VW T-Roc world premiere highlights VW's fourth SUV, and it looks good

VW has officially unveiled its fourth SUV to the world and the vehicle is called the T-Roc. The vehicle is a compact SUV promising "expressive design style, coupé-like roof section, strikingly wide front and sportily snappy proportions." That seems to mean a smallish SUV with four doors that looks more like a coupe, a design Nissan helped pioneer with its odd, yet popular Juke.

The T-Roc crossover promises to be equally at home cruising city streets as it is on rough terrain in the outdoors. It will sit below the Tiguan in the VW range and is offered in a standard front-wheel drive configuration and optional all-wheel drive model. T-Roc is the first VW vehicle that will be available in two-tone paintwork with a visually contrasting roof section containing the A-pillars and exterior mirror housing.

Inside the vehicle seats five people and offers an Active Info Display and infotainment system featuring smartphone connectivity and Volkswagen Car Net. Support for those two features allows for a spectrum of online services and apps to be integrated with the vehicle. VW will offer a Security & Service package with the T-Roc that includes Emergency Service, Automatic Accident Notification, and Roadside Assistance.

VW based the T-Roc on the modular transverse matrix or MQB platform, which is the same platform used for the Tiguan (check out our first drive of the 2018 Tiguan) and Atlas SUVs. With the rear seats up, the T-Roc has 445 liter of storage space, the seats can be laid down (60/40 split configuration) increasing luggage capacity to 1,290 liters. Base T-Rocs will come with Front Assist area monitoring with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, and a lane keeping system called Lane Assist.

Base models also get standard AC, Composition color infotainment system, LED brake lights, visual underbody guard, and LED daytime running lines. Other than the base version, VW will offer Sport and Style lines with more option available. Multiple engine options are available including three gas engines and three TDI diesel engines, it's unclear which engine option will be offered in the US. The transmission is a 7-sped DSG and the T-Roc will fall into the €20,000 (roughly $23,600) price range.