VW’s Scirocco put in its first appearance nine years ago and it’s changed little since then. It was the first VW to wear the manufacturer’s new corporate face and drew inspiration from the Iroc concept that was displayed at the Paris motor show two years earlier.

The pronounced haunches that sweep over the rear wheel arches are accentuated by a tapered sill line that squeezes the middle of the car. The flanks flow seamlessly into the slim LED rear lights and wide hatchback boot which has a subtle spoiler mounted atop.

The deep front air dams and slim grille element with gloss black inserts are framed by aggressively-styled headlight units. Unusually, the VW roundel is mounted on the bonnet, rather than its traditional position on the grille. The doors are frameless.

Its designers shunned the traditional sloping roof of a coupe, instead opting for a long roof with a vertical hatch. It gives the Scirocco a squat, purposeful appearance but, perhaps more importantly, the upright rear and short overhangs help liberate a surprising amount of passenger space. Enough, in fact, to squeeze in a couple of grown-ups in the rear as well as a generous amount of luggage.

It was given a makeover back in 2014 – and those changes were subtle – with the addition of a new range of engines with power output up to 280PS and fuel efficiency improving by up to 19 per cent compared to the outgoing units.

It also received new head and tail lights, and the restyled front bumper now features "blades" similar to those first seen on the latest Golf GTI. All models now have LED tail lights and the rear bumper has been redesigned to appear lower and more purposeful.

The Scirocco is blessed with good looks and a strong identity and the subtle tweaks have proven more than enough to prolong the handsome coupe's shelf life.

The GTS, which is the version that I tested, went on sale in January 2016. It wears distinctive 18in alloy wheels – 19in rims are an option – and red brake callipers. The R-Line styling pack is also standard and includes distinctive R-style bumpers (at the front with integrated fog lamps and glossy black radiator and air inlet grilles), custom side sill extensions, a roof spoiler (also R-style) and a diffuser.

The wing mirror caps are painted black and, like its predecessor, the ‘82 Scirocco GTS, the latest version can be ordered with two decorative stripes that run down the middle of the car from the bonnet over the roof and to the boot. The new Scirocco is also enhanced by 3D GTS logos in the radiator grille and on the tailgate.

You can order your GTS with black "Vienna" leather upholstery, with decorative red seams on the seats. Chrome door sill protectors also feature the ‘GTS’ logo, with ‘Piano Black’ inserts in dash and centre console. Red stitching on the gear gaitor contrasts with the ‘GTS’ golf ball design gear knob.

While there’s little doubting the build quality, the choice of materials doesn’t live up to close scrutiny in a way, say, that the latest Golf would. It’s a pleasant enough place to be, the seats are comfortable and supportive, the instrumentation is clear and the controls ergonomically sound, but some of the plastics feel a little cheap and touch flimsy.

The engine is bright and responsive and, thanks to a healthy slug of torque – 350Nm from 1,500rpm – it pulls keenly right through to the red line at 7,000rpm, while the exhaust offers raspish overtures of approval.

The zero to 62 mph sprint takes 6.5 seconds, and the top speed is 153 mph (152 mph with the DSG transmission).

With the deliciously slick standard manual six-speed gearbox, combined fuel economy is 46.3 mpg and CO2 emissions are 142 g/km while the optional six-speed DSG gearbox, produces combined economy of 44.1 mpg and carbon dioxide emissions of 148 g/km.

The dashboard features an auxiliary instrument cluster above the centre console, consisting of a chronometer, charge pressure and oil temperature gauges – another tribute to the 1974 model.

While its looks may have stood the test of time, that is less true of its dynamics, as the Scirocco is one of the few models in VW’s range not to be riding on their MQB platform, relying instead on the old PQ35 chassis that dates back to the MkV Golf of 2005.

There’s no limited slip differential, that brief being fulfilled by an electronic XDS system that tweaks the brakes to improve turn-in. However, carrying too much pace into a corner will induce understeer. Adopt a slightly more judicious approach and you’re rewarded with greater grip and improved feedback. The steering is fluid and precise, allowing to stitch a series of flowing bends together seamlessly.

The ride isn’t great, judged by today’s standards. My test car was fitted with the optional adaptive dampers (£850) that give you a choice of three modes – sport, normal and comfort – and odds are that you’ll find two of those three options largely redundant.

Comfort mode doesn’t really provide much, well, comfort. It can feel a little inconsistent on the sort of uneven surfaces you’d find around town while sport is firm enough to induce momentary losses of traction while the ESP intermittently cuts in while tackling mid-corner imperfections.

Normal mode strikes a nice balance between the two and, although it can still be a tad jarring at times, it's infrequent enough not to become wearisome.

The fact is, it's hard to make a case for the Scirocco in GTS trim, and that is just a simple matter of value for money. While it remains a dynamically capable machine, its high price means that there are better ways to spend less cash, including VW's own three-door Golf GTI, which is a better bet in almost every respect.

If, however, you're prepared to sacrifice a little performance you'll enjoy the same lithe handling and the same timeless good looks by casting your eyes lower down the range.

VW Scirocco GTS

Price: £28,195

As tested: £32,235

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged

Transmission: Six speed manual

Max power: 220PS

Max torque: 258Nm @ 1,500rpm

Max speed: 153mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 6.5sec

Urban: 37.2mpg

Extra urban: 53.3mpg

Combined: 46.3mpg

Emissions (CO2): 142g/km

For more information visit www.volkswagen.co.uk