New VW T-Roc SUV convertible detailed test drive - better than a Golf Cabrio?

After nearly three quarter of a million cars sold, Volkswagen quietly killed their Golf Cabriolet in 2016. Sad emoji face. With the EOS and Beetle cabriolet also dead this new 2020 T-Roc SUV is their only convertible available on the market. Is it really better than a legacy of impressive ragtop Golfs and charming Beetles?
There's a twist at the end of this CarPervert review. Spoiler alert - Jonny isn't going to buy a 2020 T-Roc drop top any time soon.
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Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant Design matttarrantdesign.com
****************
Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98*
Website: www.carpervert.com
*Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
*Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 welcome
0:50 sunglasses on, top down
1:12 cabrio sales declining
1:50 VW's ONLY cabrio on sale
2:55 No 4WD available
3:05 2 engine options
3:55 Golf Mk1 cabrio launched
4:40 Suits old people?
5:40 Engineered
5:56 Priced from £30000
6:12 Slow and fidgety
6:29 Range Rover convertible
6:46 Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet
7:08 Evoque convertible
7:23 Heavier than 5-door T-Roc
7:38 Longer than 5-door T-Roc
7:48 body flex and shake
8:02 Slight off roading!
8:11 Walk around of design
8:52 Fake exhausts
9:05 R-Line spec
9:25 Boot space
10:06 Ski hatches
11:00 0-62 acceleration
11:43 Handling
11:50 VW EOS
12:06 Spying other convertibles
12:38 Secondhand Evoques
12:55 Who made the first ragtop SUV?
13:05 Range Rover classic, Suzuki SJ,
13:15 Land Rover Freelander mk1
13:30 Who buys them?
14:35 Engineering
15:00 Chassis bracing
15:16 Made by Karmann
15:45 British ragtop owners
16:10 HAYFEVER MACHINE
16:25 1.5 TSI turbo
16:46 Suzuki X90
17:45 SUV cabrio compromise?
18:02 Dashboard
18:30 Missing Golf.
18:40 Test driving a 2016 Golf
19:32 Golf driving impressions
20:27 Golf GTI or R cabrio?
20:46 Used Golf cabrio guide
21:20 Less than £20k for a mint GTI cabrio
22:15 Buy a used Golf convertible - cheaper and better
22:32 Convertible roof
22:50 Buying one?
23:13 RAINING
23:30 Summary and Subscribe

[@Dave-in-France]

What I particularly like about all Jonny's content is that you feel like you are getting the truth about a subject. Not some homogenised sanitised commercial-biased commentary. Good on you Jonny.

[@Slimboid]

"It died really quietly. Like a cat. Apparently they go and die somewhere quiet." - Lines like that. Jonny's USP. Spectacular.

[@DopravniPoradce]

Ex-fucking-actly.

[@Pionirish]

The same clothes for continuity. Such a professional.

[@burnham7673]

'Yes!...a £35k, 3-Cylinder, 1-Litre, front wheel drive SUV with a soft top!' - said nobody ever

[@saturndesigns2339]

Burnham76 actually it's 25k for the 3 cyl

[@Mountain-Man-3000]

@@saturndesigns2339 Doesn't really excuse it though, does it?

[@rogerhudson9732]

Or two Golf Cabriolets, you know what makes sense.

[@mockingspongebob773]

This is pretty much yolo move from VW, I dont think specs really matter because it will be driven by rich wives anyways lol

[@sujpuj]

Some countries have more tax to pay for more than 999cc or 1.0 so it works well in those countries.

[@trenttrevorrow5648]

They should have called it the C-ROC. As in 'what a' ...

[@toronado455]

LOL

[@whiteloafers9658]

Absolute T-ROC of shit

[@HexAyed]

Can not wait for SUVs to stop being a thing again, Every new car seems to be a bloody SUV or a Crossover

[@williamholmes7529]

True but they do fly over most speed bumps effortlessly, evolution in action 😉

[@firstnamesecondname5341]

As long as people are inherently lazy or getting old without keeping physically active then there’s only going to be more and more of them... the number of times I hear justification for ownership as ‘they’re so easy to get in and out of’ and yes predominantly form obese people 🤦🏻‍♂️ or parents whom utilise ‘the kids’ as they need a bigger car 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@IRBucephalus]

"Rubbish convertible safari" I'm dead

[@jamesbenson9689]

I work in JLR and we affectionately refered to the convertible evoque as 'The Skip' because in B&W form the resemblance was uncanny. A self fulfilling prophecy given where it ended up..

