The T-Roc’s status as a genuinely usable four-seat cabrio might give it a certain rational appeal at lower price points where equally practical open-top options have become rare. At higher price points such as that of our test car, four-seat alternatives for similar money aren’t so hard to find.
After pulling open an unusually large and heavy door, you’ll find a comfortable driving position that, while anything but low or sporty, still manages not to feel perched as a result of the car’s high waistline. Even taller, bigger drivers will find plenty of head and leg room up front.
If carrying adults in the rear, you are likely to need to sacrifice some front-row leg room to accommodate everyone comfortably. Anybody travelling in the back will need to be below average height, though, since the roof impinges on head room a bit when it’s in place. The second row is a two-seater. It’s a little narrow, with two seatbelts only, but it does have Isofix points and accommodates child seats pretty easily.
Still, the implicit suggestion that you’re getting a crossover-hatchback-sized cabin in this crossover convertible is quickly debunked. And yet, compared with the cars that must be considered the T-Roc’s closest rivals – the A3 Cabriolet and BMW 2 Series Convertible – the VW offers quietly commendable usability.
Access to the boot is restricted a little by the roof mechanism, but the capacity is the same whether the hood is up or down – and 284 litres is more carrying space than the BMW affords, albeit not quite as much as the Audi.