Overall rating:

Headlining the facelifted Volkswagen Scirocco line-up is the 280hp R model. That means it has a little more power than before, though Volkswagen still hasn't fitted it with the Golf R's four-wheel drive and newer, even faster engine. Are its mildly tweaked good looks reason enough to go for it over its hatchback sibling?

Key Facts

Model drive: Volkswagen Scirocco R
Pricing: £32,295
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol
Transmission: front-wheel drive, six-speed manual
Body style: two-door coupé
Rivals: Audi TTS, BMW M235i Coupé, Renaultsport Mégane 265
CO₂ emissions: 187g/km
Combined economy: 35.3mpg
Top speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Power: 280hp at 6000rpm
Torque: 350Nm at 2,500- to 5,000rpm

In the Metal:

The Golf's glamorous sister gets a mild refresh for its 40th birthday, revised headlamps, taillights and re-profiled bumpers the order of the day rather than anything more significant. None of these really adds drama of the range-topping R, which already had more aggressive styling to denote its greater potency.

There's a few hard-to-spot changes inside too, the instruments now covered by deeper cowls, for instance, while an additional three-dial instrument pack sits atop the middle of the dash as a homage to the original Scirocco born 40 years ago. In the case of the red digital clock, that homage to the '70s is a bit too accurate for our liking, and jarring, though otherwise the Scirocco follows Volkswagen's usual form for exemplary standard of fit, finish and usability. Obviously, being a coupé, the rear seats are cramped and the boot's not vast, either. But then, if you want more space you'll buy a Golf.

Driving it:

The Scirocco R inexplicably features a specification less exotic than the latest Golf R, a supposedly more humdrum relation. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine pushes out 'just' 280hp compared to the 300hp of the Golf, while it only drives the front wheels instead of all four in the hatchback. Add in the inability to completely switch off the ESP stability and traction control system in the Scirocco (again possible in the Golf R) and the coupé's case looks even shakier. That said, with 62mph in 5.9 seconds and an autobahn verified top speed of 155mph, the Scirocco is far from slow, and the way it is still charging with real conviction right into three figures is truly impressive.

Most Scirocco Rs will be specified with the DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, though it robs the car of much of its driving appeal. The shift from the standard six-speed manual might not be the last word in precision, but it allows you to indulge in the engine's mid-range more easily, the DSG's persistent desire to drop ratios and reach for revs making for a more frenetic drive than is necessary. Grip levels are high and traction good (despite the lack of four-wheel drive), while the steering is accurate enough if fairly lifeless. That's largely true of the overall driving experience, which is technically impressive but never really goads you to drive it for the hell of it, as you might some of its rivals.

Quick and accomplished then, riding decently if you leave the DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) in Normal or Comfort, and offering mighty braking power, the R is a bit of an enigma, as everything's there except a bit of sparkle. It even sounds mighty, Volkswagen's R department expert at making a relatively humdrum spec 2.0-litre turbo sound a great deal more exotic and more-cylindered than it is.

What you get for your Money:

Being the range-topper, the Scirocco R comes with pretty much everything as standard, as you might expect given its £32,295 price tag. Where it really struggles is to make a case alongside its Golf R relation in three-door guise. Volkswagen points to standard leather, DCC and larger alloy wheels, but then the Golf's got four driven wheels, more power and is more practical too. For a fair bit less money.

Worth Noting

Not only is the Scirocco R less potent than the Golf R, but its engine isn't the same unit either. That thing matters to Volkswagen fans, the EA113 engine featuring in the Scirocco and the more recent EA888 in the Golf.

Another titbit: the Scirocco R is the only model in the revised range that cannot be fitted with Volkswagen's self-parking system, as the shape of the bumpers doesn't allow the proper positioning of the sensors.

Summary

In isolation the Scirocco R is an impressive machine, which is fast and capable. Put it up against the Golf R and it's in trouble, while even more engaging alternatives from Renaultsport and BMW underline its shortcomings in the fun department.