Audi TT and VW Scirocco go head-to-head

Style is easy – but do the latest Audi TT and Volkswagen Scirocco have the substance to back it up? We find out

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24 October 2016

Beauty is a fickle mistress – and whereas Audi’s evergreen TT appears to ride roughshod over here-today-gone-tomorrow design trends, Volkswagen’s Scirocco is more subject to the whims of the moment.

A recent refresh aims to keep the sporty coupé in the limelight, and we want to find out which model best backs up style with substance. To do so, we test the £36,150 TT 2.0 TFSI quattro S line S Tronic, complete with four-wheel drive, against the more practical and powerful Scirocco R 2.0 TSI 280 DSG range-topper, which comes in at £34,035.

The turbocharged 2.0-litre Scirocco R pumps 276bhp through the front wheels, whereas the equivalent sized unit in the TT puts down its 227bhp through all four tyres, providing more security on slippery roads. The latter engine is a smooth, willing, torquey unit teamed here with a quick-shifting S Tronic auto box. The Scirocco’s powertrain, on the other hand, is thwarted by its slightly delayed turbo thrust and slower-witted auto, which can make for genuinely frustrating progress – although once it gets going it soon makes up for lost time.

More important here than outright speed is fun handling. The TT is agile and engaging, with light steering, precise and fast responses, and huge traction. Body control is superb, while great steering feedback helps make faster corners a delight. The Audi is far superior to the often cumbersome-feeling Scirocco, which has leaden steering, nose-heavy handling and over-eager traction control which cuts in whenever the front wheels feel overwhelmed by the sheer power being put through them. It runs wide in fast corners sooner than the TT, and responds less decisively to mid-corner inputs.

Both models ride firmly but comfortably and stop well, but the TT’s braking pedal offers more feedback and has a less intrusive engine noise when cruising.

The cabins are both comfortable with plenty of style, even if their approach differs. The TT’s is of top quality, with a minimalist dashboard that’s virtually clutter-free. A main 12.3in display for the stereo, sat-nav and instruments is set behind the wheel – which is ideal for the low-set, sporty driving position, if not very convenient for the passenger.

The Scirocco has a more traditional dash, with intuitive controls and infotainment system, and a central touchscreen. It feels solid and well made, and there’s plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustability, too. Its rear compartment is far more usable than the TT’s token gesture, and its boot is larger as well.

When it comes to buying and running the two contenders, the faster Audi actually has lower CO2 emissions, so is cheaper to tax and has lower BIK bills. Private buyers will spend fractionally more on it over three years than the VW, thanks mainly to slightly costlier servicing and smaller dealer discounts. On test, it returned 32.6mpg against the Scirocco’s 29.3mpg.

Electric, heated mirrors, DAB radio, auto lights and wipers plus a tyre pressure-monitoring system are fitted to both models as standard, while the VW also has sat-nav, dual-zone climate control and rear parking sensors. The TT simply includes conventional air-con; sat-nav and rear parking sensors are extra. Cruise control cost extra in both.

Practicality and kit levels aside, the TT is the better choice here. It’s an excellent performer with superb handling, a classy cabin and impressive efficiency for a sports car. It’s simply the best coupé on the market – and quattro four-wheel drive is a bonus. The punchy Scirocco will save private buyers a little money, and usefully it can seat four, but its inferior dynamics, sluggish responses and less special feel inside can’t complete here.

Audi TT 2.0 TFSI quattro S line S Tronic
Rating 5 out of 5
Engine size 2.0-litre turbo petrol
Power 227bhp
Torque 273lb ft
0-60mph 5.3sec
Top speed 155mph
True MPG 32.6mpg
CO2 emissions 149g/km

VW Scirocco 2.0 TSI 280 R DSG
Rating 3 out of 5
Engine size 2.0-litre turbo petrol
Power 276bhp
Torque 258lb ft
0-60mph 5.9sec
Top speed 155mph
True MPG 29.3mpg
CO2 emissions 185g/km

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Audi TT and VW Scirocco go head-to-head

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