NEW T-ROC HERALDS VW'S FIRST FULLY HYBRID

We've had a close look at the second generation of big-selling small SUV which breaks new ground for Volkswagen

- Alastair Crooks

WITH more than two million T-Roc sales under Volkswagen's belt, the small SUV has become such an important part of the firm’s model range that you'd be forgiven for thinking it'd been around for generations. But now, eight years after its debut, we have the secondgeneration T-Roc, and it’s set to be a significant car for the brand.

Pre-sales of the Mk2 T-Roc are open now, with first deliveries expected before the end of the year. Pricing hasn't been announced, but we suspect a small increase over the current car, which starts at just under £30,000 in entry-level Life guise rising to £45,000 for the hot R model.

VW’s small SUV will compete against familiar rivals, with the Toyota C-HR, MINI Countryman and an array of hatchbacks providing stern opposition. Still positioned between VW's T-Cross and Tiguan (both recently renewed), the new T-Roc now sits a little closer to the latter, having grown 122mm in length (to 4,373mm), with an additional 28mm in the wheelbase.

The new car is both 9mm wider and taller than before, although VW is keen to point out that this hasn't come at the expense of aerodynamics; with a drag coefficient of 0.29 Cd, it’s 10 per cent slipperier.

While VW has made the T-Roc more efficient at cutting through the air, more significant work has been done underneath, because this will be the first car from the brand to feature a full-hybrid setup. This milestone has been long delayed, due to uncertainty over whether legislation might force this type of tech to be phased out. The setup won't be offered on T-Roc models this year; full-hybrid models are set to go on sale by summer 2026.