[@kuldippanesar590]

Skip I know how can two companies make the same mistake lol

[@markgaudie80]

Perfect name for it ”THE SKIP” 😂

[@Jdmess9]

And the only product not available with a power tailgate, if I'm not mistaken

[@woodrow_mayes]

Someone in my small town/village has one, subsequently it's the only one I have seen in the wild. If I'm honest, I actually quite like it.

[@davejohnson3474]

i've seen a few pink ones with men at the wheel lol

[@JIMMYHIBBS1]

I've got a 1.8T A3 cab, and on paper it's one of the worst cars I've ever owned - but my whole family love it.

[@erroidz]

Hang on, Land Rover series 1s were available as rag tops. And you could get hard and soft top Willys Jeeps?

[@BramCollier]

VW lost it... Stopping the beetle, scirocco, eos, golf cabriolet, golf 3dr, polo 3dr and then spend way too much on a bad suv conv... WHY VW? WHY? I do have to say I like the looks of the troc conv but no! I hate that they've done it!

[@ConquerDriving]

I've had different convertibles for the last 5 years and you get to have the roof down around half the year. Anything above 10 degrees Celsius and dry is comfortable with the heater on. I love them as they extend the summer. In hot countries they're not nice as you just need air con.

[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

It gets over 100f here sometimes I never use A/C in summer....or heat in winter. I will be moving to Sweden and I will bring a convertible as my maon car. The elements dont bother me.

[@brianiswrong]

The UK is a nice place to drop a roof,3 degrees in our old Saab 9-3 vert,heated seats and furnace for a heater was a pleasant experience.

[@teem5642]

@@brianiswrong lol people think that im being stupid when i put my roof down when its 9 degrees. they dont realise with heating on, seat heaters, wind deflactor, you are actually good to go. only when you stop though does it get cold

[@boldmeregarden637]

Its the tired old reviewers cliche, “you only get ten days a year to use it”. You either love and own cabs or you don’t. Overcast sky wouldn’t stop you from walking and it wont stop you from putting the roof down either. Boot space is less…..i don’t care as long as i can get two suitcases in the car. Back seats are cramped….i don’t care I’m not sitting in the back. The only time i don’t roof down is in a heat wave day when I’m in a traffic queue when its more comfy to have the roof up and the aircon on. Also most manufacturers don’t like you roof downing under 10 deg c because the rubber seals are stiffer. Best part of this review was the comparison with the older Golf that i own, it probably saved me from replacing the Golf with a Troc in future.

[@C.I...]

"Highly expressive, cheeky design?" Yeah, in the same way a skip filled with piss is.

[@BarnClubCars]

I loved the eos. It’s the forgotten VW. No one remembers them! You could even get them with a 3.2 v6 engine. This T-Roc looks like one that should be forgotten

[@dominicrusho]

Should have called it the S-HIT Cabriolet instead

[@gustavosaliola]

Yes, or the C-Rap.

[@pjoutdoorservices775]

Driving with the windows up looks “Gash” 😂 I spat my drink out I was not ready for that Johnny! It’s really great that you always talk about different manufacturers when reviewing cars and your knowledge and research is outstanding! Bravo Johnny I hope your channel goes far mate, you deserve it! 👍👍

[@hankthetank185]

Thanks for wearing the same T for your "T"-Roc review. Love the name TROC too : ) You are so right about how we want something so much more when it's gone. Great to see you reviewing cars again. Your finest work as usual.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you Hank, much more car review variety to come.

[@markgaudie80]

I haven’t used the word “GASH” in a while. Made me chuckle this Jonny 🤣

[@jstredlicious3869]

my thoughts exactly!

