Volkswagen T-Roc launched at Rs 19.99 lakh | To rival the Jeep Compass and upcoming Skoda Karoq

After unveiling the T-Roc as the Auto Expo earlier in February, Volkswagen India have launched the T-Roc at Rs 19.99 lakh, ex-showroom, India. The T-Roc is Volkswagen’s second launch this year after the Tiguan Allspace and it’s offered in India as a CBU.

Given the proportions of the T-Roc, one might wonder why it slots into the Rs 20-25 lakh premium mid-size SUV segment. The obvious answer reason is that it’s a CBU, hence the hefty price tag. Meanwhile, on the dimensions front, it's 4342mm long, 1819mm wide and 1573mm tall, making it noticeably smaller than its immediate rivals – the Jeep Compass and the Hyundai Tucson. The T-Roc is in fact in line with the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta when it comes to size. That said, the T-Roc will also rival the upcoming Skoda Karoq.

Design of the VW T-Roc

Upfront you get LED headlamps and a blacked out dual slat grille – all of which are surrounded by a thick chrome strip. Under the headlamps sit the LED DRLs and foglamps. The side profile is flanked by what VW calls a ‘twin shoulder line’, adding some muscle to the car while the rear gets a typical VW family design layout, similar to what’s seen on the Tiguan and the rest of the range. However, what stands out in this segment is the coupe-like sloping roof line, adding a pinch of sportiness to the T-Roc's visual appeal.

Heart of the matter

The T-Roc is the first SUV from Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVIPL) to get the 1.5-litre TSI engine. The same engine will propel the upcoming VW Taigun and the Vision IN derived Skoda SUV as well. The 1.5-litre TSI EVO with ACT (let’s decode the terminology in a bit), makes 150hp between 5000-6000rpm and a healthy 250Nm of torque between 1500-3000rpm. It’s mated to the tried and tested 7-speed twin clutch automatic transmission. The T-Roc will reach a top whack of 205kmph and will sprint to a 100kmph in just 8.4 seconds.

Now Volkswagen was the first brand to introduce cylinder deactivation technology on four-cylinder units. This kind of technology is usually seen in higher capacity engines with six, eight or more cylinders. In Volkswagen speak, it’s called Active Cylinder Technology (ACT), where the system shuts off two of the four cylinders between 1400 and 4000rpm when it senses a relaxed driving pattern, improving fuel efficiency. When the driving conditions demand more power, the cylinders can reignite in just 13 to 36 milliseconds and VW says the transition is made smooth via interventions in ignition and throttle valve processes.

Features

With an introductory sticker of Rs 20 lakh plus, there’s no harm in expecting a plethora of premium features in the VW T-Roc. The trending panoramic sunroof is a standard offering across all variants while other premium features include front seats with lumbar adjust, dual zone climate control, fully digital cockpit and paddle shifters. There's also an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system integrated with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The T-Roc scored 5-stars in the Global NCAP crash tests, speaking of which, its safety kit is pretty extensive. Six airbags, ESC, ABS, TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system) and ISOFIX anchors among others are offered as standard.

An important feature the VW T-Roc misses out on is a 4WD system that’s offered on both its primary rivals – the Jeep Compass and the Hyundai Tuscon. Moreover, the Compass and the Tuscon start at Rs 16.49 lakh and Rs 18.77 lakh, undercutting the T-Roc (Rs 19.99 lakh) by a significant margin. However, VW is trying to justify this price tag by offering plenty of premium features on the T-Roc along with the segment first cylinder deactivation technology. For now, that’s how the T-Roc looks like on paper. How good is it on road? Stayed tuned to evo India on Instagram and Twitter until we bring you the first drive review.