Roc & roll

The Volkswagen T-Roc might be relatively smaller and pricier than other SUVs in the segment but there is a lot more to this stylish SUV than meets the eye

Before the India Project 2.0 led by Skoda on behalf of Volkswagen starts bearing fruit in terms of country-specific products, the German auto giant is busy laying the groundwork for what’s to come in the form of new engines and updates for its existing products as well as brand new offerings. Chief among these new products is the Volkswagen T-Roc. Right off the bat, there is a slight problem – the size and the price. Priced at Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India), the T-Roc is smaller than other SUVs in this price bracket and consequently, does not have the imposing, bulky exterior that most SUV buyers crave. But, as the old adage goes, never judge a book by its cover because there is a lot more to T-Roc than meets the eye.

And speaking of what meets the eye, the Volkswagen is quite the looker especially in this dualtone shade of yellow and black. At 1,819mm, it is wider than the Creta and Seltos and even the Jeep Compass. The T-Roc’s width is further accentuated by the way the headlamps and grille sit on the nose. Those DRLs look quite cool and also double us as indicators. The mildly sinking roofline coupled with a raked rear windshield gives it a slightly SUVcoupe-ish profile making it look flashier than most. Adding to T-Roc’s appealing looks are flared wheel arches, smart 17in wheels that fill the arches quite well, a thick strip of chrome running along the upper edge of the DLO and the tastefully done ‘T-Roc’ badging on the boot lid. Amplifying the crossover/ SUV styling are faux skid plates and roof rails finished in silver and a healthy dose of black cladding all around.