[@byronmills5952]

An interesting review - primarily for the fact that if you scratch the surface - the main body structure and hood mechanism of this T-Roc appear to be one and the same as the defunct Golf. It would also explain why the slightly older platform feels a bit underwhelming when it's springs and dampers are raised up for Suv purposes. There's a lot of reheating going on here .

[@onlyrgu]

No discussion about specs or tech gadget . Just pure emotions!! Like a pervert a Car Pervert ......Thank you for the good content!!

[@markpirateuk]

"The only convertible you can buy from VW" Who in their right mind would buy this skip on wheels? I wish this obsession with SUV's would end!

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

I dunno but people buy the equally dreadful Evoque convertible as well.

[@camwat5193]

@@0tispunkm3y3r They really don’t. The numbers sold are minuscule. People know a dog when they see one. And this thing is a dog. Save yourself a lot of money and just have “I have no taste” tattooed on your forehead instead.

[@teem5642]

@@camwat5193 why do people hate convertibles that much? Iv got a hard top volvo c70 and wouldn't drop it for an s40 because of the roof.

[@camwat5193]

@@teem5642 Ruffas, that’s the point - people don’t hate convertibles, they love them, but the Evoque convertible and this hideous T-Roc are just terrible, terrible design executions. Unless I’m mistaken we in the U.K. are the largest purchasers of convertibles in Europe, which is astonishing given the weather. It suggests we are desperate to make the most of any glimpse of sunshine, and of course excessively style-conscious. Being “style-conscious” means we know a stylish convertible when we see one and buy it in numbers, and the dogs (Evoke and this) get left well alone.

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

@@camwat5193 maybe I live with people with terrible taste. There's a fair few of them round here! Also a normal Evoque that is wrapped in glittery pink!

[@Hargan]

Great video as always. It doesn't look too bad to me, but I'd never think of owning one. I guess that's part of the problem. I can't help noticing that the intro and outro music is the same as when you're at the cinema and the film is starting 👀🎥

[@MarshallsMusic]

Fantastic review/video . Really enjoyed it . Thanks 👍

[@jenniferholden9397]

Hundreds of years ago! I was the proud owner of a BMW 3 series rag top. It's not only for summer but in Autumn when all the leaves are changing colour or Blackpool Illuminations with the kids tucked up in the back with lots of blankets. My kids also loved it, it was fun and made us smile. RIP Suzy.

[@roger8290]

Absolutely Magnificent Honest Review! watching from sunny Barcelona and owner of a Golf 2.0 TDI serie V model, but still 100% agree Jonny! Keep it up!

[@allisterbullock213]

Nice video exploring the practicalities and a short history of convertibles Johnny. I had an EOS 1.4TSI from 2011 to 2019 (re-styled version, not with the rounded lights front and back), it was also a bespoke chassis like this T-Roc (so not based on any other VW car) and it was a great car, I did not have that many problems with mine. It was more expensive than the similarly sized Peugeot, Renault, Ford, and Vauxhall/Opel hard-tops but it was the only one where the roof was split to allow a separate slide & tilt sun-roof from the roof retract, so it was a bit special just for that. Had to practically stop to move the roof which was the biggest drawback. Finally went electric (last year) after last summer's fuel prices.

[@jamescooke5310]

Excellent audio thx. Great to ride shotgun like that. Wont those “woody” sunglasses in the Golf. Those insulated soft tops are quite nice closed as compared to say an MG or Morgan. Well done.🇨🇦

[@DanielEvansMusic]

Another great informative video Jonny! Thanks!

[@Thretcha]

Fantastic outro sentence. Was almost like a catchy rap at the end :) this phrase is definitely a keeper !

[@JohnCline]

Thanks, Jonny. Although I'm not in the market for a convertible (I have a Honda S2000 which I never drive with the top up) but it was nice going for a drive with you and hearing you talk about the T-Roc. I don't get the whole SUV craze either...

[@niallf1054]

Great review Johnny ..Tks

[@tobimaxx]

Nice review 👏🏻

[@Plexipal]

Great work on the audio Jonny boy 👍. I can hear you not the car and the wind.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you indeed. Glad you noticed!

