CUTTING edge coupe styling blended with useful practicality is part of the success story of the VW Scirocco. The range runs to 13 models based on six petrol and diesel engines and priced between £18,860 and £29,805. They share the same three-door wind-cheating body with its enormous wheelarches, low sweeping roofline and a wide stance. Even when stationary it looks as if it’s sweeping along, and that’s a good way to cut fuel bills. But a more practical way still is to order the Scirocco with the 160ps 1.4-litre engine, yes, 160ps from something a long way under 2.0-litres. How’s this possible? By some very clever engineering including supercharger and turbocharger, the engine packs enormous punch and delivers it with remarkable refinement and economy. Coming in towards the lower end of the range, Scirocco 1.4 does not disappoint. Rather it delights. The engine is a triumph of design and construction but it is not a twitchy or temperamental performer thanks to its Twincharger technology packing super and turbo-chargers under the bonnet to give extreme smoothness and strong acceleration from the moment you let up the clutch in the manual. Initially, the engine note sounds nothing special but as the boosters slip into play the note rises and the power sharply builds. It is never really noisy, just a bit busy, and in top on the motorway it zips along with barely a murmur at the legal limit. Head onto twisting country roads or over sweeping hills and the engine really comes into its own giving punchy performance with lots of reserve for overtaking. A well weighted progressive clutch, neat and direct gearchange of carefully chosen ratios and you quickly feel at one with the car. The brakes on the test car lacked as much feel as I like but they worked very well and had a lot of power to slow the Scirocco and the parking brake held it on the steepest of hills. Steering feel is extremely good with minimum effort, a good turning circle and excellent assistance whether you are easing into parking spaces or partaking of some sweeping curves. Road-holding is very good and inspiring, the ride quality very comfortable for a sporting coupe and the seats are supportive if not particularly soft. Front adjustment range is good but with the three-door design it can be difficult to climb into the back pair. Space in the cabin is reasonable if a little short of rear legroom and headroom, the boot holds a minimum of 312 litres rising to over 1,000 litres and oddments space is fair. You tend to sit low in the Scirocco and vision to front and sides is good, but over the shoulder it is extremely poor when pulling out and the rear mirror view is also very bad, which means there is a considerable blind spot where another vehicle could be approaching or you risk hitting a parking post and at £355 the parking sensors seem an expensive addition to your insurance and poor substitute for flawed design. The performance figures are good for a 1.4 if not exceptional for a sports coupe, but it is the way the Scirocco 160ps covers the ground with refinement and very reasonable economy which set it apart from rivals. It is not as ultimately practical as the stablemate Golf but it is perfectly adequate fulfilling the role of more than a coupe when you can use it two-up with the back seats folded down. The Scirocco 1.4 has more going for it than against it. FAST FACTS VW Scirocco 1.4 TSI Price: £20,665 Mechanical: 160ps, 1,398cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 135mph 0-62mph: 8 seconds Combined mpg: 42.8 Insurance group: 14 CO2 emissions: 154g/km BIK rating: 19% Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles | 
