Volkswagen Scirocco R review

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Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI 265 R Road Test

Test date 15 February 2010 Price as tested £30,060

For Punchy straight-line pace, well judged mix of ride and handling, practical interior

Against Baggy gearchange, full pricing, restricted rear visibility

Not one but two hot Volkswagen R models have arrived virtually at the same time. One is the Golf R, with all-wheel drive to channel its power to the road. The other is this, the Scirocco R.

Unlike Volkswagen’s previous R models (such as the Golf R32), these use four-cylinder turbo engines rather than V6s. That means their drivetrain layout is more similar to the models that spawn them – in this case the regular Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI – than was previously the case.

What impresses us so much about the regular Scirocco is not just how much it does right, but how precious little it does wrong. When we road tested it in September 2008, we were struck by its all-round dynamic ability, coupled to a spaciousness that few cars of its class can match and a price within a whisker of its Golf GTI sister model, despite the coupé being a more compelling driving companion.

Question is, though, is the hottest Scirocco more engaging than not only the fastest Golf but also the rest of a very competitive array of hot hatch and small coupé rivals?