[@maddisPH]

"The roof goes up and down in the same amount of time" - true, because they actually use the old roof from the golf in the Troc

[@timjohnson67]

I wonder how SUV is defined (don't get me going on crossover!)? Bigger wheels and raised suspension alone don't cut it. This is a refreshing video in that it doesn't simply damn the car but contrasts it so well with it's predecessor. Your videos are always worth watching, thanks very much.

[@dannybrown5873]

England is stunningly underrated for its beauty. If I wanna go for a drive that route you’ve taken is on my door step. Love it 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️🌹

[@markandrews8960]

Johnny, sir, avid watcher big fan of your channel. Excellent review . But your Dennis Rodman comment, absolutely brilliant, almost have milk coming out of my nose laughing😆. Thank you, keep up the good work.

[@funkyfin3023]

Good honest chat. Only just beaten by the PT Cruiser drop top for undesirability.

[@chedhead3278]

Cheers Jonny. absorbing video as always. Wonder if they had the VW 181/Trekker/Thing in mind at the start then lost their way in a fog of focus groups. After the Golf and Eos/CC decent designs this does seem a bit tragic. Oh well, have a lovely day. :)

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Good call on the 181.

[@Geckatron]

Nice vid dude.

[@ETr4d3]

Never owned a cabrio but rented smart and land rover cabrios while on holidays in Madeira and Canary, and they were both great fun cars for summer. You feel so much freedom when driving a convirtable

[@bulleck]

Greetings from Osnabrück from a guy whose 65-year old mother is a proud owner and rather fast driver of a Golf GTI Cabriolet. ;)

[@beachboy0505]

Very good review

[@anonimushbosh]

Annotations... lovely touch Jonathon 👏👏👏

[@captainianr]

I keep wanting to clean your lens. Great audio. How do you record it?

[@sandycheeks7865]

What kind of black magic is going on with his mic? The sound quality while he is driving and talking is amazing!

[@chrisg3780]

Greetings from Toronto. We too love our convertibles and our weather is even more extreme than yours. Own a 2006 Saab 9-3 convertible tonnes of fun. Sad about the golf though.

[@timcollins1131]

Oh btw, glad to see you have your own channel

[@anthonyroylance867]

I've got a Focus CC and I love it and I took full advantage of the lockdown heatwave. Yes it does have its drawbacks such as the slightly leaky roof but that doesn't take any of the fun out of it. It always sparks conversation when I tell people I've got a Ford Focus convertible because very little people know that a focus convertible even exists. I'll always have a convertible now and I'll have my Focus CC until something drastically goes wrong with it. The T-Roc in question is a nice looking car but if I had that sort of money to spend on a car, I'd be more tempted to buy like a used Merc e-class convertible.

[@dertmerch9341]

Only jonny’s reviews would make me watch a review of a suv cabriolet. Who else would then lament the loss of the golf cabriolet so much that they felt they had to drive one again for comparison. Thanks for the videos and putting in the extra effort on them. It really comes across in the sea of blandness that is video car reviews.

[@golders99]

Looks nice enough. Used to love our old VW Eos, still love our MX5.

[@golders99]

@alans73 Yeah, most people don't like the look of it do they. Must admit it is a bit boaty, one for the wife rather than me lol.

[@mtumasz]

Gr8t conclusion Man

[@questioner1596]

Did you get the PT Cruiser convertible in the UK? Also a low power, high sitting FWD 5 door converted to a 2 door. The major difference is the missing basket handle.

[@phcollins101]

Nice to see that it doesn’t have five doors like everything else nowadays. Even if it is a convertible.

[@blackpool321]

I have an Eos, had it years and I love it .

[@toronado455]

Fantastic video! And OMG Suzuki X-90 and Murano Cross Cabriolet! A very special niche.

