It’s the new entry-level SE specification Touareg which should attract most interest from those drivers who have a free choice of car

Although there are higher-level trim additions such as the ubiquitous Black Edition, it is the new entry-level SE specification which should attract most interest from those drivers who have a free choice of car.

With a starting price of £45,445 this new addition is a considerable £4,200 cheaper at the front-end than our mid-range SEL model, spelling a saving of more than £600 per annum in Benefit-in-Kind tax.

In SE trim and powered by the same V6 diesel engine as our test car, the new entry-level Touareg still has enough luxury features to avoid feeling like a stripped-out car built to a price – standard kit includes 19-inch alloys, satellite navigation, parking sensors and heated front seats. While it lacks some of the luxury features that make our car feel special (such as the huge screens in the dashboard), it is still a solid, spacious family car.

Our test model has now returned to Volkswagen, leaving a large quasi-premium SUV hole in my drive.