The article was originally produced on April 28, 2020, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Volkswagen follows the trend of cutting the roof off an SUV and turning it into a convertible. Here is the T-Roc Cabriole.

You should have read about this car much earlier as a trip to Mallorca was booked for the international test drive. Unfortunately, a Chinese virus intervened and put an end to this. But now we finally got the opportunity to test drive this brand new cab from Volkswagen in the spring sun at home.

The first to convert an SUV into a convertible was Nissan with its Murano. How many people have seen this car in real life is probably easy to count. More people have probably seen Range Rover’s cabriolet version of its small SUV Evoque, which was launched in 2015. However, it has not become a bestseller, but it can still be seen as a trend starter because now Volkswagen is following suit and offers the small SUV T-Roc in a cabriolet version. 

When I first saw the Evoque Cabriolet, it felt more extreme than when I now see the T-Roc Cabriolet. Whether it is because you got used to the idea of an SUV as a cab, or because the T-Roc Cabriolet feels more like an overgrown Golf Cabriolet is difficult to answer. By and large, the T-Roc Cabriolet looks like a regular T-Roc with the big exception that the cabriolet version has three doors while the regular variant has five. 

The T-Roc fits very well as a convertible, especially when the convertible top is down. With the black fabric top up, it has a neat roofline that follows the shapes. If you fold down the roof, the lines are perfected and you get a straight line from the front window to the rear. Should an accident occur, a guard will be pushed up behind the rear seats to protect the passengers if the car overturns. Even the frame around the windshield is reinforced for extra protection.

Folding down the convertible top takes nine seconds and can be done at speeds of up to 30 km/h. A practical function is that you can both fold down and raise the roof with the help of your key. For example, when you get to the car on a hot summer day and want to air out the car quickly. Then you press the opening button, and all windows open and the convertible top folds down. It should be mentioned that if you want your car with a keyless function, this costs SEK 4,600 extra. 

The back seat in the T-Roc Cabriolet offers plenty of space, but you shouldn’t be too tall. The headroom, on the other hand, is better in the front seat. If you choose the R-Line package with leather upholstery, you get really nice seats covered in black leather with white seams and an embossed R emblem in the backrest. The luggage compartment holds a relatively large amount for a convertible, a total of 280 litres. This figure is independent of whether the convertible top is up or down.

It’s easy to feel comfortable in Volkswagen cars, buttons and controls are clearly laid out. With the new optional MIB3 infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay is included. Then your mobile is mirrored on the 11.7-inch touch screen. In front of the gear lever is a storage compartment for the mobile phone with wireless charging. However, this is also optional. It is clear that Volkswagen is mimicking Audi’s strategy where almost nothing is included in the base price. The option list is solid and also includes steering wheel heating if you so wish. 

If you choose a digital driver environment, there are no analogue gauges. Then you can change the appearance of the screen in front of the steering wheel and have navigation or other functions visible. Depending on the option package, you can also have the panels on the dashboard and around the gear lever painted. In total, there are eight different paint choices and two for the interior. If you want a really enhanced sound in your T-Roc, you can choose the sound system from Beats Sound with 400 Watts and 12 speakers. 

In terms of driving, the T-Roc Cabriolet actually convinces. Even during active driving, the car keeps up without feeling like a high-rise building. Unlike the regular roofed version, which can be had with four-wheel drive, the T-Roc Cabriolet can only be had with front-wheel drive. It’s a shame as the four-wheel drive would have opened up a safer feeling in difficult road conditions, especially in winter. The T-Roc Cabriolet can only be had with one engine option. It is a 150 horsepower petrol engine with 250 newton meters in torque. The power finds its way to the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG gearbox. A manual gearbox is also available if desired. Fuel consumption in normal driving is around 0.68 liters per mile.

The T-Roc Cabriolet is a really nice car and you quickly feel at home. The feeling of lowering the roof and enjoying the sun is really something you quickly get used to. In combination with a durable car that can handle slightly tougher roads, it immediately becomes more interesting. How many other convertibles we will see built on SUVs remains to be seen, but it now feels like a completely obvious car model. The T-Roc Cabriolet is a car that fits perfectly into Volkswagen’s model program and the Swedish summer. 

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet

Basic price	SEK 339,900
Engine	1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline four, 250 hp. Torque 250 Nm
Transmission	Front engine, 7-speed automatic, DSG, front wheel drive
Acceleration	0-100 in 9.6 seconds. Top speed: 205 km/h
Fuel consumption mixed driving according to the manufacturer	0.68 l/mile
Weight	About 1,540 kg
Web	www.volkswagen.se