The 2026 Volkswagen T-Roc has been revealed in full ahead of its world debut at the Munich motor show. Taking design and technology influence from the VW Tayron and Tiguan above it, the new T-Roc is larger than before and packed with new features. It's expected to go on sale in Ireland during the “261” period early next year.
It looks a lot like a VW ID car
While the new Volkswagen T-Roc features an evolution of the old car's 'hockey stick' roof line and stylised rear wings, it looks dramatically different thanks to totally new lighting front and rear.
And yes, this design language first surfaced in VW's electric ID cars, but it has since been rolled out to the Tiguan and Tayron SUVs as well, and those are the cars the T-Roc is aligned with most.
Depending on specification, there are full-width LED light strips front and rear, high-tech headlights and illuminated VW logos. It'll also be possible to specify a two-tone paint finish, including some fetching new shades - such as the 'Canary Yellow' and 'Flamed Red' hues shown here.
Complementing the more expressive design language is an increase in size. The new T-Roc is a full 122mm longer than before, with 28mm of that in the wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels). It's 9mm wider and taller than its predecessor, too.
The increase in dimensions has allowed for more interior space and a larger boot. The latter is up 20 litres now, to 465 litres. It's also now possible to fit 20-inch alloy wheels for the first time.
These dimensions don't change the T-Roc's positioning in the VW lineup, between the T-Cross below and the Tiguan above.
What's the T-Roc's interior like?
Buyers will be happy to see that the T-Roc's cabin is more like the Tiguan's, featuring distinctive ambient lighting and the 'driving experience control' between the front seats for mode selection and volume adjustment.
Volkswagen is particularly proud of the new fabric-covered dashboard and a leather-like material through which extra lighting shines to give the interior a unique appearance.
In front of the driver is a new 10-inch screen for the digital instruments, with two core selectable layouts, plus a new feature that allows the driver to minimise information shown by holding down the 'View' button on the steering wheel. A head-up display is also available for the first time in the T-Roc.
We're glad to see the steering wheel spokes features physical buttons, while the stalks behind use the same operating principle as those found in the latest ID cars and the VW Tayron/Tiguan. All versions of the T-Roc are automatic, using a column-mounted drive selector to free up space in the centre console for storage.
Depending on model, the touchscreen in the middle of the car is either 10.4 inches across the diagonal or 12.9 inches. Both run Volkswagen's latest 'MIB4' infotainment software with plenty of usability upgrades. There's also the 'IDA' voice assistant, with ChatGPT integration.
Any other new technology on board?
As the new T-Roc shares its 'MQB evo' architecture with the Tayron and Tiguan, it has adopted some of the more advanced driver assistance technology previously only available on its bigger siblings. First up, the impressively lengthy list of standard features:
- Oncoming vehicle braking when turning and swerve support
- Driver Attention Monitor and Driver Alert System
- Auto hold function for the electronic parking brake
- Park Distance Control (parking sensors)
- Speed limiter
- Cruise control
- Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist with - Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring
- Lane keeping system Lane Assist
- Lane change system Side Assist with Rear Traffic - Alert and exit warning system
- Dynamic Road Sign Display
Building on those foundations are updated versions of Volkswagen's Travel Assist and Park Assist, the former incorporating a host of functions including lane-changing tech, speed adjustments to suit the severity of a corner ahead and the ability to bring the car safely to a stop if the driver is unresponsive.
Park Assist, meanwhile, can store manoeuvres for future use, or allow the T-Roc to be parked - or taken out of a parking space - remotely via the owner's smartphone.
What engines can be had in the new T-Roc?
All versions of the new T-Roc will be powered by a petrol engine using some form of electrification. At launch, that means the turbocharged 1.5-litre 'eTSI' unit with 48-volt, mild-hybrid assistance.
Paired with a seven-speed, dual-clutch 'DSG' gearbox sending power to the front wheels, this engine will be available in 116hp or 150hp states of tune.
Though details are light, Volkswagen has confirmed that two all-new, full-hybrid systems will be introduced in time, along with a mild-hybrid version of the 2.0 TSI petrol engine paired with 4Motion all-wheel drive. Presumably that'll form the basis of a new, high-performance T-Roc R variant. The yellow car pictured here is R-Line, incidentally.
How much will the new T-Roc be in Ireland?
Irish prices have yet to be confirmed. For reference, the outgoing T-Roc is priced from about €38,000 and the Tiguan above it from a little over €47,000, so it's expected that most versions of the new T-Roc will cost more than €40,000. Following on from its debut in Munich next month, the new T-Roc should hit Irish shores in early 2026.