zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany
The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany-July 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:30

Image for article titled The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany

Perhaps recent travel restrictions have made some folks in Germany and Europe realize that traveling locally can be safe and just as appealing as travel abroad. Maybe they want to amplify their daily commute to get the most out of life (when the weather is nice.) Whatever it is, the convertible has surprisingly accounted for over 28 percent of the model’s sales so far this year.

The certainly offers a slightly more practical and extremely unique model that enhances the driving experience with its top down. Plus, it’s probably still fairly easy to maneuver and park on Europe’s traditionally tight city centers.

Image for article titled The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany

Something clicked with European and particularly German car shoppers and the funky T-Roc Cabriolet. The cabrio model accounted for 8,631 sales from Januaryto May 2021, out of a total of 29,973 sales for the T-Roc model line in the same period, which would be a 28.8 and 71.2 percentage split, respectively, according to as a follow-up to this:

By comparison, the current Mini Cooper Convertible suffered a 14 percent drop in sales between 2016 and 2019, and last year it was reported the current model would not get a direct replacement anytime soon, according to .

Sales were obviously low in 2020 due to the state of the world , though it may not be enough. So as the Mini Convertible potentially dies with around , the T-Roc is now off to a promising start.

Image for article titled The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany

We covered how many convertibles in Europe and the U.S. have bit the dust in the last decade , and the compact VW Eos convertible coupe was one of them (at least stateside). This T-Roc is essentially that very car on a crossover platform.

The base , offering a base gas 1.0-liter TSI OPF gas engine making 114 horsepower, or an upgraded 1.5-liter TSI ACT OPF gas engine making about 154 HP. Inside, there’s still just over 10 cubic feet of cargo volume with the top down, which can go down in nine seconds at speeds up to 18 mph.

Image for article titled The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany

Underneath the drop-top, the T-Roc cabriolet is a perfectly suitable compact hatchback that happens to be German-made. Naturally it would do well in its home country and the cities of Europe, though it is notably 34 mm, or 1.3 inches longer than the standard model.

Other changes over the standard T-Roc include additional rear struts on the left and right wheel housings between the B-pillar, lateral floor rails for improved structural rigidity without the roof, a doubled rear floor panel, and the rollover protection struts that are only activated behind the seats in the event of a crash.

It’s also notable that only the T-Roc Cabriolet is made in Germany, and the rest of the T-Roc lineup is assembled in China and Portugal. Strong sales of this niche model probably helps justify that otherwise dramatic geographic gap in the model’s production cycle.

Image for article titled The Weird VW T-Roc Cabriolet Crossover Is A Surprise Sales Hit In Germany

analyst Matthias Schmidt told Jalopnik the strong sales success of the T-Roc Cabriolet so far could be some past owners of compact cabriolets seeking a similar new ride and not having many new options. It’s possible owners also appreciate the additional ride height that makes getting in and out that much easier.

Personally, I think everybody just misses the days of the original VW Golf Cabriolet (which is what this should be!) and the VW Golf Country 4WD.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Edge, Special He Drove / He Drove Edition, Part 2
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Edge, Special He Drove / He Drove Edition, Part 2
Yes, the grill is flashy, aggressive and will certainly scare the hell out of the poor dope in front of the Joneses. Sure, the wheels are bigger than those found on European tractors. True, the wraparound lights are trick and typically found on much pricier rides. Absolutely, the beltline is...
Jul 13, 2025
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special, Part 2
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special, Part 2
You either love the new Mustang, or you're European. Actually, that's not fair. Most Euros I've talked to fall into the love camp (there's this one prick in Dublin...). So, you either love it, or you're blind. The California Special edition increases the hotness with a blacked out front air...
Jul 13, 2025
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Edge, Special He Drove / He Drove Edition, Part 3
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Edge, Special He Drove / He Drove Edition, Part 3
You want a reasonably priced, comfortable ride that is iPod-friendly, decent on gas and way up off the ground. You don't want to ever bend your knees when entering or exiting the vehicle. Your friends describe you as a serious on-roader. You look good in orange. You want to buy...
Jul 13, 2025
Recently Reviewed on Jalopnik
Recently Reviewed on Jalopnik
· It was sheer, serendipitous luck that two members of the Jalopnik B-team — the cunning Mike Austin… · A while back, the three-headed Jalopnik asked readers which Mustang variants from the past they'd… · Things that do not interest me: children or the hauling of, dirt, rotten fuel economy,...
Jul 13, 2025
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Edge, Special He Drove / He Drove Edition, Part 1
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Edge, Special He Drove / He Drove Edition, Part 1
It was sheer, serendipitous luck that two members of the Jalopnik B-team — the cunning Mike Austin and handsome Jonny Lieberman — ended up at the exact same press junket launching for the 2007 Ford Edge. [] Hell, they wound up in the same car. We figured we'd seize this...
Jul 13, 2025
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special, Part 3
Jalopnik Reviews: 2007 Ford Mustang GT California Special, Part 3
You like American cars — big, fast and sloppy at the limit. (If they weren't, what would Euro snobs have to brag about, soccer?) To your mind, dumping the clutch never died, it just faded away. You consider the Shaker 1000 stereo to be what the Infiniti G35's Studio on...
Jul 13, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved