The Volkswagen T-Roc compact SUV is getting a convertible version. Yes, you read that right. Volkswagen’s jumping into the sparsely populated SUV cabriolet market. Those who know the German automaker’s history shouldn’t be surprised at this development because a concept version was introduced in 2014. But just as we thought that it was nothing more than a show car, Volkswagen apparently had a different idea. And so, it’s come to this. Like it or not, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet is not only a real thing, it's also scheduled to be launched in 2020.

The crossover and SUV markets are on fire right now. It makes sense for a company like Volkswagen to offer as many variants as it can because people will still buy them. But a convertible SUV? That’s where things get a little murky. If there’s one thing the industry has shown us, it’s that convertible SUVs are, at best, hit or miss propositions.

A good example is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. As popular as the traditional Murano is, the CrossCabriolet never gained the kind of traction that Nissan hoped for. It lasted four years in the market before Nissan ultimately discontinued it in 2014. The quick life of the Murano CrossCabriolet proved that not all convertible SUVs are created equal. Most don’t get enough love for a company to consider them as worthy investments.

There are some exceptions, though. Land Rover released the Range Rover Evoque Convertible in 2015, and it’s done well enough to still be an active model. It’s never going to be as popular as the traditional Evoque, but it has found its niche in the segment, small as it may be. That’s the kind of market the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet will face when it arrives in 2020. It’s a tepid market that probably isn’t going to grow anytime soon.

Hopefully, this decision doesn’t come back at Volkswagen in the future. The German automaker is reportedly investing almost $100 million in the development of the convertible SUV. Here’s to hoping that the T-Roc Cabriolet goes over with the masses. Otherwise, it’s going to be another wasted model from a company that thought it could enter a sub-segment that has very little occupants in it.

References

Volkswagen T-Roc

Read our full review on the 2018 Volkswagen T-Roc.

Read more Volkswagen news.