Does Not Compute: Volkswagen T-Roc Not Coming to the United States

Khodrocar - The T-Roc is the second crossover model based on the MQB A0 platform. It's relatively small, yes, but still much bigger than a Nissan Juke and it has a Golf-beating trunk. So we think the decision not to offer it is a mistake.

Just look at Ford! The Blue Oval shoehorned the makeshift Brazilian-designed, Indian-made EcoSport into the role of an entry-level crossover. The segment is hot right now. And many brands missing out is bad, not on sales but on new customers.

The T-Roc has some headline-grabbing features, like a digital dash and a 2-liter turbo engine with 190 horsepower. But we can't deny it would need a lot of work. For once, some of the smart stuff would have to be stripped off to make it cheaper. And while all of its engines are turbocharged ones, the competition mainly uses cheaper naturally aspirated systems.

But just look at how the Buick Encore outsells the MINI Countryman! But an insider source told Automobile magazine the following: "The car is meant for Europe and China. The most compact model of the Volkswagen range for the U.S. remains Tiguan.”

That's about everything we know right now. The decision might be reconsidered in the future, or it could have something to do with the rumored "Golf SUV." The American Tiguan gives us a pretty good idea of what VW thinks its customers want - long wheelbase, 8-speed automatic instead of DSG and simple trim lines. Also, dynamics are out of the equation.

When it goes on sale in Europe this November, the T-Roc will cost the equivalent of $23,600. Standard tech includes Automatic Post-Collision Braking, Lane Assist, and the Front Assist area monitoring system with Pedestrian Detection.