Volkswagen T-Roc Review 2026: Is This the Compact SUV to Buy?

This DriverReviews review answers whether the new Volkswagen T-Roc earns its place as the compact SUV to buy in 2026, or whether fresher rivals have moved the goalposts. Vicki Butler-Henderson drives the all-new second-generation T-Roc to find out how it performs on the road, what the redesigned interior is like to live with, and whether more than two million sales since 2017 have made this the default choice in the segment for good reason. The new Volkswagen T-Roc is a compact SUV available in three trim levels with two 1.5-litre mild-hybrid turbocharged engines producing either 116hp or 150hp. Prices range from around £32,000 to £39,000. The second-generation model is longer, wider and taller than before, yet 10 per cent more aerodynamic, and brings 475 litres of boot space, a new interior with a padded dashboard and a head-up display available for the first time. The T-Roc tested here is fitted with Bridgestone Turanza 6 tyres, rated 4.7 out of 5 by thousands of drivers on DriverReviews and Highly Recommended in the Best Tyres for Small and Mid-Size SUVs category in the DriverReviews Customer Choice Awards. Inside, the T-Roc gains a more premium feel throughout, with a padded dashboard, perforated artificial leather doors that shimmer with light, a column-mounted gear selector that frees up more storage between the seats, a larger digital display and four USB-C sockets. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless charging and three ISOFIX-compatible seats are all standard. The optional £950 Technology Pack adds a head-up display and rear cross-traffic warning, while Style trim adds self-parking and massage seats. Rivals include the Ford Puma and Kia Sportage. Vicki gives her full verdict on whether the new T-Roc belongs at the top of your compact SUV shortlist. 🎬 Watch our latest videos and subscribe: @DriverReviews 🔍 Find out more about DriverReviews: https://www.driverreviews.com/ -- About Us – We are here to help save motorists time and effort in the process of researching and selecting new tyres for their vehicles; by providing expert content, help, advice, and thousands of consumer reviews to support finding the right tyres for their vehicle. We are one of the world's largest tyre review platforms, bringing you verified and unbiased customer tyre reviews. Our independent reviews cover over 70 different tyre brands across all price ranges and feature leading brands, including Goodyear, Dunlop, Michelin, Continental, Hankook and many more. So, when you're searching for new tyres, make sure to check out our partner tyre retailers in your country. With renowned names like: UK - Blackcircles (https://www.blackcircles.com) Germany - DriverReviews (https://www.driverreviews.de) Spain - DriverReviews (https://www.driverreviews.es) France - Allopneus (https://www.allopneus.com) Italy - Blackcircles (https://www.blackcircles.it) Canada - Blackcircles (https://www.blackcircles.ca) Egypt - Blackcircles (https://www.blackcircles.com.eg) Australia - Tyroola (https://www.tyroola.com.au) New Zealand - Tyroola (https://www.tyroola.co.nz) You can rest assured that you'll receive genuine, relevant and tailored reviews for tyres suitable for your vehicle. -- Chapters -- 00:00 Introduction 01:55 Exterior design and walkaround 03:30 Tyre talk 04:05 DriverReviews 04:40 Interior 05:55 Tech and Connectivity 07:30 On the road 10:00 Final verdict #volkswagen #volkswagentroc #review