This SUV Will Be VW’s First All-new Car In India In Years!

• The Volkswagen T-Roc is a size smaller than its primary rival, the Jeep Compass.
• Gets features like connected car tech, digital dials, lane assist as well as park assist.
• India-spec SUV is likely to come with 1.5-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engine.
• The Volkswagen T-Roc is likely to make its debut at Auto Expo 2020.

Volkswagen India has started testing the T-Roc SUV on our shores. The premium midsize, which is likely to debut at Auto Expo 2020, will be VW’s first all-new product in years. It will be Volkswagen’s answer to the Jeep Compass. VW’s premium midsize SUV is already on sale in international markets and will come to India via the CBU route. The SUV will come with BS6 complaint engines and is expected to be priced between Rs 17 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom). Recently, another product from the Skoda Auto Volkswagen India was spotted in the country, the Skoda Kamiq, and that could arrive even sooner. 

The T-Roc seen here looks identical to the model sold overseas. It gets a familiar VW style grille that merges seamlessly with the LED projector headlamps. Below it sit funky LED DRLs that surround the air dams and further down are the fog lamps that come with cornering function. In profile, the muscular wheel arches and body cladding give the T-Roc a squat stance. It also comes with a sharp crease for added character. At the rear, the SUV gets split LED tail lamps and an aggressively designed rear bumper with faux vents. 

Sizewise, the T-Roc is just a tad wider than the Jeep. However, it is a full size smaller than the Compass in all other aspects. This could be a disadvantage in our market where car buyers like their SUVs to be big and brawny. Here’s a look at the dimensions of both SUVs:

The interior of the India-spec T-Roc is expected to be similar to the international model. The design is typical VW with plenty of parts borrowed from its stable mates. In terms of features, the T-Roc comes with an 8-inch infotainment system, connected car tech, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, a digital driver’s display, dual-zone climate control, a sunroof as well as Beats audio system. It also comes with lane assist, pedestrian protection, park assist as well as front and rear parking sensors.  

The T-Roc is available with a variety of petrol and diesel engine options in international markets with certain variants getting Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive tech as well. We expect the India-spec model to come with one petrol and diesel engine, both BS6-compliant. The petrol motor is likely to be the 1.5-litre TSI engine that develops 150PS and 250Nm, while the diesel engine could be the familiar 2.0-litre TDI engine that puts out 150PS and 350Nm. Expect VW to offer the T-Roc with both manual and DSG options. Top-spec variants could get VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system as well.   

The T-Roc is expected to debut at Auto Expo 2020. When launched, it will take on the likes of the Jeep Compass and the upcoming Skoda Karoq. Volkswagen will soon revamp its portfolio under its India 2.0 initiative. Under this plan, the German carmaker plans to introduce the T-Cross SUV based on the localised version of the MQB-A0 platform to take on the Kia Seltos and 2020 Hyundai Creta rival. What do you think of the T-Roc? Will VW’s SUV offensive work in its favour? Let us know in the comments below.

Image Source - Autocar India