Twin Test: Stylish Coupes

If you’re after something sporty but don’t need the outright performance of a hot hatch, how about a stylish coupe instead? You might be surprised just how much you can get for your cash.Which one of these gorgeous German three-doors crosses the line in first place?

Audi TT Coupe (2006-2014) vs VW Scirocco (2008 on)

Driving

There’s an excellent range of powerplants on offer here, from a frugal 2.0-litre diesel to a 3.2-litre V6 monster. The TT’s trump card is the availability of Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system for ultimate grip, but even if you choose a two-wheel drive version, the TT always feels very nimble on the road.

The Scirocco’s engine line-up is equally impressive. The 1.4 TSI petrol works especially well here and is reasonably frugal, plus there’s a choice of diesel motors for lower running costs. While only available as a two-wheel drive car, there are still huge amounts of traction and grip on offer.

Practicality

As a 2+2 rather than a true four-seater, the TT’s rear seats are best suited to children rather than fully grown adults. Its 290-litre boot is big enough for most tasks, while the cabin is well-designed and full of the sort of high quality materials you’d expect from a premium manufacturer like Audi.

The Scirocco has a slightly bigger boot. This advantage is redressed by the boot opening – it’s a strange shape so loading objects isn’t easy. There’s no release button on it either, so you need to use the cabin-mounted button or the keyfob to access it. Rear seats are far bigger than the TT, though.

Costs

If you’re after the cheapest model to run, the 2.0 TDI Quattro will return claimed fuel economy as high as 53mpg, and that’s fantastic for a car with nearly 170bhp and four-wheel drive. Servicing and maintenance costs aren’t going to be cheap though; Audi is a premium manufacturer with premium prices.

This is the Scirocco’s real advantage here – there’s a version available with ultra-frugal BlueMotion Tech. This means a claimed 62mpg, and car tax of £30 a year in 2014 as CO2 emissions are just 118g/km. You can expect VW servicing and maintenance to be cheaper than Audi, and with longer service intervals.

Verdict

VW Scirocco – Winner

The TT is an ultra-desirable coupe that really delivers on the driving front. While an extremely close call, its higher servicing and maintenance costs plus the more cramped rear seating handed the win to the VW in the end. That won’t stop people buying the TT, though. It’s a real sales hit for Audi.

The Scirocco shares many of its parts with the VW Golf, and because of that it’s the more practical proposition. While its design isn’t as distinctive as the Audi’s, it’ll easily seat four adults and thanks to BlueMotion Tech it can be far cheaper to run as well.