Scirocco's second wind

The Volkswagen Scirocco is a fondly remembered sports coupé from the 1970s. It established a reputation for being fast, agile and reliable and its angular styling and low stance made it the car that every Polo driver dreamed of owning.

Coupé fans shed a tear when production ended in 1992. But now Volkswagen has revived the Scirocco – and in its own way the new model is just as covetable as the much-loved original.

It is, however, a very different beast, more hot hatch than classic coupé and with lots of curves in place of the original's distinctive straight lines. The characteristic low stance survives, however, as does the ability to bring a smile to the face of the enthusiastic driver.

The new Scirocco definitely has presence and the test car, which was packed with optional extras, looked splendid in white. A number of times I returned to the car to find people having a good look and checking out what it was. This was partly, of course, because it was a new model, but I reckon that even when it becomes a more familiar sight on Dubai's roads the styling will still make it stand out.

There are lots of elements to draw the eye – for example the way the rear wheel arches stretch out over the wide alloys, the large dark glass tilt-only sunroof, the aerodynamic panel over the rear screen and the rear side windows that taper as they sweep back. Little details like the twin chromed exhaust tailpipes add to the appeal.

The boot is surprisingly large for a car of this type and the backs of the twin rear seats fold down to provide even more luggage space – a sign that this is a practical as well as a fun car.

Inside the Scirocco is equally impressive. The one I drove had smart tan leather and everything felt solid and smacked of intelligent German design and outstanding build quality.

Both the front and rear seats are comfortable. Coupés are, of course, notorious for providing limited legroom for rear passengers, but even though I'm 6ft tall I did not find this a problem with the Scirocco. However, my head touched the roof if I sat up straight while travelling in the back.

The dual-zone air-conditioning system lets the driver and passenger set the temperature around them separately. This sort of arrangement works well in, say, a Mercedes S-Class where there's bags of room inside but it seems a bit over-specified for a smallish car like the Scirocco.

A more worthwhile feature is the optional touch-screen radio navigation system. The sat-nav works pretty well though, of course, the difficulty with these systems is keeping the maps up to date in a city where the road network seems to change before your eyes. When I took the car to be photographed at Jumeirah Beach Residence the screen insisted I was 2km off-road.

The screen is linked to the rear parking sensors, which means that as well as being warned that you are about to reverse into a wall by frantic beeping you can also see a picture that shows how close you are.

The touch-screen system can be linked to your mobile phone, and you can watch DVDs when the car is stationary. But enough of all that – you don't choose a car like the Scirocco because you want to keep yourself entertained watching old movies.

The first time you floor the accelerator you realise that this is a car with a very willing and lively engine – and it sounds good, too. Maintaining the theme of combining practicality and fun, the Scirocco is perfectly docile and manageable in normal traffic conditions, but when the road opens up you can really start to enjoy yourself.

Put your foot down and the Scirocco surges ahead eagerly, the six-speed dual-clutch transmission complementing the terrific engine perfectly as it zips swiftly through the gears. This type of transmission system – Volkswagen calls its version DSG, standing for direct-shift gearbox – is capable of changing gear more quickly than any other design. There's a sport setting that boosts acceleration.

And for extra thrills you can switch from automatic to manual and use paddles on the steering wheel to change up and down, just like your favourite Formula 1 driver.

My main reservation about the Scirocco is the poor visibility from the driver's seat. The rear view is restricted and the wing mirrors, which have a tapering shape, produce large blind spots on both sides. You have to take particular care every time you switch lanes – not ideal on the Sheikh Zayed Road.

But if you're looking for a smart coupé with bags of personality that stands out from the crowd then the sporty Scirocco won't disappoint.

And it's not just me who thinks so – the Scirocco beat off competition from the Dodge Challenger, KTM X-Bow and even the Rolls-Royce Phantom to win Top Gear magazine's 2008 Car of the Year award.

Of course, a motor like this is at its best on twisting routes such as the coastal road to Khasab in Mussandam where you can extract the maximum enjoyment from the excellent roadholding, cornering ability and super-slick gearbox. And I defy anyone to buy a Scirocco and not head straight off to Jebel Hafeet.


The Rivals

BMW 1 Series Coupé

Great to drive with typical BMW handling (i.e. brilliant), but styling not to everybody's taste – indented side doors look as if someone has banged into them

Audi TT

Mechanically similar to the Scirocco but with brisker acceleration. Visually a very different interpretation of the coupé concept, stylish interior. Lacks the Volkswagen's rarity value

Volvo C30

As far away as you could get from the lumbering tanks that made Volvo's name. Smart and enjoyable to drive, well equipped but a bit cramped in the back

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