‘Roc climbing

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Car Verdict

Audi A4

The most powerful diesel Scirocco yet has arrived, and it looks set to be a proper cracker. We’ve already driven the 138bhp 2.0-litre diesel version of the lovely VW coupe, but this is the full-fat 168bhp iteration of the same engine.

It’s not slow. The diesel will punt the ‘Roc to 62mph in 8.1 seconds – just a fraction slower than the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine – and on to a top speed of 138mph. The 138bhp diesel, in comparison, takes just over nine seconds to hit 62, while the top-spec 2.0-litre petrol engine gets there in 7.2 seconds.

It’ll be cheaper to run, though. The diesel Scirocco is said to manage 53.3mpg and emits just 139g/km of CO2.

Happily, the diesel ‘Roc is available with VW’s sorted DSG flappy-paddle gearbox, as well as those cracking 19-inch turbine-style alloys (which you don’t get with the lower-powered diesel – very nearly reason enough to opt for the more powerful engine, in our view). Like all the Sciroccos, it gets VW’s adjustable ‘Adaptive Chassis Control’ damper system.

Prices start at £21,755, some £900 more than the 138bhp diesel and £400 more than the 2.0-litre petrol.