The Volkswagen T-Roc 2025 has been a real European phenomenon in recent years – in Germany it exceeded 75,000 registrations last year and anchored itself in second place in VW's sales rankings. In the compact SUV segment, it has become the "safe choice", which has never surprised, but never disappointed. The new model, however, already at first glance suggests a different story. It is more grown-up, technologically much more ambitious, and above all, more expensive.
But behind every shine there are also cracks. New T-Roc It is improved in many ways, but at the same time it brings decisions that will leave some buyers disappointed – especially those who valued practicality, accessibility and that typical “German reliability without pretense”.
Mistakes that accompany the new T-Roc
The first major misconception revolves around the engines. Many naively expected that Volkswagen still retained the diesel version – after all, this powertrain has been the backbone of the brand for many years. The truth is cold and simple: diesel is a closed chapter for the T-Roc. The new model will be available as a mild-hybrid or full-hybrid, with a 2.0 TSI in hybrid version coming later. And while this is entirely in line with trends, many will miss the combination of low consumption, torque and robustness that suited the T-Roc so well.
The next misconception is the idea that it remains compact in size. The new Volkswagen T-Roc 2025 has grown noticeably – by 12.2 centimeters in length, which is already a big change in this class. The result is more space, but also less agility in the city and especially in parking situations, where its predecessor excelled.
The third misconception that has upset traditionalists is the belief that Volkswagen will still offer a manual transmission. That is no longer the case. The decision is of course linked to the development of assistance systems and electrification, but it brutally deprives the T-Roc of its character. The segment that was synonymous with the manual transmission is now definitively under the auspices of the DSG.
The fourth mistake is the assumption that new models are generally faster. New T-Roc is actually slower because it is significantly heavier. The previous 1.5 TSI accelerated to hundreds in 8.3 seconds, the new one needs 8.9. This is not a tragedy, but it is an indication that electrification and additional safety technology do have their price.
What's actually good about the new Volkswagen T-Roc 2025
One of the biggest improvements is the controls. After years of experimenting with an excessive “touch” philosophy, Volkswagen has finally taken a step back and ensured that the car is finally controlled the way drivers want it: intuitively, quickly and without unnecessary chasing icons on the screen. The rotary-push button is back, the menus are more transparent, and the responsiveness is excellent. Volkswagen has not completely abandoned the sliders, but at least there is no longer the feeling that the car is being controlled by more menus than functions. The voice assistant Ida is present, but it works more as an interesting addition than an actual help – nice, but unreliable when you really need it.
The range of assistance systems that would have only recently been attributed to a higher segment is also particularly impressive. From the head-up display and advanced Travel Assist to lane change assistance, automatic emergency braking and parking via phone, the T-Roc is becoming one of the most technologically advanced models in its class.
The build quality is another bright spot. The interior is more thoughtful, the materials are more pleasant to the touch, and the design details are pleasantly surprising – like those little swimmers on the pattern in the storage shelf, which at times act as a tiny design inside joke. Even the doors, once a weak point of this model, are now assembled extremely solidly.
The increase in dimensions is noticeable where it should be: in space. Taller passengers can now sit in the back, the trunk is among the best in the segment, and the car still rides compact enough not to be awkward on city streets.
The engine range, although limited, brings a noticeable improvement in consumption. The new 1.5 TSI consumes half a liter less, and the ride is quiet and relaxed, which will be especially appreciated by the public that spends most of its journeys on the highway.
Here is a unified, unified, and stylistically smooth paragraph, which connects all the weaknesses into one flowing, coherent whole – without repetition, without breaks in rhythm, with a clear common thread and with naturally included criticism.
Where the new Volkswagen T-Roc 2025 fails the test
The biggest weakness of the new T-Roc is undoubtedly the price, which has risen high enough compared to the previous generation that the model is decisively moving away from its former reputation as an affordable Volkswagen. The previous T-Roc was available for just over 27 thousand euros, but today the base model exceeds 30 thousand, and better-equipped versions quickly cross the line 40 thousand euros, where the terrain reserved for much more ambitious competitors begins. This price increase is further exacerbated by surcharges that are more aggressive than ever before: no rear camera as standard, with leather seats that require a higher package and then an additional fee, and with an equipment structure that almost forces the buyer to jump a class higher if he wants to equip the car to his wishes. Such a policy creates the feeling that the configurator is leading the user up the stairs, where at each step it says “just this”, until the prices exceed reasonable limits.
The discomfort further deepens choice of base color – the only one without a surcharge is the distinctive yellow variant, while the traditional white, which has been synonymous with standard at Volkswagen for decades, is suddenly priced at an additional 500 euros. This gives the clear impression that the brand is not looking for new identity guidelines, but primarily additional revenues. With the increase in dimensions, another compromise is revealed: although the space is increased, maneuvering in the city is no longer as comfortable as it was, especially since the quality of the rear camera is surprisingly worse – a soft image, weak contrast and the feeling as if we are watching a recording from an old Nokia are elements that simply should not exist in a car priced over 40 thousand euros. All of this creates the impression that T-Roc Although technologically extremely advanced and reliably built, it leaves a noticeable void precisely in the places where it should impress without compromise.
Alternative choices that are easy to take seriously
Although T-Roc offers an excellent combination of technology, comfort and quality, the competition is more serious today than ever. The Dacia Bigster and Duster are more aggressively priced and, above all, extremely spacious. The Hyundai Kona, as a rule, is cheaper and no less technologically advanced, and the Opel Mokka is an interesting choice for those who appreciate design and compact urban agility.
The T-Roc remains a strong player, but its price puts it in a company where buyers are usually looking for a little more – or a lot more – luxury.
Conclusion: a great car, but one that requires more compromises than before
The 2025 Volkswagen T-Roc is improved in many ways. It is more spacious, quieter, more technologically advanced, of high quality and pleasantly designed for everyday driving. But it is also more expensive, more limited in engines, less flexible in equipment and in some places surprisingly economizes on elements where you would least expect it.
Is this the best T-Roc yet? In certain respects, undoubtedly.
Is this the best buy in its class? That will have to be decided by the buyer himself – especially those who want not only technological sophistication from a compact SUV, but also a rational price-to-content ratio.
