Diesels and petrols need to be driven in different rpm ranges - if you drive a petrol like you'd drive a diesel then of course you'll think it's gutless.

Ever driven a VAG 1.4 TSi, obviously not.

Having had turbo diesels since 1996 changed to a 1.4 TSi back in 2013 and will never go back to diesel.

The 1.4 TSi produces max torque from 1500 to 3500 rpm and accelerates brilliantly in that band with no lag. But where a diesel gives up at 4000 rpm (or perhaps a bit later) the TSI keeps pulling all the way to 6000 rpm should you need it (only tried it once in over 3 years), never need to use more than 3000 rpm for virtually all my normal driving.

It also matches (or beats) the mpg figures I have seen from less powerful diesels.

But not all petrol turbo's are as good. Tried a 1.2 TSi with 90 PS in a Polo. It got terrific reviews but was a slug even when you revved it. I did not expect it to drive like the 1.4 TSi 140 but it was a major disapointment (both for me and the wife).

0-62 acceleration time is a good guide.

No its not, who drives cars in that way in the real world.

The performance figures that give the best indication are the 30-70 mph through the gears and the 30-50 and 50-70 in gear figures, speeds where we spend most of of lives and speeds where we do most of our overtaking.

But why not make your own mind up having driven the car. Appreciate its impossible to test a car in all circumstances on a 30 minute test drive but experience should tell you if its suitable or not.

In-gear figures are irrelevant to the increasing number of people who buy automatics, whether conventional or DSG.

Few, if any, of us will accelerate flat out from a standstill to 60+ mph - IMO it's a good guide to how much reserve there is.

Overtaking acceleration is a speeds up to 60 mph - 70 is only permitted on dual carriageways and motorways where full acceleration isn't needed - just cruise past at your selected speed - if it's heavy traffic no-one's doing 70 anyway.