So we got our hands on the Volkswagen Scirocco R and it surprised the hell out of us. Since it's latest iteration in 2008, the Scirocco hasn't changed much, retaining it's key strengths. Is it for you though? We find out by taking it for a weekend spin:
Style
It's a decent car from the front, BUT! Compared to other fun hatchbacks in the market, there is room for styling improvements. For example, the Scirocco R could have bigger wheels like the 20 inchers found in Opel Astra OPC we reviewed recently. It could have sportier exhaust tips like the Audi RS4 Avant we drove earlier this year. Finally, the lights could be designed so much better, currently they look very similar to those found in economy sedans. Seriously, 2014 Nissan Tiida has better lights compared to the Scirocco R. Time for a change!
Interior Materials and Finishing
Very good. Leather bucket seats, soft touch material all round, what's not to like? In this department, it is so much more superior to Ford Focus ST (which we drove last year) and Opel Astra OPC. The interior is a nice sporty ambience that makes you feel like you're driving a quality car. There is a lot of Audi-esque feel to this car, particularly the design and feel of the steering which is very similar to Audi RS4 Avant.
Interior Visibility and Space
The weakest link in an otherwise fine car. Rear leg room is severely limited, which means the rear is basically kidzone. Headroom is quite limited, I ended up banging my head a couple of times while getting out of the car or adjusting the seats. Another problem is that the C Pillars and side windows are quite small so it is easy to have blindspots. In addition, there is no blindspot alert system in the car. A German car without blindspot?! Sounds unheard of, but it's true for the Scirocco R. I had some narrow misses with a few cars during my test drive, partly due to poor side visibility and partly because of a lack of blindspot alerts. Definitely a 'must add' feature for the next upgrade.
Interior Technology and Features
Pretty good. There is almost everything you need. Navigation, push button start, great sound system, very intuitive controls, Bluetooth, voice recognition. There are small lights everywhere which is great. Footwell lights, ambient lighting (very cool), vanity lights, even little lights above the rear seats. Some anomalies do exist, though. The center armrest is too low and the glove box has no space, only a USB connection. Also the boot seemingly cannot open from outside, only the button inside the car can open it, which seems a bit uncalled for. There are rear parking sensors, but no rear camera. The panoramic sunroof can only tilt and it cannot open. It is not the safest car in the world, there are hardly any driver aid technologies. So there is no adaptive cruise control, no lane change warnings, no forward collision alerts, no blindspot warning. Yes, we're spoilt for choice but then these are things buyers look for, especially buyers with kids.
Drive Experience
One word: Excellent. This car is great fun to drive, both on highways as well as city roads. The road grip is fantastic and I found myself grinning ear to ear on sharp turns and quick roundabout spins. It has decent power and acceleration. Our tests showed 6.8 seconds from 0-100 km and just a touch shade under 3 seconds for braking 100-0 km. Once on the road, I felt like driving for miles just for pleasure. The steering feedback is great, reminding me once again of the Audi RS4 Avant drive we did last year. Definitely one of the most joyous hatchbacks to drive. It doesn't have comparable power and torque to the big boys like Ford Focus ST or Astra OPC but still it's a pleasure to drive. It comes in Normal, Comfort and Sport Mode. There is no real difference between all three modes, save for a ever so slight stiffening of the steering. The suspension is decent, not too tight, not too comfy, although with this kind of steering, I would have expected suspension to be a bit tighter. Seems a bit domesticated, though it's a fine balancing act Scirocco R needs to play for the comfort seeker and the joy rider.
Verdict
Great car to drive, though it has it's quirks. Not the safest car around and definitely not the most spacious. Check it out if you're not married and like to drive for pleasure.
