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Volkswagen’s second-generation T-Roc is gradually preparing for its official debut. It will make its public debut at the IAA motor show in Munich this autumn, with a world premiere scheduled for a few weeks earlier, in August 2025. What do we already know about this important new model?
Engine: First time as a hybrid
Volkswagen has not revealed any further details about the new T-Roc. However, reports suggest that the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer will begin using full-hybrid drivetrains in its most affordable models—a powertrain type not yet present in its current lineup. The setup is reportedly inspired by Toyota, combining a combustion engine with a self-charging electric motor through regenerative braking. Unlike Volkswagen’s current mild hybrids, this system will allow for electric-only driving, following Toyota’s example. Under the hood, the engine is expected to be a 1.5 TSI.
Currently, Volkswagen offers either mild hybrids—which use small electric motors to boost performance and reduce fuel consumption—or plug-in hybrids, which can be charged from external sources. However, full hybrids with small batteries designed for short-distance electric driving are still missing from the VW Group’s portfolio, even as competitors continue to expand in this area. Alongside Toyota and Honda, manufacturers like Nissan and Renault already offer such systems, with other brands planning to follow. Volkswagen thus has some catching up to do. Volkswagen needs this solution not only for Europe, but also for other markets around the world.
The upcoming T-Roc is also expected to offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain, likely based on the 1.5 TSI four-cylinder engine, instead of the previously available 1.0 TSI three-cylinder, which has already disappeared from other models like the similarly sized Golf. In the longer term, we might even see a fully electric version called the ID.Roc.
Video: 2025 VW T-Roc during testing
Design: Tiguan as inspiration
The new model will take design cues from the larger Tiguan, featuring clean and conservative lines. It will likely be built on the MQB Evo platform, which supports hybrid powertrains.
This has been confirmed by leaked images from the car’s infotainment system, captured in testing prototypes. These images show a design inspired by the ID. family, with bolder lines than in the current version.
The core concept is expected to remain unchanged—the second-generation Volkswagen T-Roc will still be a compact SUV, positioned at the lower end of the compact segment. It may even indirectly replace the Polo, which might disappear without a direct successor. With strict emissions regulations, producing a small ICE hatchback may no longer be viable for Volkswagen.
By contrast, the T-Roc Cabrio is unlikely to receive a successor. Despite solid sales (given its unusual body style), the convertible SUV is not profitable enough to justify continued production, so it will be phased out as part of cost-cutting efforts.
