Volkswagen T-Roc interior, tech and practicality

Volkswagen made a name for itself producing quality cars that just work for all sizes of human, and the T-Roc is no different. There’s loads of adjustment in the steering wheel and driver’s seat, so you won’t struggle to get comfortable even if you’re well over 6’3” or on the shorter side.

Like most modern cars the T-Roc does give you big blind spots over your shoulders out the back corners of the car – but this can be mitigated by the optional reversing camera.

There are some nice details in the T-Roc's cabin. Every version gets a wireless phone charger complete with an unusual design – look closely and you'll see couple of swimmers doing lengths down its three depressions, while the T-Roc's door handles are a new ‘lift-up’ design on the door armrests.

Life trim opens the range with a decent tally of equipment. There are LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, push-button start, adaptive cruise control and lots of driver assistance features.

Opt to upgrade to Match trim and you'll get tinted rear windows, heated front seats, built-in sat nav and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Then it's the fairly high-spec Style trim with its upgraded headlights, 30-colour ambient lighting, massaging front seats, park assist and three-zone climate control. Ascend right to the top of the range and you'll get to R-Line, which features a sportier look inside and out, plus sports seats and tuned suspension.

The new T-Roc’s infotainment system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the built-in software is also very easy to use. A tap on a shortcut at the top of the screen turns off your speed-limit warning bongs, so you’re not left hunting through a thousand menus at the start of every drive.

Back-seat space in the second-generation T-Roc is mostly improved over the old car, and the new car’s 3cm-longer wheelbase means taller adults have a bit more knee room.

Sadly, there’s a hump in the floor under the driver’s seat, so your right-hand rear passenger gets short shrift in terms of foot room, and headroom is a little tight for me at 6’3” – but only if I lean right back in the seat. It’s a pity because I didn’t have such problems in the old T-Roc, and it’s a problem that’s been introduced because the new T-Roc has a slightly more aerodynamic roof-line for better fuel efficiency.

The new T-Roc's hump theme continues. A large lump in the floor in the middle of the rear compartment means middle-seat passengers will have their feet clashing with passengers either side, which is a shame. Back-seat passengers have access to their own climate control zone and two USB-C chargers, while a centre armrest can fold down revealing two cup holders. Covers for the Isofix child-seat mounting points on the outer rear seats flip neatly out of the way, exposing easy-to-locate attachment points.

Likewise, the T-Roc’s boot is deliciously practical. At 470 litres it’s above average for the small SUV class, is a useful boxy shape and has more than enough room for a couple of suitcases or a large baby buggy. An adjustable boot floor means you can either have a flat floor that lines up with the boot opening, or you can drop it down for maximum capacity.