[@stevenewley1]

I think you could say that the Willys jeep and the Land Rover Mk 1 are also convertible suvs from a little bit earlier than the Nissan Murrano

[@malcolmscott4150]

I’ve owned 2 Mini Cooper S convertibles - they eventually shake themselves to bits despite reasonable design - still love the concept though 500c only other alternative now most manufacturers have culled their hard top convertibles or cabrios with golf and Astra convertibles quietly dropped

[@marchawongzurbriggen5285]

I have 308 cc Peogeut since last 5 yrs ago still love this & look so good by miles sorry… But ‼️VW T Roc is so definitely tempting of course Esp drive where I live in 🙋🏻‍♀️💖🇨🇭✨✨✨

[@ohgivemeabreakfeller]

Catapulted right back up to the top Jonny - good stuff. And yes, convertibles with the side windows up do indeed look ‘gash’ 😂

[@neilbrandon]

Nice one Jonny..my only worry would be if there were DSG problems with the older golf.. which would you say are the best years for second hand GOLF DSG?

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Don't know, but personally I wouldn't trust s'hand DSG. Call me a cynic but I have always thought they will grenade and cost more than the car. Besides, the manual is lovely and proven.

[@slava_trushkin]

Excellent review! Saw someone driving MX5 few hours before seeing this video. It looked way better. If I'd want to get a convertible, I'd buy MX5. Looks way cooler and I think its a bit cheaper.

[@paulcfyeung]

Great vid, didnt expect you'd jump into a Golf in the same vid but imo the Golf's interior is miles nicer than the ghastly effort in the T-Roc and the Mk6 wasn't exactly Golf's finest hours. It's a shame really but yes, I agree, if you want to be silly and get a convertible, might as well get a beetle and dont take life too seriously!

[@tentotwo8290]

How on earth is there no wind, road or engine noise while you were driving it? Great content, thanks for sharing 👍

[@JamieFrew]

It can be a chilly December day in Scotland but if there's a clear blue sky I'll put the roof down and put the seat heaters on. It's great. You can use a cabrio way more than you'd think in the UK.

[@ram64man]

It’s funny you mention the beetle, I’m sure that interior is right out the beetle parts bin, I just wish it was a hard top

[@AWildCarAppeared]

6:34 *Coughs*, the G-wagon Cabriolet

[@rnbmeister]

Good video, good message. Car manufacturers are following the demand (apart from with this?) and not innovating. Can't wait for the crossover trend to die.

[@craigdickens791]

Good video 👍 ... 1975 Chevrolet Blazer Custom

[@KarlMcClelland]

Johnny... I have a 93 convertible and it is wonderful

[@turvyjj9232]

In Spain there are not many convertibles for a reason: in the summer, the sun will fry you. Believe it or not, UK weather is very fit: it's not extreme, and with a convertible you can take advantage of any sunray (it briefly appears).

[@rogerjeck9281]

love u johnny and everything i've seen you do....but plz dont rest your hand on the shift lever until you are shifting.

[@bdeithrick]

Loved the golf ending

[@RmB9104]

Are roadsters convertibles? or are they a thing of their own? I like roadsters but not convertibles such as the one in the video or any bmw or audi apart from the z4 and the r8. Still a great video. Always a pleasure when you upload. Cheers.

[@pheasantpluckersson2138]

I will stick to my 1990 Mk1 Gti cabriolet thanks 👍🏻 no seriously, you couldn’t give me that abomination

[@donnevintage]

another great video Jonny, this car is 100% made for the grey market. I can't believe you like the Evoque Cabriolet though! Currently considering a '94 SL320 convertible for weekend drives....anyone want to talk me out of it?

[@rendaddy_]

How does it compare to a regular T-Roc in terms of driving? I drove one and it was quite the opposite of what' you've described for the cabrio.

[@hangemhigh113]

The cabrio T-Roc is a strange one, indeed. But what are your thoughts on the standard T-Roc? I drove one and have to say the driving dynamics aren't that different from my MK V Golf, if not slightly better.

[@phenomanII]

Convertibles aren't very common around here so I didn't know the Golf cabriolet even existed. What a lovely looking car.

[@davidkinorani]

I feel pure irony throughout the whole review. I just love it. I'd never pay a penny for this. Edit: did you just call an MX-5 a convertible? Ooof.

[@andytalbot6719]

Tech question. What cameras and mounts are you using these days??

[@whitemoor66]

I can't believe it has bits of iron girder bolted randomly underneath 😆! And people criticise LR engineering?

[@SimonWhitesideMusic]

i drive a convertible and i have the top down most days unless it is actually raining/snowing. The heating is fine in winter. Doesn't that waste petrol? not really as the engine is on fire so i'm only helping the cooling system.

