Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDi SE Bluemotion

Excellent car that is as near as you can to the perfect all rounder.

One of the best purchases I have made. The looks may not be 'exciting' but it doesn't merit being called dull. A more appropriate description would be purposeful. It is a practical and functional vehicle that's also supremely comfortable and quiet to drive and ride in, whilst having more than enough performance to make progress when confronted by the all too frequent 'convoys' travelling well below the speed limit but still too close together.

The cabin is a nice place to be and has a quality feel. The controls are well placed and driving is a pleasure. It's also surprisingly enjoyable to hustle along A and B roads when the mood takes. Passenger accommodation is good and load space excellent. I don't want seven seats so the lack of an option is of no concern and quite frankly in most of the vehicles that do offer the option, the two extra seats are invariably very cramped and claustrophobic for all but small children.

Having come from a BMW 535d Gran Turismo I believe Touareg car is superior. The BMW was obviously quicker still but not as versatile. And critically the BMW has been designed to put the driver and passengers lives at risk, not to mention other road users. The Gran Turismo wore both rear tyres down to the canvas on the inner tyre edges in a strip about half-an-inch wide, all within 17,000 miles. This catastrophic wear was not reported at the service just 800 miles before I became aware of it. Both tyres had to be replaced (dealer only supply) at a cost of over £800. My reports to BMW customer service elicited a replies that the tyre wear was normal. My further contention that they should notify dealers and owners of this wear pattern, which apparently is normal and therefore built in, was answered by telling me they would no longer answer any communication I sent them.

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