VW have gone all in on chrome with the new Toureg so if acres of brightwork isn’t your thing, look away now because the front end is positively glistening with it. When I first looked at it, the huge grille shimmering at me in the rare winter sunshine I wasn’t overly enamoured with it but it quickly grew on me.

It certainly gives the big SUV, as if it needed it, greater presence.

Even without the huge badge on the front there’s no doubt which stable this particular machine has emerged from. It shares styling cues with its smaller siblings but amplified in every direction. The revised proportions make it look a little squatter than the model it replaces but, be in no doubt, this is a large car.

Climb inside and the welcome is impressive. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that several cows have made an invaluable contribution to the luxurious interior. As well as the vast swathes of leather there’s lots of tastefully integrated metal detailing and high-quality tactile plastics.

The fascia is dominated by the – I don’t need to say huge – 15-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch LCD display in the instrument binnacle that forms the company’s Innovision Cockpit. It’s standard on R-Line Tech cars but costs a not inconsiderable £2,500.

It looks like one sculpted piece of glass but is actually split in two just behind the steering wheel. This, say VW, is to keep the cost of replacement parts if either piece should get damaged.

The user interface is one of the most intuitive I’ve used. You can tile the menus, bringing the most frequently used to the front while sending the ones you use less often to the back. You also get the benefit of Apple Car Play and Android Auto as standard and – though I can only vouch for those of us in the Alphabet camp – it works seamlessly looks brilliant on the big screen.

A grand will buy you a head-up display, which shows important information such as speed, sat nav instructions and trip details.

While the Toureg shares some of its mechanical components with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne – rivals from within the KM Group – they have been imbued with very different characteristics.

It rides on the group’s MLBevo platform, which also underpins the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and a number of other Audi models. Under the bonnet of my review car was the firm’s 3.0-litre V6 TDi producing 282bhp – though you can also have the same engine with 228bhp – mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox sending drive to all four wheels through a self-locking centre differential with asymmetric dynamic torque distribution acts as a transfer box for the flow of forces between the front and rear axle. A maximum of 70 per cent of the drive force reaches the front axle and up to 80 can be sent to the rear.

There are three trim-levels available: SEL, R-Line and R-Line Tech. SEL cars are fitted with a smaller, but still substantial 9.2in Discover Navigation infotainment system, Vienna Black leather upholstery, heated six-way adjustable front seats, full LED headlights and 19in alloy wheels. Adaptive cruise control with speed limiter and city braking assist are also included.

R-Line models add 20in alloys, parking assistance and a rear view camera, plus an automatic tailgate, four-zone climate control, four USB sockets and wireless phone charging as well as a multi-function R-Line steering wheel.

R-Line Tech specification adds the Innovision Cockpit, front ergoComfort seats with electric 14-way adjustment for seat height, seat length, seat cushion angle, backrest angle and 4-way electrically adjustable lumbar support, plus keyless entry and start and High Beam Assist.

If you’re a particularly keen driver then you might want to think about looking elsewhere because, despite the Touareg sharing its underpinnings with the Cayenne and Bentayga, it’s clear that VW have prioritised comfort ahead of dynamic prowess.

It’s surprisingly nimble thanks, in no small part, to the excellent four-wheel steering and the air suspension does a commendable job of reining in excessive body roll but all that good work is undone by the numb and slightly unpredictable steering. That vagueness undermines driver confidence, slowing down what would otherwise brisk progress.

The question is, whether that trade-off in pursuit of comfort was worth it and, the short answer is yes. The big SUV soaks up lumps, bumps, cracks and crevices with aplomb, isolating the occupants in blissful ignorance from most of the turmoil beneath the wheels.

It’s particularly good on motorways where progress is relaxed and peaceful, thanks to a cabin that’s beautifully insulated from exterior noise. The V6 diesel has lots of grunt, too, so it’s perfect for effortless overtaking or high-speed cruising.

The sprint to 62mph takes just 6.1 seconds with a top speed – where legal – of 141mph and regardless of how hard you push the engine it remains remarkably refined.

There’s no seven-seat option but there is plenty of room for five above-average height human beings. It’s a not insignificant 44mm wider than the model it replaces so there shouldn’t be any complaints if you’re carrying a full complement across the rear bench, even the unfortunate soul forced to straddle the transmission tunnel.

The roof is a smidgeon lower (7mm) but head and legroom remains generous in the front and back. The doors open nice and wide too, so loading people of any size or shape should be straightforward.

Because VW declined to fit a third row of seats all that space behind the rear bench – and there is a substantial amount of it – is available for your luggage, or anything else you want to carry. Capacity is among the best in class, totalling 810 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,800 with them folded flat.

The Touareg is a luxurious, well-appointed SUV that is more than capable of challenging at the top table. The cabin is impeccably pieced together and stuffed with enough kit to keep the average technophile entertained.

It will comfortably accommodate five people and, while some might rue the absence of a seven-seat version, it does free up the boot to do what boots do best.

The driving experience is firmly geared towards comfort and that entirely suits the ambience of the passenger space as well as the laid-back accessibility of the V6 diesel. If you want a large premium SUV that wraps all the latest tech in a comfortable, luxurious package then the Touareg has to be on your shopping list.

VW Touareg R-Line 3.0-litre V6 TDI 4MOTION 286 PS 8spd auto tiptronic

Price: £55,095

As tested: £66,725

Engine: 3.0-litre V6 TDi

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Max power: 286PS @ 3,500 – 4,000rpm

Max torque: 600Nm @ 2,250 – 3,250rpm

Max speed: 146mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 6.2sec

Urban: 36.7mpg

Extra urban: 47.9mpg

Combined: 42.8mpg

Emissions (CO2): 173g/km

For more information visit www.vw.co.uk