Volkswagen has unveiled the all-new, second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc, and the most interesting detail – according to them at least – isn’t the engine or the tech, but a piece of trim. Yup, according to Volkswagen’s designers, the new T-Roc’s most defining feature is a “striking silver stripe” that extends from the A-pillar to the D-pillar – a feature they’ve affectionately nicknamed the “hockey stick”.
Fortunately, the compact crossover is definitely more than just a new silver trim. Besides the “hockey stick,” the all-new Volkswagen T-Roc also gets a new front fascia that resembles its newer stable mates, like the electric Volkswagen ID.7, alongside a much more modern rear end design.
According to the German carmaker, the T-Roc will be equipped with LED headlights as standard, which are linked by a narrow LED strip and an illuminated “VW” emblem – a combination Volkswagen is calling the new “product face” of the T-Roc. The rear meanwhile sports a new full-width LED strip and features a red illuminated “VW” emblem. As before, the signature sloped roofline makes a return here.
The second-generation T-Roc, based on the MQB evo platform like the Volkswagen Golf, is now 122 mm longer than its predecessor at 4,373 mm, which is comparable in size to the Mazda CX-30. The wheelbase has also been extended by 28 mm, which should translate to more interior space.
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Inside, the all-new Volkswagen T-Roc packs a 10.4-inch infotainment display, which can be upgraded to a larger 12.9-inch unit on higher-end variants. This is paired with a new 10-inch digital instrument cluster that can be configured using – thankfully – physical buttons on the multi-function steering wheel, instead of the dreaded touch-capacitive buttons from before.
Also new here are the new steering column switches, which sees a new column-mounted gearshift lever that frees up real estate on the centre console for the designers to put more storage compartments there. There’s also a new rotary knob on the centre console which serves as a shortcut to control audio volume, driving profiles, and the preconfigured “atmospheres”.
The so-called “atmospheres” are basically presets for the mood and ambience in the T-Roc interior, with five modes available: Lounge, Energetic, Joy, Minimal, and Me. These atmospheres create a wide range of lighting and sound curtains using the T-Roc’s ambient lighting system together with the sound system, the latter can also be upgraded to a Harman Kardon system.
Volkswagen designers also curiously picked the hockey stick over the various Easter eggs scattered throughout the interior, including little coffee cups, pretzels, and ice cream cones illustrations. The company even says the air-conditioning vents in the centre console’s rubberised phone cradle are designed to look like lanes in a miniature swimming pool.
On debut, the Volkswagen T-Roc will be offered with two 1.5-litre eTSI mild-hybrid (MHEV) turbocharged engine options, making 116 hp/220 Nm or 150 hp/250 Nm, both paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) driving the front wheels (FWD). Volkswagen says that variants with the 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD) setup will be available later.
It remains to be seen if Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) will be introducing the second-generation T-Roc here. VPCM has previously hinted at the possibility of introducing the T-Roc to the Malaysian market, but that was all the way back in 2021. Currently, the only SUV offerings from Volkswagen in Malaysia are the Touareg R-Line, priced at RM399,990, and the Tiguan Allspace at RM206,590.
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