Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Review 2024

Volkswagen predicts that SUVs will soon account for 40 percent of its overall sales. With this in mind, the launch of the T-Roc Cabriolet makes a lot of sense. It is, after all, a drop-top version of the funky T-Roc crossover. It’s at this point that we’d like to reel off a list of rivals to the T-Roc Cabriolet. Only we can’t, because this car stands in a field of one. Since the demise of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible, this is your only option if you fancy some topless crossover action.

The T-Roc Cabriolet is the only new Volkswagen convertible you can buy. The drop-top versions of the Golf and Beetle have been consigned to the history books, making this your only choice if you fancy some wind-in-your hair motoring with a Volkswagen badge on the front.

In fact, it’s the only new convertible SUV you can buy. Volkswagen is banking on the enduring popularity of small SUVs extending to the convertible market. It might seem like an odd combination, but the T-Roc Cabriolet makes more sense than you’d think.

You might recall that Land Rover launched a convertible version of the Range Rover Evoque. It achieved only limited success, so Volkswagen’s decision to remove the roof from the T-Roc SUV is both brave and ambitious. Does it have what it takes to succeed where the Evoque failed? Definitely, maybe.

It’s cheaper, so that’s a start. You’d be looking at a starting price of around £50,000 for a new Range Rover Evoque, but the smaller T-Roc Cabriolet costs around half that for the entry-level version. A top-spec model costs less than £34,000 before options, so the monthly cost of a PCP deal shouldn’t break the bank.

Perhaps sensibly, Volkswagen hasn’t unveiled a long list of engines and trim levels. A case of the company hedging its bets?

There’s no diesel engine, so your choice is limited to a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol or a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol. Of the two, we’d favour the 1.5 TSI. It’s only marginally less economical than the 1.0 TSI, but it’s more refined, which makes driving a more pleasant experience, especially with the roof down.

The 1.5 TSI is also available with an optional seven-speed DSG transmission, which seems to suit the T-Roc Cabriolet’s smooth and relaxed vibe. Either way, this isn’t a car that likes to be hurried.

The weight of the roof mechanism blunts the performance and makes the car feel unwieldy when cornering. Slow down and count the number of people looking at you as you drive by. The T-Roc Cabriolet will turn heads.

Of the two trim levels, the more affordable Design model is easier to recommend. It offers a generous level of equipment, while the 17-inch alloy wheels and standard suspension combine to deliver a softer and more comfortable ride. The 19-inch alloy wheels and lowered suspension of the R-Line trim might have kerb appeal, but the ride quality suffers as a result.

Predictably, the T-Roc Cabriolet feels like a quality product, but it’s let down by questionable practicality. There simply isn’t enough space in the back, while the luggage capacity is woeful. It might be based on an SUV, but you need to view it as a convertible designed for two, with the rear seats reserved for extra luggage space.

Let’s be honest, posing is a big part of owning a convertible. It’s not about how fast you go, it’s about looking good and enjoying the sun’s rays. As the Fresh Prince nearly sang: “you can’t speed through, two miles per hour so everybody sees you”.

This burst of nostalgia isn’t without purpose. Take a corner with too much enthusiasm and the car will roll like a boat on a river. Take a leaf out of Will Smith’s book and slow down.

Smith might not approve of our recommendation to shun the R-Line in favour of the Design trim. The R-Line’s 19-inch ‘Suzuka’ alloy wheels and lowered suspension might turn heads, but the Design trim’s 17-inch rims and standard suspension create a more comfortable ride.

Avoid the unnecessary optional Dynamic Chassis Control and spend your money on looking ‘fly from the beauty salon’.

You’re not going to win a traffic light Grand Prix in the T-Roc Cabriolet, but that’s hardly the point of a car like this. Even so, we’d recommend the 150PS 1.5 TSI over the 115PS 1.0 TSI.

It’s no firecracker, but the four-cylinder 1.5 unit feels more refined, which is an important consideration when the roof is down. The 0-62mph time is irrelevant. It’s all about the time it takes you to pass the reflective shop windows on the high street. You’ll do this slowly. Very slowly.

The 1.0-litre might be marginally more efficient than the 1.5 TSI, but the three-cylinder soundtrack doesn’t suit the relaxed and grown-up vibes of the T-Roc Cabriolet. It’s also not powerful enough to haul the relatively heavy car along at a decent rate.

We’d certainly recommend the DSG transmission over the manual gearbox, just be aware that it can be a little hesitant at low speeds.

Although the T-Roc Cabriolet is unlikely to face a Euro NCAP crash test, the standard Volkswagen T-Roc was awarded a maximum five-star rating when it was tested in 2017.

You should have no concerns about the T-Roc Cabriolet’s safety credentials, not least because it features a rollover system designed to keep you safe in the event of an accident. Two thick panels extend from behind the headrests if the car detects a potential rollover incident.

