In theory the Scirocco should hold a performance advantage over the higher and, officially at least, 30kg heavier Golf.
And it does indeed command a small advantage in claimed fuel consumption (37.2mpg versus 35.3mpg) and CO2 emissions (179g/km versus 189g/km). But VW draws no distinction in straight-line terms, claiming a 7.2sec sprint to 62mph and 146mph flat out for both.
In fact, and in our hands, the Scirocco had no trouble recording a 6.7sec time over the admittedly slightly shorter 0-60mph increment, despite weighing in nearly 100kg over VW’s claim, due in no small part to the weight of optional extras totalling £4435.
This is an outstanding performance and fully competitive with selected rivals, like the BMW 125i coupé and Volvo’s C30 T5. Bear in mind, too, that if the Scirocco were rear rather than front-wheel drive, as are the Mercedes CLC and BMW 1-series coupé, it would be even faster.
Whether it’s down to the suspension settings, wider tracks, lower centre of gravity or, most likely, some combination of all three, one of the most gratifying things you will discover about the Scirocco is that despite its common platform and powertrain, it doesn’t feel like a Golf.
Our time on the road in the Scirocco happened to coincide with some exceptionally fast machinery taking part in an unrelated event over bumpy British B-roads.
While other theoretically quicker cars bucked and kicked, the Scirocco seemed to be following on another, altogether smoother surface.
You sit there, guiding the car with your fingertips, appreciating the meaty feel of the steering and the chassis’ lovely throttle-sensitive balance.
The Scirocco’s mastery of some of our most difficult roads means that more everyday, long-distance surfaces present it with no trouble at all. The Scirocco is always comfortable: reasonably firm, but never harsh, even around town.
