting through several sub-menus. I had the same issue in the VW iD Buzz. If you’ve got a smartphone, which you almost certainly do, then you’re going to use Waze or Google Maps anyway. I can see why the Ferrari 12Cilindri, for example, has done away with providing a SatNav. I’m sure other manufacturers will follow this lead.
That was about the only irritation I could find, though. The seats are comfortable and made from the sort of durable material you want if you have children and/or dogs and everything feels thoughtfully and practically designed.
Another significant tick in the box is fuel economy. I achieved 35mpg from mostly urban driving, which is healthy. Get the VW T-Roc out on a motorway run and don’t be surprised if you see 50mpg. That means you’ll get north of 400 miles from its 50-litre fuel tank. In this day and age, that’s not to be sniffed at. The lack of hybrid gubbins undoubtedly helps here, with the new VW T-Roc tipping the scales at just under 1500Kg. That’s featherweight by today’s standards.
What’s the VW T-Roc like to drive?
The lightness carries over to the driving experience. I’ve come to quite like modern hybrids, but there was something pleasing about driving around with just an engine. Whilst the 1.5-litre turbo-charged engine only produces 150 PS and 250Nm of torque, that’s not what the T-Roc is about.
0-60mph takes a sedentary 8.9secs, but there’s nothing about the experience that encourages you want for anymore. Of course, this being a serious bit of journalism, I did give it a run out down my favourite local roads. Whilst this clearly isn’t what the T-Roc is designed for, I didn’t hate the experience. The engine roars with an anguish suggesting you’re torturing it, but it covers ground pleasingly enough. It’s at its best doing the sort of driving you’re going to be doing 99% of the time.
The commute to work, for example. I had it during that weird May heatwave we had, so the AC got a thorough working. It’s a very comfortable environment to be in. Over lumps and bumps it acquits itself very well; you’re never fretting about speed bumps and the like.
Another trick the T-Roc pulls is reducing itself to a two-cylinder unit when you’re at a cruise, or coasting completely when conditions suit. It works its way through the seven-speed ‘box swiftly, resulting in a quiet and economical drive.
Oddly, it does have different drive modes. Flick it round into sport and… nothing happens. Maybe it holds gears for longer. Maybe it’s in place for when sportier derivatives are introduced to the lineup in future. Whatever the case, the modes do little to alter the VW T-Roc’s character and you won’t use them.
The steering is light, the sort of setup designed for everyday ease of use. All-in-all, you’d be happy spending time behind the wheel.
Conclusion
A glance down the list of Europe’s best-selling cars in 2025 is revealing. Dacia Sandero, Renault Clio, VW T-Roc, Tiguan and Golf, Toyota Yaris Cross, then some Peugeots. This, clearly, is exactly the sort of car people want. Practical, comfortable and affordable. Whilst this latest VW T-Roc, as tested, comes in at £42,775, it’s pitched firmly in the middle order of family SUVs.
After a week with one, it’s easy to see why so it’s popular. Expect to see this latest model populating roads near you soon. The VW T-Roc combines space and practicality with comfort and technology to offer everything the modern driver expects, even if many won’t ever work out how to use the park assist function.
I guess you could criticise it by saying that it’s in danger of being boring, but that feels like the entire point. It hasn’t been designed to offer thrills and spills, it’s been designed to fit people and stuff in while minimising your trips to the petrol station. Blending in seamlessly is the order of the day and the VW T-Roc spectacularly delivers.
I was impressed with how effortlessly the VW T-Roc came to feel like ‘my’ car. It just slotted into the background and delivered everything I asked of it, from lugging stuff around to keeping me cool in a heatwave. There’s a simple pleasure in something just meeting your expectations, which the T-Roc comfortably achieves.
If you’ve got a family, pets and regularly need to get stuff around without worrying about where you’re going to park, then look no further. The VW T-Roc is back for round two and looks set to deliver the same knock out punches as before.