Review: Volkswagen T-Roc cabriolet

Ping! The display had an orange depiction of a flat tyre and accompanying pictogram showing which tyre was afflicted. No spare tyre on board. Instead, the car had a can of puncture sealant and inflator. The tyre wasn’t flat. The repair kit would have done a temporary mend on the slow puncture but tyre depots don’t like dealing with the subsequent repair and gunge.

I rang the hairdresser. Well, what would you do? I was on my way there for a tonsorial revamp. Brenda had one of those tyre inflators which plug in to the cigarette lighter socket.

The digital display showed 24psi. It should be 36psi. I boosted it to 40psi, set off for home and then borrowed another inflator (unused in its Halfords box) from friends at half-way.

The Volkswagen T-Roc cabriolet was looking splendid in a bright blue called teal, which was fairly accurate. The night was dark, warm and dry. I pushed a button. the insulated canvas roof (black, no choice) folded away so quickly a stop watch would have measured a mere nine seconds. It lies flat and out of sight. A neat job. A similar system was used on the recently obsolete VW Golf cabrio, The car became immersed in the air around it. The side windows minimise wind buffeting and noise and retain cabin heat. Hmm. Down with them. I grew up driving Morgans, usually open, rarely with the rattling side screens attached. The firm still use the antique system today. A case of not quite broke so why fix it?

T-Roc began life as a show concept SUV called Rocstar. The cabriolet which went on sale last year is the hugely popular -T-Roc decapitated, on a stretched wheelbase. It is a smart thing. It seats two in the back. Headroom depends on whether the roof is down (immeasurable) or up (try before you buy if you are big).

The luggage boot is under a light-action flip-up lid. It is deep and roomy enough. The rear seats fold away, giving restricted access from the boot through the stalwart bulkhead. This is needed to stiffen the car’s tub, which would otherwise shimmy after losing the roof and its monocoque integrity. It is still not as tight as the SUV but the difference is not important.