[@Aquamick]

Do you remember when body coloured interior trim was standard on fiesta popular and you paid extra for the Ghia to not have it. Granted you now get 2 wing mirrors on the VW troc..

[@glennmckenzie1096]

Suzuki Vitara from the early 90s - very popular to this day in Australia.

[@rwg2626]

Oh my god Jonny has nicked the Motor Boat And Yachting music

[@paulsmith-ib3nx]

We've got some Jordan-esque chav around the corner. She's the only person I've ever seen in a RR Evoque convertible. Anyone who feels they need to resemble a blow-up doll, will also feel they need a mini faux-SUV with a fabric roof.

[@nigelowen4675]

I have been toying with a DSG version. Have had a couple of test drives and each time I get back in my 9 year oild Eos to drive home (it's my second Eos) I think I'll stick with what I've got and save £35000!

[@CarCapture]

You say the wheelbase is longer. Does that explain why the rear wheel doesn't look like it's centred in the arch when viewed in profile. Like at 08:21

[@stillmation]

What a very bizarre route for VW to take. The cost of tooling, development and execution of a niche car like that and for the limited run of production that it'll have. To have been a fly on the wall of those design meetings! All very valid points made as usual and i all ends with.. why? Why did they do it? Huge thanks for the effort put into tagging the chapters too, not that I skipped though to the meaty bits, it shows the passion and perversion you have for what you do.

[@stevefinch6256]

Didn't know they had stopped making that either . I only like 80s and 90s cars so must have passed me by .

[@gtp_vexd3507]

Blimey! Who knew Rutland was occasionally so mountainous.

[@youmongrel]

It's a shame about market share. Having a MINI convertible has practically changed our lives. The family of four would rather squeeze into a 2-door MINI than take our far more comfortable Ascent SUV anywhere, anytime. It helps we have 300 days of sunshine here in Colorado, USA. Also helps that the MINI is a JCW and, unlike that VW, is NOT slow :)

[@JunkVWs]

Have they lost their damn minds at VW?

[@interceptor-ss8kb]

I don't understand it myself. They have announced earlier this year that they were laying off a tonne of staff to save money. But then produce a car which is guaranteed to be a total sales flop 🤦‍♂️

[@lassievision]

Yes?

[@Zero_Ninety]

Clearly the answer is an emphatic yes.

[@zaphodsbluecar9518]

Brain damage from breathing in dieselgate fumes...

[@brunovanaken5893]

I tested the Evoque Convertible..and bought a Wrangler...just to have more fun with the doors and windscreen off ;)

[@donnevintage]

good decision

[@skeelo69]

Johnny, that's my car (VW EOS) , also my colour (Horizon Blue Metallic), .....I Love it !😊

[@kings3803]

Another good video jonny. " my name is steve and I am a car pervert"

[@Danielevans2]

I LOVE THE LOOK OF IT!!

[@excossack]

What about a series Land Rover from say the 50/60s is that classable as a convertible?

[@sbomorse]

This would be perfect for me. I'm very tall and have arthritis in my back and knees so need a car with a high ride height. This rules out normal convertibles for me. This is the perfect compromise.

[@GeordiLaForgery]

Good job.

[@shawnrossvidal]

Interestingly, VW actually made something like this before - the Beetle Dune Cabrio, essentially a lifted and off-roader clad Beetle drop top. And guess what? No one bought them. Seems like VW have a knack of over-engineering cars just to force them into a further niche within a niche of the market where they never see the light of day. On the Evoque convertible, as an ex-JLR saleman, all I can say is avoid. They have terrible wind-noise/buffeting at speed, roofs are prone to leaks and under the slightest suggestion of cornering at speed feel like they're flexing almost as much as their driver thinks they are by owning one. Thankfully, Audi still make/made the A3 cabrio, at least for the outgoing model, which is probably the closest thing you can find to a new Golf convertible. Great review Jonny!

[@cooperSpartan117]

I've always been a believer that if you want a convertible, you should get a car that was initially designed to be one. MX5, boxter, Z4 for example