Volkswagen T-Roc R

The T-Roc is Volkswagen's compact midsize crossover that killed the already wonderful Scirocco, which is like a Golf GTi for real men, and some believe that it's not as wonderful to drive as the Scirocco it killed or perhaps it can do a lot more. With the first-ever T-Roc R, Volkswagen wanted this to be a more enjoyable high-performance compact crossover that feels good to drive even on dirt.

2020 Volkswagen T-Roc R

Starting at 43,995 Euros, the T-Roc R is less expensive than its equivalent, the Cupra Ateca, but unlike the Cupra Ateca twin, the T-Roc R looks a bit simple for a high-performance compact crossover the size of a Golf, which is true because of the similar platform it uses, but don't get its simple looks fool you because behind its simple crossover looks lies the heart of a hot hatch underneath.

Under the hood, the T-Roc R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0L petrol engine that produces about 300PS of power and 400Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed DSG, the T-Roc R can go from 0-100kph in 4.8 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 250kph, meaning the T-Roc R is almost as fast as the old Golf VII R on straights but what about the way it moves?

Of course, being a crossover, you might expect this to be as stressful as getting your mom pulling your arm to the opposite of where you're going, but despite its bulge, the T-Roc R feels so decent to drive like a hot hatch and on the track, the Race Mode really means business for the T-Roc R, making it capable of going all-out on a Sunday lap at the track, but despite its 4MOTION four-wheel drive system and with lack of stuff like you get from a Subaru WRX STi, the T-Roc R isn't going to be as dirt-happy as a rally car, meaning that when this hot compact crossover sticks to the road on Day One, it stays there forever. Sad.

The T-Roc R may not be as dirt-happy as a rally car, even with the 4MOTION equipped, but it feels like a decent hot hatch on the road and on the track and while upsetting to some, the T-Roc R is the hot compact crossover we should feel jealous about.

Photo: Volkswagen AG

Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe and Cabriolet (C238)

The previous-generation E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet were all lovely weekend would-be grand tourers fit enough to drive on the country club to play golf or to a Michelin-starred restaurant to spend a date but the lack of the AMG variant really means that they're less fun to drive as the sedan and wagon equivalent where they both have hard-boiled AMG variants at play. Realizing this is a fatal mistake, today's E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet have been given the AMG treatment they've longly deserved, except for one thing.

2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe

2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet

Instead of giving it a V8 like every AMG 63 range or the basic 6-cylinder from the AMG 43 range, they've been given some mild-hybrid science to the 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder turbo engine and as a result, the Mercedes-AMG 53 range is born and the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet were the firsts to don it.

Normally, I would like to talk more about what these two look like apart from looking like the same as their normal equivalents with some AMG treatments inside and out but life is short so let's focus more on the powertrain in question. The E53 range is powered by a new 3.0L in-line six-cylinder engine with EQ Boost electric auxiliary compressor.. That's right, there is now a mild-hybrid AMG in the stable and while this is not a Prius in tuxedo, they're still AMGs at heart and they produce a modest 457PS of power and 520Nm of torque. That's V8 power in a very small six-cylinder engine and that's miniaturization done right for the boys from AMG and also, when mated with a SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G-Tronic, it does 0-100kph in four and a half seconds and top speed normally limited to 250kph. An optional extra will have the limit raised to 270kph so that's 911 stuff in a mild and tangy AMG grand tourers fit for weekends at the nightclub or at the track. Fuel efficiency combined is around less than nine liters per 100 km so that's quite impressive for a straight-six AMGs.

Speaking of mild and tangy, both the E53 Coupe and Cabriolet are armed with 4MATIC+ which promises to be the best of both worlds. It can be transitioned to either all four wheels or to the back with its fully variable torque distribution and as a result, a moderately enjoyable car to drive if you are fully understand with all of the other stuff such as the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ Suspension and the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT that fits with your driving style. That is a pretty nice car to take it on the road and track but tread carefully because at some cases, that 4MATIC+ system might just lose its touch and as a result, some arm-breaking understeer you can't get away from. Talk abut being too much grip.

So, should you buy it? The Coupe will cost you 81,592 Euros while the Cabriolet costs 87,066 Euros so they are somewhat expensive to own but the pricing isn't the least of the problems here because to sum things up, these variants don't live up to their fire-breathing fantasies the E63 variants posses and although the mild and menacing character shows that it can be somewhat grippy and somewhat melodramatic but at least it was a start and it's more than enough to give the E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet the AMG treatment they deserve. If they need more, they won't hesitate to ask AMG to pump them up with some more stimulants. These E53 variants have a long way to go.

Photo: Daimler AG