Back in 1992, VW ended production of the VW Scirocco. Fans, including me, were thrilled when the German maker resurrected the name in 2008, and brought the coupe back with a bang. The Scirocco is now in its mid-life phase but it still packs a hefty punch, while that sleek profile gives it a striking design. The Scirocco is easily the best-looking car that VW has made in the past ten years. Performance 4/5 Our test car was powered by the 2.0-litre TDI producing 138bhp and a maximum peak power of 320Nm of torque. Performance times for this diesel engine are about average – it will complete the benchmark sprint to 62mph in 9.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 129mph. There is a good amount of power all the way through the six-speed manual gearbox, while the changes are smooth meaning that driving enthusiastically is very rewarding. Ride and handling 4.5/5 Coupes tend to be all or nothing. However, the Scirocco has balance. It is incredibly agile allowing keener drivers to enjoy challenging roads. That said though, the Scirocco is fantastic as a daily driver with high comfort levels. The model is based on the Golf’s sixth-gen platform giving it a great starting block. When driving eagerly, you will be impressed by its low centre of gravity that also means there is no noticeable bodyroll. The Scirocco has superb front-end grip and, on our car, the adaptive chassis control comes as standard. This means that you can alter the driving dynamics of the car between comfort, normal and sport. Equipment 4/5 In R-Line guise, the Scirocco comes with a host of standard equipment. Highlights include aforementioned adaptive chassis control, ABS, ESP, rear parking sensors, dual-zone aircon, front sport seats with manual height adjustment, R-Line logo on head restraints, touchscreen incorporating satnav, DAB radio including MP3 compatibility, USB connection and Bluetooth, 19-inch alloys, rear roof spoiler, front fog lights and a R-Line styling pack. Practicality 3.5/5 Although it's a coupe, Volkswagen was keen to maintain a decent amount of practicality in the Scirocco. The boot is a useful 292 litres – not bad for a sports coupe. The Scirocco is more of a 2+2 rather than a four-seater – adults can squeeze into the rear but it’s more advisable to use the rear seats as an extra bit of stowage. Running costs 4/5 Sexy looks and an entertaining drive usually mean that fuel figures will take a hiding. but this isn’t the case with the frugal Scirocco. When mated to the 2.0-litre TDI producing 138bhp it has a claimed average of 62.8mpg – in real world driving, expect to average around the mid-50s – and that’s a realistic feat. Emissions also make for good reading; this version emits 118g/km ensuring this car is a viable choice on most company car schemes. Verdict 4.5/5 Frugal, low-CO2 emissions all mixed together in a sleek coupe shape – the VW Scirocco has it all. This version is priced from £27,355 and with those heady fuel figures, this Scirocco 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp in R-Line guise is bound to sell like hot cakes.
Our Rating