The list of standard safety includes adaptive cruise control, predictive pedestrian protection, city emergency braking, lane assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a driver fatigue sensor.

We’re not entirely sure a trip to the recycling centre fits the Summertime vibes, but a tow bar is available if you really must tow something in a T-Roc Cabriolet. A fixed tow bar costs £750, but the detachable tow bar is a more desirable option at £850. Speak to your Volkswagen dealer about maximum towing weights.

You can’t remove the roof from a small suv and expect it to offer the same level of practicality as the tin-top version. So, while the standard T-Roc offers up to 445 litres of luggage capacity, the T-Roc Cabriolet musters a mere 284 litres. You get 215 litres of boot space in a MINI Convertible – and that’s a much smaller car.

Things are no better in the back, where you’ll find two rear seats that are compromised in terms of legroom and headroom. Obviously, the level of headroom improves when you raise the roof, but that won’t be much fun for your rear seat passengers if the weather is being very British.

If you’re buying a T-Roc Cabriolet for you and your significant other, it will be fine. At least you can fold the rear seats 50/50 to find room for your luggage on a summer break.

This is where the T-Roc Cabriolet claws back some much-needed points, because the quality is first-rate. The little things like a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, thick internal door handles and ambient lighting combine to create a great first impression.

Sure, some of the plastics feel a little cheap, but you won’t be looking at the top of the dashboard when the roof is down and the sun is shining. Even the cloth roof has a premium feel, featuring three layers to cocoon you from the elements when the sun isn’t shining.

The eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the T-Roc Cabriolet is one of the best on the market, featuring a clear display and logical menus. It’s even easy-to-read with the roof down, which will come in handy if you require the use of the standard-fit sat-nav to find your way to the beach.

Highlights include DAB digital radio, European mapping, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, four USB ports (two in the front and two in the back), plus a three-year subscription to Volkswagen’s We Connect Plus service. This delivers a range of driver-, vehicle- and location-based services.

Because there are only two trim levels and a pair of engines available, the pricing structure of the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is easy to understand. This isn’t a cheap car, especially when you consider that you can buy a tin-top T-Roc for as little as £21,440.

The Design trim costs £27,140 when powered by a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, or £28,915 for the 1.5-litre TSI EVO petrol. Volkswagen’s seven-speed DSG transmission is available on the 1.5-litre model and costs an additional £1500.

You can’t order an R-Line model with the 1.0-litre engine, so you’re limited to the 1.5-litre unit with a manual or automatic gearbox. The cost is £32,310 or £33,770 respectively.

Most T-Roc Cabriolet customers will purchase the car using a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) deal. Although the rates vary, you should bank on spending between £200 and £250 a month for a Design model powered by a 1.0-litre engine.

Although this makes the T-Roc Cabriolet more expensive than the standard T-Roc, the difference is likely to be no more than £50 a month, depending on the spec. Given the exclusivity and potential for summer fun, this might be a small price to pay.

As a new and relatively exclusive vehicle, there are very few bargains to be found when buying a used T-Roc Cabriolet. Ex-demonstrators with up to 5000 miles on the clock cost £25,000, but you’ll pay more for an R-Line model.

The best advice would be to wait until the winter when demand for convertibles is at its lowest. Negotiating a good deal will be easier, especially on used examples. Demand will rise again in the spring and summer, so pick your best moment to bag a great deal.

The 1.0-litre TSI is likely to be the most efficient, offering between 39.2mpg and 44.8mpg on a combined cycle. You stand a good chance of achieving the claimed figures, with the Honest John Real MPG data revealing a figure of 44.6mpg.

What you can expect to achieve in a T-Roc Cabriolet with a 1.5-litre engine depends on the trim level. The 19-inch alloy wheels worn by the R-Line model might look the part, but they’ll put a dent in your wallet. The 1.5-litre could return 42.2mpg to 42.8mpg in Design trim, or 39.8mpg to 40.9mpg in the R-Line version. The figures are based on the manual gearbox. There’s a small penalty for choosing the DSG transmission.

The T-Roc Cabriolet is more expensive to insure than the regular T-Roc, slotting into groups 14 to 21, depending on the engine and trim.

A direct effect of the car’s exclusivity should ensure the T-Roc Cabriolet retains its value on the used car market, but much will depend on the public’s appetite for a car like this.

There’s no denying that the R-Line trim looks the part, but the Design model could be all the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet you could ever need. Put it this way: the open-air experience is the same, regardless of the specification.

The T-Roc Cabriolet Design covers all the basics, with an enviable list of standard equipment. Highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and four USB ports.

We’d recommend the optional winter pack if you intend to use the car in all weathers. The heated seats will be delightful on a cold day.