Volkswagen T-Roc SUV Spotted For The First Time In India

Volkswagen’s game plan of bringing new SUVs to the Indian market is going to start off with the T-Roc

• T-Roc was first seen at 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

• Will come to India as a CBU offering.

• Expected engine to be 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, mated to a 7-speed DSG.

• Would be priced on par with the likes of Jeep Compass, but smaller than upcoming Creta.

• Features will be top-of-the-line, alongside a premium cabin.

• Expect India-spec model to be revealed at 2020 Auto Expo.

Volkswagen’s T-Roc SUV has been spotted in India while being tested on public roads. This is the first time a test mule of the T-Roc has been spotted in the country since it was revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. 

From what is evident in the spy images, the India-spec Tiguan doesn’t seem any different from the global-spec model. It has a similar design when looked at from the side or rear. The spy images don’t reveal the front design all that well but we don’t expect Volkswagen to make any changes to it all. The primary reason is because VW will bring in the T-Roc as a CBU offering, meaning we would get the exact same car sold in Europe.

The powertrain on offer is likely to be a 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine, mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission. It is expected to churn out 150PS. The drivetrain will be front-wheel-drive and we don’t expect Volkswagen to offer the T-Roc with their 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system in India. This is primarily to keep costs in check. We expect Volkswagen to price the T-Roc under Rs 20 lakh.

Looking at that price, one might be mistaken that the T-Roc is a big SUV. After all it's going to be priced in the same range as the likes of the Jeep Compass. However, take one look at the dimensions and you’ll realise that in terms of size, the T-Roc will compete with the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos! What’s more, it's even smaller than these two. Take a look at the difference in their dimensions in the table below:

*The Hyundai Creta we have chosen to compare is the new-gen model coming at the 2020 Auto Expo

While the Volkswagen T-Roc is smaller than the Creta and the Seltos, it has a sporty coupe-like silhouette, unlike the other similarly sized SUVs.

However, it’s a different story when it comes to features as it would be kitted to the brim to take on premium rivals. In the UK, it is offered with an 8-inch touchscreen that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with the Beats sound system. There’s an impressive fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster and also internet connectivity with connected apps like the Kia Seltos and MG Hector. Other notable goodies include adaptive cruise control and panoramic sunroof parking assistance. 

We expect Volkswagen to reveal the India-spec T-Roc at the upcoming 2020 Auto Expo, which will be held in February next year. This move is also in line with the VW’s aim to exploit the demand for SUVs in India. The German carmaker has revealed that their upcoming few products will all be new SUVs.

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