NEW VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

A softer, more organic-looking Tiguan has replaced its similarly-sized, more sharply-creased predecessor, while consolidating practicality and overall safety. The new, rounded nose is noticeably more elevated and features matrix headlights with strong active beams. These frame a glass-covered horizontal bar with integrated LED strip for extra road presence. In the right light, the Nightshade Blue of our R-Line test car showed off more muscular and defined shoulders.

Inside, R-Line ArtVelours sports seats make a strong initial impression and the front seats have a massage function with good intensity, pneumatically adjustable lumbar support and cushion depth adjustment. These alone might win over some buyers before they even leave the showroom. Further back, the split-folding rear bench seat can be slid well forward to free up extra load space when required. Rear legroom remains good, making the Tiguan cabin an extremely pleasant environment regardless of which seat you’re in. Where it falls short of the RAV4 – the ultimate Captain sensible – is in overall space and hybrid-engined fuel efficiency.

First big change for the driver to get used to is the absence of a transmission lever in the centre console, replaced by a round selector for Driving Experience Control. By default it’s a volume control wheel but press it and you can explore menus for interior atmosphere (mood lighting) or Driving Profile selection. The R-Line multifunction wheel is leather-wrapped and features gearshift paddles. The gear selector is now the right-hand column stalk and you twist it to engage Drive or Reverse. This compromises the left-hand stalk which is now very busy, and less user-friendly. Headlight, indicator and wiper functions all crammed in.

This sportily-tuned, FWD R-Line caters to Kiwi buyers who favour a very well-dressed and very well-equipped medium SUV. It’s reassuring but unexciting to punt along briskly however the stability, refinement and composure are ever-present rewards. Other than a slight deficit in low-down torque, the 1.4 turbo goes well enough if you push it along, and there’s an abundance of grip with 255/45 rubber fitted to 19-inch alloys. These big contact patches take away some potential ride comfort however cabin isolation remains generally very good indeed. Safety features are first-rate and include pedestrian and cyclist monitoring and nine airbags. A newcomer is a central airbag that inflates between front seat occupants in the event of a collision.

The sat-nav system is a standard Tiguan feature, offering a 12.9in touchscreen, App-connect, and Volkswagen’s IDA Voice Assistant, which spent some of its time politely telling us it wasn’t able to do what we required from it. Otherwise, usability of the touchscreen has improved. You’ll also enjoy the backlit decorative panels in a broad range of selectable colours. They help freshen up the overall tone in a modern, digital sense.

A full week with the new Tiguan underlined our impressions at launch: Volkswagen’s best-seller has taken a step upmarket and remains the appealing, compelling all-rounder that made such a big impact when it first came to market 16 years. That debut car was introduced to us in a rustic Australian setting beside a camp fire and a billabong. This time, our introduction was in glitzy urban surroundings which says something about how these ‘workhorses’ are most often used.