R-RATED? (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 84

By the end of this century's second decade, performance-minded compact SUVs were getting progressively more credible. Here's a case in point, the MK1 Volkswagen T-Roc R, launched in 2019. A crossover's never going to be the perfect starting point for a shopping rocket but this one was very thoroughly engineered to deliver most of the driving enjoyment of its similarly engineered Golf R counterpart: 300PS, 4MOTION 4WD, a throaty exhaust, a decent boot and quite a lot of streetside presence. What's not to like?

Modelsword count: 4

5dr SUV (2.0 TSI)

Historyword count: 179

When the Golf R first arrived back in 2009, we imagined it might pave the way to a whole series of 'R'-branded fast Volkswagens. In the event, it took a decade for the 'R' range to be expanded beyond the Golf line-up - with this car, the T-Roc R, launched in 2019, two years after mainstream T-Roc models. Where once, Volkswagen would have added the R performance tinsel to conventional models like the Polo or the Passat, it said much for state of the market back at this top variant's launch in 2019 that beyond the Golf range the brand was limiting the tuning scope of its R tuning division to its SUVs. By then, a Touareg R could be had if you had to buy the fastest Volkswagen SUV possible. In the real world though, this T-Roc R would probably be quicker point-to-point. But how close can it get to replicating the Golf R experience? There was a mid-term facelift in 2022. And this T-Roc R then sold until a second generation T-Roc line-up arrived in early 2026.

What You Getword count: 463

Volkswagen did its best to make this T-Roc R stand out from its humbler showroom stablemates. The front gets a more distinctive radiator grille bearing the 'R' logo and in place of the usual front fog lights, LED daytime running lights are set into the front bumper. From the side, you might notice that widened wheel arches surround the 19-inch 'Pretoria' alloy wheels and complement the black brake callipers complete with 'R' logo. There's also matt-chrome effect covers for the door mirrors and lowered 'R' sports suspension. Plus original buyers could optionally specify the contrasting black finish for the roof and A-pillars. The rear features smoked LED-taillights, an understated but assertive boot spoiler and a black diffuser. Plus the specially-designed rear bumper houses a R GmbH hallmark - four chrome-finished tailpipes. Inside, the cabin features a smattering of 'R' logos - on the door sill protectors, front seat backrests and leather trimmed multifunction sports steering wheel. Plus there's ambient lighting, 'Gloss Black' decor, stainless steel pedals and grey contrast stitching for the carpet mats. Otherwise, it's much as in any other T-Roc, which means there's rather too much hard plastic trimming about for a car of this price. As usual in a T-Roc, a high-set glass-fronted 'Discover Navigation' 8-inch infotainment screen dominates the centre stack on all models. This was upgraded to 9.2-inches in size as part of the 2022 facelift. It comes complete with sat nav and the usual DAB stereo, Bluetooth 'phone and car informational functions, along with Volkswagen's clever 'App-Connect' set-up for smartphone-mirroring. You also view a further TFT monitor - a digitalised customisable instrument binnacle screen that's either 8.0-inches or (post-2022) 10.25-inches in size and viewed through an R-branded three-spoke steering wheel. The fashionable cabin stuff works well; the trendy body-coloured centre fascia trimming panel; the lightly raised driving position; supportive seats with lumbar support; and generally well-judged ergonomics, though your rear view is compromised by the large C-pillars, so you'll need the standard rear parking sensors. In the back, the room on offer is fine by the standards of space in comparable small crossovers, though that's not saying a great deal. A couple of six-foot passengers can just about sit behind a couple of equally lanky front seat occupants with some degree of comfort but if there's a middle occupant, then he or she will need to sit legs astride the central transmission tunnel. But the doors are big, there are seat back pockets, you get an armrest with twin cup holders and twin UBC-C ports are provided below the centre vents. Boot capacity drops a bit to 392-litres in this 4MOTION-equipped 4WD variant (down from 445-litres for a front-driven model). Still, the cargo area's a good square shape and there are the usual tie-downs and bag hooks.

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