The Breakdown
- The only Volkswagen with a folding top is an SUV.
- The T-Roc Cabriolet has the old VW interior design with real buttons and knobs.
- VW will pull the plug in mid-2027.
Car configurators are an endless source of surprising discoveries. We recently spotted cloth seats in the new S-Class, but how about a convertible SUV with a manual gearbox? Volkswagen’s nearly forgotten T-Roc Cabriolet is still available, and yes, it can be ordered with three pedals.
In an ironic twist, the Golf GTI has been automatic-only for the past couple of years, yet this high-riding contraption lets you row your own. The T-Roc is essentially a rebodied Golf on stilts, and while the regular crossover has transitioned to a second generation, its convertible counterpart remains stuck on the Mk1. Come to think of it, VW’s sole convertible won’t get a next-gen successor, as production ends by mid-2027.
But if you live in Europe, there’s still time to get the T-Roc Cabriolet, a spiritual successor to the hardtop Eos. Since the droptop is based on the original T-Roc launched in 2017, it features the old and rather excellent VW interior design. That means plenty of physical buttons and knobs rather than shifting nearly all functions into a touchscreen.
The German configurator is also a reminder that VW still sells cars with manual air conditioning. However, the T-Roc Cabriolet doesn’t come cheap. At €37,560 before options, it’s about €7,000 more expensive than the new T-Roc crossover. In fact, it’s closer in price to the larger Tiguan (€39,175) than to its donor car.
While the T-Roc Cabriolet caught our attention for its unorthodox body style, VW also offers other models with a manual gearbox and the old dashboard design. The Polo supermini and the Touran minivan soldier on in Europe, with the Polo even offering a good old-fashioned five-speed gearbox. Even the current-generation Golf retains a clutch pedal in lower trims positioned below the GTI.
Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Edition Grey
Motor1's Take: You know it’s a strange VW timeline when a minivan and a convertible SUV offer manual gearboxes, but the hot hatches don’t. The continued existence of the T-Roc Cabriolet and the Touran may also surprise some, especially the latter, considering the people mover has been around since 2015.
The T-Roc Cabriolet’s demise next year will mark the end of mainstream convertibles from the VW Group. The automotive conglomerate will then offer only high-end droptops from Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley. Audi is planning a return to the cabrio segment after discontinuing the A5 Convertible, TT, and R8, albeit with a very different model. The stunning Concept C previews an upcoming targa-topped electric sports car.
