2020 Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Photos, engines & full specs

Volkswagen had a long history of producing convertibles, but after the low sales of the Beetle Cabrio and the Eos, the automaker was reluctant to offer one until the T-Roc Convertible appeared.

The German automaker unveiled the open-top version of the T-Roc in September 2019 and planned the commercial launch for the spring of 2020. But then, the world started struggling with the pandemic that sent everyone home, and the streets were deserted. And yet, in April, true to its words, the German automaker launched the T-Roc Cabriolet as an alternative to its closed-body version of the regular T-Roc crossover. The new model was redesigned from the ground up and shared only its front side, up to the A-pillars, with its brother. It was a bold movement for the German automaker who considered that it could afford to try this move. While the result was not a hard-core SUV nor a sexy-looking open-top grand tourer, it was a well-suited boulevard courier able to crawl over a curb and small enough to fit in tight parking spots.

At the front, the T-Roc convertible shared the same front fascia as its five-door sibling. It featured a broad black grille crossed by horizontal slats that supported the VW badge in the middle. The headlights were standard with halogen bulbs, while the automaker offered an option for LED ones. Lower, in the apron, the automaker added a second air intake that helped to cool the engine and a set of angular-shaped fog lamps.

From its profile, the T-Roc Cabriolet revealed its thick A-pillars that served as rollover protection. Volkswagen reshaped the bodywork by adding longer doors than those installed on the closed T-Roc version. As a result, the rear quarter panels were new but featured the same design idea of enlarged shoulders over the wheel arches. One of the carmaker’s challenges was to create the vehicle without a B-pillar. Thanks to its experience in creating cabriolets, it did that by reinforcing the T-Roc’s floor. Furthermore, the wheelbase had to be extended to make room for the retractable rag-top. As a result, the car’s overall weight increased by 194 kg (428 lbs.) compared to its closed-top sibling.

The T-Roc Cabriolet offered an actual four-seat cabin to its customers. At the front, they discovered bolstered seats and a modern-looking dashboard that integrated a standard touchscreen infotainment system. Its mixed instrument cluster featured analog dials and displays that showed data from the car’s onboard computer. Customers could also opt for an 11.7-inch screen, known as the Digital Cockpit. Those seated in the back could enjoy just enough legroom, especially for short trips inside the city. Like most convertibles from its era, the T-Roc Cabriolet could be opened and closed while driving at speeds of up to 30 kph (19 mph) in nine and eleven seconds, respectively.

Volkswagen limited the engine choice for the T-Roc cabriolet to just two: a one-liter inline-three and a 1.5-liter four-banger. Both were paired with six-speed manuals, while the latter was available with a seven-speed automatic (dual-clutch) gearbox as an option. Power went to the front wheels only.