The Volkswagen T-Roc R is a prime example of the small, but growing, line-up of small performance SUVs that appeal to drivers who want a blend of practicality, usability and searing acceleration. Back in the day, they might have bought a Golf GTI, but today, they’re thinking a little taller.

It’s proved a popular choice, too, with a useful number of these discreet rockets being sold – and no doubt with future cult car status to follow. For those not acquainted with the T-Roc R, it’s powered by a slightly detuned Volkswagen Golf R engine that packs a 300hp punch, and receives lowered, stiffened suspension, a standard-fit DSG transmission and four-wheel drive.

It’s been on sale since 2020, and received a light facelift along with the rest of the T-Roc range in 2022. To the casual observer it was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it upgrade, bringing its tech into line with the Volkswagen Golf Mk8. Fans would say that it didn’t really need changing, so Volkswagen did the right thing by leaving the recipe fundamentally unchanged.

Rivals? There are a number of Volkswagen Group counterparts to choose from – so the Audi SQ2 and Cupra Ateca and Formentor are likely to be on the same shopping list. If you want something a little more subtle, and still need 300hp, how about taking a look at the Toyota RAV4 PHEV (yes, really!) or the Peugeot 3008 in Hybrid4 form? If you’d like to learn more about how our team of road testers arrived at the opinions expressed here, check out our page on how we test cars.

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What’s it like inside?

The R’s interior isn’t vastly different from the more vanilla models in the T-Roc range, and we approve of that. So you get a clear and configurable digital instrument display with a generous 8.0-inch screen and a 9.2-inch central infotainment touchscreen. It’s not the latest system as featured in the Golf Mk8.5, so you get a physical volume knob and control button.

Quality and fit and finish are all impressive, with plenty of soft-touch materials used. Being an R, you get blue stitching throughout the interior, as well as a flat-bottomed steering wheel packed with touch-sensitive controls and R-button for the drive modes.

Practicality is adequate – although it’s very slightly shorter than the Golf, it has a similar amount of interior space and a much larger boot. That means families – and young families in particular – will find it more than big enough. However, the Cupra Ateca is much larger inside. For much more detail about the T-Roc’s interior and practicality, read the standard car’s full review.

Volkswagen T-Roc R engine

Here’s why we found our time in the T-Roc R so enjoyable. It gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing 300hp and 400Nm of torque (pulling power). That gives it a claimed 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds with a maximum speed limited to 155mph, which places it at the sharp end of the grid for performance SUVs. These are numbers that woudn’t have disgraced a supercar a few years ago.

Acceleration is very impressive – the DSG transmission is responsive, shifting through its seven speeds eagerly when needed. In Comfort and Eco mode, response is lazier, and it favours changing up early to maximise efficiency. It’s also smooth in the mid range, making it a reasonable cruiser as well as a sprinter. If you decide to change gear manually, you can operate it using the R-specific steering-wheel-mounted paddles.

It has four-wheel drive and uses the latest version of VW’s 4Motion system. It’s not as advanced as the system used by the Golf R, but can vary the amount of power sent to the front and rear wheels, which results in excellent traction traction off the line, contributing to the car’s excellent 0-62mph time.

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What’s it like to drive?

It’s an R, so if you’re looking for a fast and secure family SUV, you’ve come to the right place. As well as being blessed with genuinely rapid acceleration, it is superbly responsive and in Race drive mode, comes complete with an appealing exhaust note. Controversially, with the optional Akrapovic sports exhaust system, it pops and crackles but at least socially-sensitive drivers can choose not to specify it.

The good news is that its considerable performance can be confidently used all year round, with exemplary grip, poise and traction. Drive models are Eco, Normal, Comfort, and Race (instead of Sport), and it is possible to set it up to your liking by delving into the personalisation options in Individual mode. That means the T-Roc R can be relatively relaxed when you want it, such as on the motorway, and keenly engaging at other times.

For sporty drivers, good body control means it inspires confidence in corners. It feels agile and good fun, as long as the road is smooth. The steering varies the amount of assistance dependent on speed, which means you get a light tiller in town and plenty of confidence-inspiring weight when going faster. It turns in well, tracks accurately, and in the right conditions, can be fun.

Comfort

There is a big fly in the ointment. The ride quality, even in Comfort mode, is on the wrong side of firm – that might work well on track, but it’s far too unsettled in daily driving and is downright uncomfortable in Race mode. Something to bear in mind if you live somewhere with bad roads (much of the UK).

But it’s not all bad news. The T-Roc R gets sports seats up front that are trimmed in suede-effect material with R-branding, and we absolutely love them. They’re firm and very supportive, with ample side and lumbar bolstering to grip you in the bends and stave off backache on longer journeys. They initially feel rather too firm, but that impression wears off the longer you drive it.

The driving position benefits from the raised perspective you get from an SUV, with excellent forward visibility and a feeling of spaciousness, thanks to ample headroom. Rear seat passengers aren’t quite so lucky – the rear backrest is upright and kneeroom is rather tight – and it all seems a bit dark in there. If you regularly carry passengers in the rear, we’d seriously consider speccing a panoramic roof to stop it feeling quite so enclosed.

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Ownership and running costs

The Volkswagen T-Roc R isn’t cheap to buy compated with a Cupra Ateca or Formetor (especially on monthly finance), but it undercuts the Audi SQ2 by a comfortable margin, which is what you’d expect given the brands’ relative positioning.

Claimed fuel consumption isn’t bad considering all that performance available, with a claimed 33.2mpg available. Having said that, in our testing, we averaged 27.7mpg with anything approaching 35mpg attainable on gentle motorway runs. If you’re not going to be racking up the miles, you might want to consider this, along with the car’s unimpressive 4.6 - 4.9 (miles per pound) rating.

Not only that, but CO2 emissions are high, and place the T-Roc R in the top 37% BIK tax bracket for company car drivers. The T-Roc range as a while has a middling rating with Parkers readers, scoring 3.6 out of 5 in the owner reviews section.

Safety

The T-Roc hasn’t been rated by EuroNCAP since launch, so its score relates to the 2018 test – standards are considerably tougher now. Having said that, its five-star rating points to it being a substantially safe car even today. As well as scoring highly for passenger protection, it also has the latest crash avoidance technology, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and standard-fit lane-keeping assistance.

Adaptive cruise control is an excellent safety feature, and it’s standard on the T-Roc. It helps maintain distance on the motorway and in flowing traffic, and in testing it didn’t suffer from any inconsistencies that used to mar these systems.

What models and trims are available?

There’s only one version of T-Roc R, but it’s available with a number of options, which rapidly lift its competitive entry price point. There are many visual tweaks that set apart the R from the rest of the range – these include a sports front bumper, individual daytime running lights and standard 18-inch alloy wheels (which can be upgraded to 19-inches).

Other R styling touches include aluminium door-mirrors, a large tailgate spoiler, and tinted rear lights with LED graphics and a new rear bumper and quad exhaust pipes. It now comes with traffic-sign recognition, optional connected voice control, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

So, it’s a fast and capable family SUV that’s slightly too cramped and far from comfortable. Is it too compromised to work as daily transport for all but the most committed enthusiasts? To find out how we rate the Volkswagen T-Roc R, read on for our full expert verdict.