Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Design 1.0 TSI UK review Car News

Let’s be honest, this isn’t your classic road test car – it’s just too easy to be cynical about a roofless SUV. But then you look at the sales numbers and understand why Volkswagen is building it.

In the year up to the end of July, the Cabriolet accounted for 6.9% of Volkswagen T-Roc sales in the UK – not a bad comeback, but not a patch on Germany, where the proportion was 28.8%.

Before going much further, it should be pointed out that the car you see in these pictures is not the Design model tested. The photos are of a car in an R-Line finish, the main differences being the badge, deeper front and rear bumpers, the rear spoiler, as well as some of the more jazzy interior elements, such as the stitching on the seats. R-Line sport and body color decorative dashboard and door panels.

We’ve driven 1.5-liter turbo gas before, but this time it’s the turn of the 1.0-liter triple turbo gasoline, in base trim, with just 109 hp and 148 lb-ft. In an age of increasing electrification, it’s fair to say that these numbers don’t represent the most impactful potential, but for where this car is destined (and 37% of UK buyers go for the 1.0 TSI), they are adequate.

Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph takes 12.3 seconds, this is strictly a front-wheel drive car, despite the appearance and the transversely mounted engine sits in a slightly longer wheelbase than the regular T-Roc. The Cabriolet still rides on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, but it benefits from additional reinforcement around the A-pillars and windshield, as well as reinforced underbody to improve stiffness.

The roof folds easily and automatically in just 15 seconds and falls directly into a space above the trunk. There is no need to raise or lower the divider shelves in the trunk, as the canvas folds right into its own compartment, separate from everything else.

Inside, the interior is a generation behind the latest Volkswagen products, so there are more physical buttons for the air conditioning and radio. Our car came with gray and tan leather seats, which probably wouldn’t be my first choice, but they at least help lift what is otherwise a rather black, albeit well-designed, interior.

The T-Roc Cabriolet is a true four-seater, with enough room in the back for two mid-size adults, although they have to fold up in front of the front seats to access them. Unlike the regular T-Roc, it’s a three-door.