Volkswagen Scirocco review

Essentially, you get three engines – a 1.4-litre and 2.0-litre petrol, and a 2.0-litre diesel – in various guises. The smaller four-pot is available in lively 125bhp guise, while the cooking 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI offer either 180bhp (replacing the old 160bhp 1.4) or a meaty 220bhp - the latter with a 6.3 second 0–62mph dash and a top speed of 153mph. Tasty.

Sadly, the noise and power delivery still lack the performance edge the empirical data proves, but you’ll make effortless progress nonetheless. The 210bhp 2.0-litre TSI is essentially a Golf GTI, but seems quicker and feels like a car for all situations. All but base ‘Rocs get VW’s excellent adaptive chassis control, which has three settings and adjusts throttle response, steering and damping. And it works a treat. You still get the same VW driving vibe – sure-footedness, accurate steering, plenty of grip – but it’s basically 25 per cent better than the GTI. Little body roll and crisp turn-in make this a proper driver’s tool, without actually making you look like one.