Volkswagen Scirocco coupe: 'fast but composed'

Price: £20,525 - £30,235

Pros: stylish design, good to drive, practical cabin

Cons: bland interior design, boot is tricky to access, rear seats aren't very comfortable

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4.2/5, Car Buyer: "The sixth generation Volkswagen Scirocco is exciting to drive and a real challenger to the Renault Megane coupe and Audi A3. Adopting the name last used in 1992, it uses the MkVI Volkswagen Golf's underpinnings and comes in five main specifications - entry-level standard car, mid-spec GT, sportier R-Line and GTS versions, and top-of the-range performance-focused special edition R.

There are 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged petrol engines, plus a 2.0-litre diesel to choose from, with the latter available with BlueMotion for better engine efficiency. For the best balance of performance and economy, we’d recommend the GT 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine. Even though it was launched in 2008, the Scirocco still looks good and Volkswagen celebrated the millionth Scirocco sold in 2013."

4/5, Evo: "Slightly chunkier 17in alloys and heavier-looking tyres – visually that's all that distinguishes the 1.4-litre Scirocco TSI from the full-strength 197bhp 2-litre. And for £387 of the £2K you’ve saved you can upgrade to 18s to complete the illusion."

4/5, Top Gear: "While the 197bhp 2.0T engine might be broadly the same as the GTI's, the torque arrives earlier, making it seem quicker (though it hits 62mph in 7.2s, the same as the Golf). It's a bit inert when you really start to go mental, but you still come away with the sense that if you had to have a car that spans a multitude of situations, the Scirocco would be it."

4/5, Honest John: "So the Scirocco (named after a north African wind) is like a breath of fresh air. The last two were both based on the Mk 1 Golf. This one's underpinnings come from next year's Golf Mk VI. And it certainly brings back the excitement of the wonderful 190PS Corrado VR6."