MINI Countryman christening VW T-Roc: We rock you
Competition between two compact design crossovers
The MINI Countryman has been on the market for eight years, is now in its second generation and continues to be one of the freshest offerings in the compact SUV segment. The VW T-Roc is one of the newcomers to its class, trying to be both charming and sensible. It's time to compare the two models in versions with 150 hp diesel engines, dual transmission and automatic transmission.
His original name was Montana. And no, we are not talking about an American state with that name, nor about a regional city in northwestern Bulgaria. VW, which until recently was criticized for sleeping through the ever-growing hysteria over SUV models, did have a similar Golf-based car many, many years ago. It borrowed both engines and transmissions from the compact bestseller, as well as an all-wheel drive system, offered an increased ground clearance of 6,3 cm and, due to serious protective elements on the body, had a surprisingly large body length - 4,25 meters. No, this is not the T-Roc, which debuted on the market a little over a year ago, but back in 1990. It was then that the production of a model began, which bore the project name Montana, but in the meantime was renamed Country. That's right, the Golf Country was something of a distant ancestor of today's SUV based on the Golf II. This is one example of how VW can sometimes be extremely bold, creating products that are ahead of their time, instead of just keeping a close eye on market trends and reacting late, albeit effectively.
After VW's MINI Countryman debuted, all they had to do was look for excuses as to why they didn't have a smaller SUV than the Tiguan. The omission was resolved with a serious delay, but in an impressive way.
Driving pleasure is serious business
It's time for the VW T-Roc to challenge the Countryman to a duel. The Wolfsburg model is very close to the Golf II Country in terms of its external dimensions, and in terms of technology it is based on the Golf VII modular platform, from which all drives are borrowed - in this case the two-liter TDI engine, seven-speed transmission with two DSG clutches. and dual transmission with Haldex clutch. While the 2.0 TDI 4Motion DSG is currently the top model in the T-Roc lineup, the Cooper D All4 sits roughly in the middle of the Countryman price list. This fact is quite easy to explain, given the fact that the big MINI still shares a common platform not with anyone, but with the BMW X1. The current version of the Countryman is 4,30 meters long and, without any further qualifications, can be called the most spacious MINI series of all time. What's more, the British model offers far more interior space than the T-Roc. The MINI is adjustable for the rear seat with a three-section backrest, making it not only more useful than the VW, but also significantly more flexible in the interior. The sports seats in the front row of the MINI perfectly integrate the driver and passenger into the interior, and their position is as high as in the VW - 57 cm above the ground. The flared roof, nearly vertical A-pillars and small side windows create an atmosphere that is unique to MINI. Ergonomics are also at a very high level, and the design retains some of the challenges of the time when modern MINI interiors almost resembled a slot machine. All you have to do is look at the line of airplane switches and you just can't help but love the Countryman - just a little.
Such frivolity is still foreign to VW. A fact that cannot be hidden by the presence of bright orange decorative panels in the test sample. The T-Roc's interior looks just as you'd expect from a VW: the layout is pragmatic and self-explanatory, the seats are large and easily accessible, the infotainment system is as easy to operate as possible, and the same goes for a small arsenal of assist systems. It is not very convenient to control only the digital panel - a trifle that can be dealt with quite easily, namely, saving about 1000 leva on ordering the option in question. The real downside to the interior is what has long been considered highly atypical for VWs. It's all about the quality of the materials. True, the price of T-Roc is very good for such a model. And yet - in recent years, the brand has gained a reputation for quality that can be seen and touched, and in this car, everything looks different. The possibilities for transforming the internal volume are also very modest.
Expect the unexpected
In principle, it is possible to order a T-Roc at a price below BGN 40, of course, without the double gearbox and automatic transmission and only with the base engine. We say this because the most powerful diesel T-Roc is 000 kg heavier than the 285 TSI modification, which greatly affects its behavior. Basically 1.0 HP and 150 Nm sound like a serious amount, and in terms of measured acceleration values, the car even surpasses the MINI. In reality, however, the XNUMX-litre TDI is reluctant to do its job, sounds a bit torturous, and fails to provide the powerful traction we expect from a similarly sized turbodiesel. Much of the blame for this positive effect is due to the dual-clutch transmission, which selects gears in a rather cryptic way at times and often exhibits inexplicable nervousness. When the transmission tends to shift too low, it is difficult for the Haldex clutch to distribute power optimally. The T-Roc's handling itself is fairly direct, but doesn't offer well-defined driver feedback. What makes a German chassis better than a British one is the absorption of arrogance - the VW drives more refined than the MINI. But the twin-drive diesel T-Roc feels like it lacks balance.
Rock around the Rock
The new generation Countryman is no longer the kart that was its predecessor - a statement we've said about a hundred times. Yes, it's true, the new MINI models based on the BMW UKL platform are no longer as agile as their predecessors. Which doesn't really change the fact that they are once again more agile than most of their opponents, including T-Roc...
Thanks to the tough settings, the MINI rides hard, but not uncomfortable. Its cornering behavior is still impressive. The steering wheel is pleasantly heavy, very straight and very precise. Unlike the T-Roc, which shifts to understeer quite early, the Countryman remains neutral until it hits very high speeds, and even helps itself with a controlled skid on the butt before stabilizing with ESP. This is where driving becomes more authentic, direct and energetic, and this fully applies to the MINI drivetrain. In terms of power, torque, displacement and fuel consumption (7,1 l / 100 km), both cars are equal, but subjectively, the Countryman is much more temperamental. Undoubtedly, this was facilitated by an eight-speed automatic (the new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission remains a priority only for gasoline models in the lineup), which is combined with an improved diesel engine. The torque converter transmission shifts quickly, spontaneously and in a timely manner, but without the tendency to jittery and shaking that have managed to annoy us in the DSG in the T-Roc.
Thus, despite the weight of 65 kg, the MINI delivers more driving pleasure in this test. With more internal flexibility, more solid construction and more harmonious movement, it deservedly wins the competition. MINI remains true to itself in many ways, adding new qualities to its vehicles.
1. MINI
Until recently, the first places in comparative tests were not a mandatory part of the MINI repertoire. But here it's becoming more common - the Countryman wins with impressive interior flexibility, fine drivetrain and, of course, excellent handling.
2. VW
The T-Roc is an uncharacteristically challenging task for a VW brand ambassador, but at the same time does not betray its core values. However, with a diesel engine, DSG and dual transmission, its drive is not on par with the MINI. More generosity in the choice of materials and more flexibility in the interior won't hurt the T-Roc either.
Text: Sebastian Renz
Photo: Ahim Hartmann
