Touareg gatecrashes the SUV party

Take the Touareg. It costs from around £40,000, which sounds like a lot of money, but its peanuts compared to some of its rivals.

It is related to the Porsche Cayenne and the Audi Q7, both of which cost considerably more. And it is much, much cheaper than a Range Rover, from whom it intends to pinch sales.

No wonder VW 4x4s are taking off. The Touareg has sold more than 500,000 models since it first appeared in 2003 and the Tiguan, its smaller sibling, is pretty established too.

Touareg - it’s named after a nomadic people from Africa - doesn’t look like a cheap alternative. It has all the confidence you expect from a VW and it comes laden to the hilt with useable technology.

Take the test version. It is the entry-level Touareg and comes in at just under £40,000, yet it is exceptionally well equipped.

On the safety front, it has Adaptive Cruise Control, Dynamic Light Assist, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Lane Assist.

Inside, it has leather trim, a heated steering wheel, sliding rear seats, climate control, satellite navigation, a sophisticated trip computer, automatic wipers and computerised systems to help you to drive down hill and up hill.

But for me, the best feature is simply the way it drives. It’s a huge car (4.8 metres long and 1.7 metres high) yet it rides and handles more like a car than a substantial 4x4.

And it returns decent economy such as 47mpg on a run and 36mpg around town.

The gearbox is sensational. It is an eight-speed automatic tiptronic transmission and maximum speed is achieved in sixth gear with seventh and eighth being overdrive ratios to reduce fuel consumption.

All models feature BlueMotion Technology with Stop/Start as well as battery regeneration systems to improve economy and reduce emissions.

If you really want to drive on demanding conditions you could choose the Escape version which adds extra off-road capability with 4XMOTION which comprises a two-speed transfer gearbox, centre and rear differentials that can each be fully locked for off-road use and five stage control for the four-wheel drive system.

Touareg has much to commend it. If you wanted to be critical you might feel the BMW X5 looks classier and the Land Rover Discovery is the more able off road, but as an all-rounder the Touareg is hard to beat.

And few people who pay £40,000 for a vehicle like this really test it to the limit anyway. They are generally used for country driving and on slippery fields and the like rather than really rugged terrain.

The Touareg is popular with people who tow trailers, caravans and horseboxes and it has built up a loyal following since launch.

The new Touareg has grown slightly. It is 6mm longer and 68mm wider and it has considerably more space inside. It is versatile, thanks to rear seats which can slide through 160mm with adjustable backrest angles. And the boot measures from 580 litres to 1,642 litres, depending on the seating arrangement.

Three trim levels are available. The range starts with the SE, which features 19in ‘Salvador’ alloy wheels, satellite navigation with eight-inch touchscreen, DAB digital radio and Bluetooth, climate control, leather upholstery. parking sensors and chrome roof rails.

The Escape model features an advanced 4XMOTION off-road four-wheel drive system, with 50-50 torque split, differential locks; higher off-road suspension, 18in ‘Karakum’ alloy wheels, underbody protection, black roof rails and a headlight cleaning system.

The top-of-the-range Touareg R-Line features an R-Line body kit with different bumpers front and rear, sill extensions and wheel arch extensions, 20in ‘Tarragona’ alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension, LED daytime running lights and a panoramic glass sunroof.

Volkswagen Touareg SE V6 TDI

PRICE: £39,570

ENGINE: a 2,967cc V6 cylinder unit generating 204bhp via all four wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 140mph and 0 to 60mph in 7.3 seconds

COSTS: Town 36.7mpg; country 47.1mpg; combined 42.8mpg

EMISSIONS: 174g/km

INSURANCE: Group 40E

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles