Enter the Volkswagen T-Roc: New baby SUV set for Middle East launch

The T-Roc, Volkswagen’s zippy little SUV, is set to arrive in the Middle East in an all-new guise.

It’s the baby of the German brand’s heftier offerings, hiding behind the Touareg, Teramont and Tiguan and, as such, the manufacturer sees it as the most playful of the four. No doubt suitable for those who don’t fancy a full-on SUV, but want a vehicle rather more capable than a simple city runabout.

The base-level T-Roc comes with a 1.4-litre, four-cylinder engine which will pump out 150 horsepower, figures that Volkswagen says makes it the best performer in its class.

The design of this latest offering takes cues from the Touareg and Tiguan but, despite these similarities, the manufacturer is keen to stress what it calls a “fiercely individual” look in the new arrival. A panoramic sunroof is also likely to add to the appeal of the T-Roc.

The interior features a new, largely digitalised, connected cockpit, with the obligatory touchscreen infotainment system, which is an eight-inch affair. There is also plenty of the usual driver assist tech, including standard lane assist, as well as emergency braking and pedestrian detection. A self-parking option will also be available for when things get really tight.

Victor Dalmau, managing director of Volkswagen Middle East, said: "With the Volkswagen T-Roc, we are reaching out to customers looking for a compact SUV who demand the newest and best in terms of design and technology."

Naturally, all this downsizing makes it the cheapest of the bunch, with prices starting at $20,180 (Dh74,000), though there are plenty of optional extras that will push the price up.

The first batch of the new T-Rocs are destined to be in UAE showrooms by March.