Which has the best interior?

All of these cars share their underpinnings with ordinary family models – so it’s what sets them apart that counts here. Customers at this end of the market expect quality and kit, and if you sit inside the Scirocco you get plenty of the former.

As with all Golf-based models, we can’t fault the sensibly laid-out dash and top-drawer materials. There’s also an excellent range of adjustment on the steering wheel and seat; the near-perfect driving position is spoiled only by the occasional blind spots caused by the rakish A-pillars. The new flagship features heated seats embossed with the R emblem, plus aluminium-look pedals and leather trim for the handbrake and gearlever. What’s more, the shapely steering wheel is a joy to hold, while Alcantara trim also adds to the upmarket feel.

Equipment is generous, with climate control as standard, but there isn’t much between the R and lesser Sciroccos. At £29,595, the VW costs £7,128 more than the Mégane, but the difference in quality doesn’t reflect this.

The Renault doesn’t feel like a far cheaper car, with its soft-touch materials and smart, if slightly fiddly, switchgear. And the Cup’s racy additions are really neatly executed. The thick-rimmed steering wheel, gearlever and door trims all get bright yellow stitching, and our test car’s £869 optional Recaro seats are superb. They’re incredibly supportive and comfortable, and provide a fantastic driving position.

When it comes to kit, the Cup is no stripped-out racer. It gets manual air-con, eight airbags, parking sensors, Bluetooth and cruise control. Climate control is a £408 option, but it comes fitted as standard to more expensive non-Cup Renaultsport models.

Despite its rally-bred looks, the Focus RS has a long spec tally. Yet the Ford’s cabin feels dated, and it can’t match the VW for quality. Carbon-effect trim, gauges for boost pressure, oil temperature and pressure, plus RS badges, do little to quicken the pulse inside.

The biggest irritation is the lack of height adjustment on the Ford’s excellent Recaro driver’s seat, which leaves taller owners perched uncomfortably high up.

Our car had the £1,532 Luxury pack 2, which includes parking sensors, keyless start, auto wipers and a colour navigation screen. But that pushes the RS close to £30,000 – and the cabin isn’t special enough for such a price.

This couldn’t be further from the case in the Audi. While the S3’s dash is a bit dated, the great materials and smart detailing mean it still feels upmarket.

The seats aren’t overly sporty, but they are comfortable and the flat-bottomed steering wheel is superb. A decent range of adjustment also means a fantastic driving position.

Volkswagen: 4/5
Scirocco cabin is a familiar VW design, quality is hard to fault and the layout is logical. Sporty R additions are subtle, and we particularly like the racy metal pedals.

Renault: 4/5
The Mégane gets an analogue speedo, in place of the standard car’s digital read-out. Yellow rev counter, steering wheel stitching and seatbelts add sporty feel. Optional Recaro seats are great.

Audi: 4/5
In design terms, the A3 cabin is feeling dated, yet fit and finish are still rock solid. Although it doesn’t have the racy extras of some cars in this test, heated leather seats come as standard.

Ford: 3/5
It's fairly well equipped, but the Ford can’t match the VW or Audi’s upmarket feel. Some plastics are cheap and the design seems dated – not what you’d expect from a car in this price bracket.