Volkswagen Scirocco
The Scirocco is designed to look stunning from every angle, and features aggressive headlights and a curvy rear end, which means it looks like nothing else on the road. On the inside, the cabin is very high quality, although the coupe roofline and three-door body limits rear seat space. The Scirocco handles very well, particularly if you go for the optional adaptive suspension. The engines deliver great performance. The range-topping Scirocco R is very expensive, but is great fun to drive.
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Pros:
- Stylish design
- Good to drive
- Practical cabin
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Cons:
- Interior design no match for exterior
- 321 litre boot is hard to access
- Flagship R version very firmly sprung
Taking it's name from a warm wind that blows across the Mediterranean, Volkswagen's Scirocco is just a little bit hotter than the standard MkVI Volkswagen Golf on which it's based. Its flowing, sporty design and driver-focused suspension set-up makes it a great choice for keen drivers. It's comparatively expensive, with prices starting from around £18,000 - but the good news is that all versions are good to drive, and the rear seats offer a surprising amount of space.
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Pros:
- Performance
- Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) suspension fitted as standard
- Aggressive styling
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Cons:
- High price
- Very firm ride
- Poorly designed boot
The Volkswagen Scirocco R is the most powerful version of the handsome coupe available, offering 261bhp from its 2.0-turbocharged engine. It possesses similar performance figures to the Renault Megane Reanultsport and Ford Focus RS. Retaining the standard model's front wheel drive layout, the Scirocco R sits lower on huge wheels and features a new spoiler and wide-set twin exhaust pipes- it's instantly recognisable as the top of the range, performance model. The aggresively styled front bumper also features new LED daytime running lights, increasing road presence. The interior has received a similar treatment, featuring sports seats, alloy pedals and lots of very high quality, soft touch materials. It's also beautifully made. For a £1,300 premium buyers can opt for the six-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox complete with steering wheel-mounted gear-shift paddles.
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