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Volkswagen Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI road test report

GT 2.0 TSI

The cool sexy VW Scirocco is back and it looks great. The car has moved on since the original Scirocco was launched in 1974 but the 2008 version looks a class act and has the wow appeal that the older generations had. The Scirocco is a coupe with a hatch, which the maker hopes will increase its practicality as a family car.

Road Test Reports Says 4.5 star rating
A front-facing image of the Volkswagen Scirocco GT 2.0 TSI

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SIMON SAYS

Performance Performance - 5 stars

Our test car was the VW Scirocco GT 2.0-litre TSI powered version – it comes with 200PS and has 280Nm of torque, which gives the Scirocco plenty of shove. In fact the Scirocco is based on the Golf’s underpinnings and this power plant is also available in the Golf GTi. So what do the times tell us? The Scirocco will get from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and has a top speed of 146mph. The engine features direct injection technology with a turbocharger and an intercooler and is a pleasure to listen to when traveling at speed.

Ride & Handling Ride & Handling - 5 stars

The VW Scirocco is what a sports hatch coupe should be – it really is a mega car. The German maker has made the Scirocco a better driver’s car than sibling Golf GTi. It is longer than the Golf GTi and the Scirocco has a greater centre of gravity enabling it to go round corners in a sporty fashion. The wide track gives the Scirocco tons of grip making it well set up for cornering, although there is a bit of body roll but you’ll not find this unless you are pushing hard. The Scirocco feels a lot more agile and responsive than the Golf GTi. VW offers a setup of different driving mode, which should reflect your mood. The Adaptive Chassis Control set-up allows you to select Comfort, Normal or Sport settings, this will adjust the stiffness of the dampers and the steering weight, making this a cracking driver’s car.

Build Quality & Reliability Build Quality & Reliability - 4 stars

As expected the build quality is first class from the German maker. From the shut line to the plastics used on the dash, they all have a quality look and feel to them. The dashboard is reminiscent from the one seen on the Eos and while it fails to be as stylish as the Scirocco’s exterior it has a methodical look and the switchgear is well placed for the driver. However, a little more creativity would be welcomed. A three year warranty or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) comes as standard as does 12 year body protection, three year paint protection and a one year of VW Assistance in UK and Europe in included in the package.

Safety & Security Safety & Security - 5 stars

The Scirocco is packed with safety features. It has six airbags and ESP fitted as standard. It has also got ASR, which is a form of traction control. If there is a need to slow down suddenly, the hazard lights will activate automatically to warn other driver’s of the dangers ahead. The Scirocco has the same passive safety that VW has given the Golf and the Passat, this means that the sport coupe has a rigid body structure which has absorbing energy deformation zones to provide as much crash protection as possible to passengers. The Scirocco has an insurance group rating of group 16.

Space & Practicality Space & Practicality - 4 stars

This is where the Scirocco loses out to sibling the Golf. If you have two average size adults in the front then you may forget putting anyone in the back unless they are very small children. The seats are less flexible than the more common rear bench. This means they could restrict larger objects from going in the boot. The boot has a space of 292 litres and this can be expanded to 755-litres if you fold the seats flat. Up front space is good and there are numerous cubby-holes to keep your belongings from prying eyes.

Ownership & Value Ownership & Value - 5 stars

The VW Scirocco is a stunning piece of kit, which should bode well for residual values. The price list adds to the appeal, our car was the GT with the 2.0-litre engine from the Golf GTi and starts at £20,940 – that’s a competitive price for such a sporty car. However, this power plant emits 179g of the nasty CO2 emissions and on the combined cycle the maker claims the Scirocco will return 37.2mpg. All in all the Scirroco is back with a bang and at a really competitive pricing structure.

Submitted: 03/12/2008 15:39:31

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