Used Volkswagen T-Roc review and buying guide (2018 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Volkswagen T-Roc should you buy?

Of the two engines owners have reported on, the 1.5 TSI Evo is the better bet, as long as there's proof it's had Volkswagen's engine software update. Cars built between 2017 and 2020, manuals especially, can judder and kangaroo as they pull away in first, hesitate into second and even stall when cold, because of the way the engine's software was mapped. A 2018 owner's car was cured completely by the September 2019 update.

Be more careful with the 1.0 TSI. In 2018 and 2019 there were repeated reports of its clutch burning out at under 4,000 miles, one of them at 2,099 miles. That's several cars rather than a one-off, so a 1.0 TSI is only worth having if the clutch feels right on the drive and there's paperwork for any clutch work done.

Almost everything owners have reported comes from 2018 to 2020 cars, so there's very little to go on for newer T-Rocs either way. That isn't proof they're better or worse; it just means a later car gets judged on its own history and how it drives on the day.

Which T-Roc engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.5 TSI Evo petrol is the one to go for, but only once its software has been updated. On 2017 to 2020 cars, mostly manuals, the engine's mapping makes it judder and kangaroo pulling away in first, hesitate in first and second, and stall when cold, and it shows up from new through the first 50,000 miles. One owner also had a flat spot low in the revs that faded in hot weather.

The 1.0 TSI's weak point is its clutch. Several failed before 4,000 miles, and one burnt-out clutch made itself known with a burning smell. Another owner, whose car had already had its clutch put right by the dealer, smelt burning through the vents again on the motorway at 1,600 miles. Don't take a 1.0 TSI on trust: the clutch is the first thing to judge.

There's not much on the DSG automatics. One 2018 1.5 TSI with the 7-speed DQ200 dry-clutch DSG didn't run smoothly at low speed, though that's a single car, and the judder fault is mainly a manual problem. It's still the same slow-traffic territory, so drive any DSG in a queue or a car park before you commit.

What should you check when viewing a used T-Roc?

Drive a 1.5 TSI from cold, because that's when its judder is at its worst. Pull away gently in first a few times, change up to second and dip the clutch at a steady pace: bucking, hesitation, a stall or revs climbing to 1,500 to 1,800rpm without your foot on the throttle all point to the fault. Ask for the dealer invoice or service entry showing the engine software update.

On a 1.0 TSI, the clutch decides it. Ask whether it's ever been replaced and get the invoice if it has, then after a decent run on faster roads, sniff for a burning smell coming through the vents. A car that's had a new clutch at low mileage isn't automatically one to avoid, but you'd want to know the job was done properly.

Ask for proof that recall work was done: one 2018 car was recalled to have its spoiler replaced, and another had brake safety recall work. On that March 2018 car the electric parking brake then held on at start-up, even with the accelerator pressed, until the engine was revved, so check it lets go cleanly when you pull away.

Make sure no warning lights are showing. On one 2019 T-Roc an electronic power control warning came on, the car dropped into limp mode, and the dealer traced it to the turbo, with the repair expected to take at least six weeks. Ask whether any turbo work has been done and what the paperwork says.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Volkswagen T-Roc cost to run?

What do T-Roc owners like about them?

A 1.5 TSI with the DSG gearbox can be smooth from the moment it moves off. One owner of a late 2018 car hasn't had any hesitation or bucking at all, and it's run happily on both 95 and 97 RON petrol, so the low-speed jerkiness that dogs the manuals isn't a given on every car.

When the judder fix was done, the dealer side worked well. The owner whose 2018 1.5 TSI was cured by the update was given a courtesy car while the work was carried out, and came away very pleased with how the dealer looked after them, which is what you'd want if your car still needs it.

• A late 2018 build T-Roc 1.5 TSI DSG, using mixed petrol, showed no hesitation or kangarooing problems.
• A September 2019 software update completely resolved low-speed engine judder in a 2018 T-Roc 1.5TSI.
• A 1.5TSI DSG model, likely similar to the T-Roc, responded well to super unleaded fuel, showing no kangarooing or hesitation.
• The T-Roc achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with high scores for adult and child occupant protection and safety assist.