Volkswagen T-Roc vs Lexus UX

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Volkswagen T-Roc in South Africa

Volkswagen T-Roc

2.0 TSI 140kW 4Motion R-Line DSG Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 760,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
VS
Lexus UX in South Africa

Lexus UX

UX 300h EX Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 957,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 146 kW 🔧 188 Nm ⛽ 23.8 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance T-Roc
⛽ Fuel Economy UX
🛡 Safety T-Roc
📦 Practicality T-Roc
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
T-Roc starts ZAR 308,200 cheaper T-Roc from ZAR 648,900 · UX from ZAR 957,100

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec T-Roc UX
Maximum Power 140 kW 146 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 320 Nm 188 Nm
Engine Size 2000 cc 2000 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 15.9 km/l 23.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 168 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 392 l 268 l
Airbags 7 Side,Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger
Kerb Weight 1400 kg 1585 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 3 7 years / 105,000km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

T-Roc and UX are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance T-Roc +9 pts
Efficiency UX +31 pts
Safety T-Roc +6 pts
Practicality T-Roc +3 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

T-Roc

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality
Catalogue-index leader

UX

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

T-Roc

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

UX

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec T-Roc UX
Model Introduced Year 2021 2019
Generation Current first-generation T-Roc remains on sale while the second generation is prepared for South Africa Current Lexus UX compact luxury crossover with the 300h hybrid powertrain
Facelift History Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Launched Since Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending Updated local UX range centred on the UX 300h EX hybrid
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Orange -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note 4x4 configuration for the local line-up -
Model Year Current 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV Luxury SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1400 kg 1585 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec T-Roc UX
Length 4234 mm 4495 mm
Width 1819 mm 1840 mm
Height 1573 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 2593 mm 2640 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 168 mm 160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 43 l
Boot/Cargo Space 392 l 268 l
Kerb Weight 1400 kg 1585 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2020 kg 2110 kg
Towing Capacity 1200 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.2 m
Payload Capacity - 525 kg

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

UX leads by 5 points

T-Roc and UX are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 72 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 67% source coverage
72
#1 Index leader

UX

67% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 55
Performance 55
Efficiency 92
Safety 93
Practicality 55
Leads by 5 points
67
#2

T-Roc

89% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Ownership 43
Performance 64
Efficiency 61
Safety 99
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance T-Roc +9 Efficiency UX +31 Safety T-Roc +6 Practicality T-Roc +3

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

UX

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 92/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 55/100

T-Roc

Performance 64/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Lexus UX leads the catalogue index with 72 pts vs 67 pts for T-Roc

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, UX leads. However, T-Roc may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.

T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
H6 GT PHEV
H6 GT PHEV
T-Roc vs H6 GT PHEV →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
Tayron
Tayron
T-Roc vs Tayron →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
CX-60
CX-60
T-Roc vs CX-60 →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
Pajero Sport
Pajero Sport
T-Roc vs Pajero Sport →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
C9
C9
T-Roc vs C9 →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
Everest
Everest
T-Roc vs Everest →
UX
UX
VS
H6 GT PHEV
H6 GT PHEV
UX vs H6 GT PHEV →
UX
UX
VS
Tayron
Tayron
UX vs Tayron →

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
ATTO 2 DM-i
ATTO 2 DM-i
T-Roc vs ATTO 2 DM-i →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
ATTO 3
ATTO 3
T-Roc vs ATTO 3 →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
ATTO 8
ATTO 8
T-Roc vs ATTO 8 →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
SEALION 5 DM-i
SEALION 5 DM-i
T-Roc vs SEALION 5 DM-i →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
SEALION 6 DM-i
SEALION 6 DM-i
T-Roc vs SEALION 6 DM-i →
T-Roc
T-Roc
VS
SEALION 7
SEALION 7
T-Roc vs SEALION 7 →

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This T-Roc and UX comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: T-Roc 64 vs UX 55.

Efficiency index: T-Roc 61 vs UX 92.

Safety-equipment index: T-Roc 99 vs UX 93.

Practicality index: T-Roc 58 vs UX 55.

Ownership-cover index: T-Roc 43 vs UX not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.