It may have one of the silliest names of any vehicle on the road but with the same underpinnings as a Porsche Cayenne and a range of proven petrol and diesel engines the VW Touareg comes from a top-quality gene pool. Add to that fantastic build quality, understated but classy looks and enough off-road ability to frighten even the mighty Range Rover and it’s one of the most impressive used cars money can buy.

Introduced to Britain in early 2003, the new luxury off-roader grabbed headlines with the option of a truly enormous V10 diesel engine. No other British-supplied diesel off-roader offers more power. With a mouth-watering 308bhp on tap and a ridiculous 553 lb ft of torque at your disposal the 2.6-ton vehicle completes the 0-62mph sprint in a mere 7.8sec and hits 140mph.

Is it fun to drive? You bet, but you do pay a price. The petrol-like performance also equates to petrol-like fuel economy and unless you have the self-control to do little more than feather the throttle you’ll be returning mpg in the late teens.

A better bet is the 2.5 litre TDI. With 172bhp it’s still no slouch and the lighter power plant endows the vehicle with better takeoff and crisper steering. Fuel economy improves by around 10mpg and you’ll spend around £10,000 less on a used example, making it the most practical vehicle in the range.

It is available with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox and is as close as you can come to driving an off-roader with car-like handling and dynamics. You’ll have to pay around £1,000 extra for a used example with the superb tiptronic gearbox but it’s money well spent.

Of course you could plump for a petrol engine, with a 3.2 V6 and a 4.2 V8 on offer but fuel economy suffers and the gains in performance don’t really compensate.

There was a time when Mercedes was the benchmark for build quality but in the world of 4x4s it’s the Touareg that now sets the standard. The broad cabin is superbly appointed with every button, stalk and surface oozing quality. Space also abounds with a generous central armrest and plenty of useful cubbyholes and cup holders. In the rear are three proper seatbelts and the Touareg’s five-star Euro NCAP rating for crash protection will reassure owners.

Despite the Touareg’s obvious attraction as a luxury car it also has plenty to impress the mud pluggers. The permanent four-wheel drive comes with a high and low ratio gearbox, an electronically controlled centre diff and clever electronics that will direct the traction to whichever wheel possesses the most grip. And with each door triple-sealed for water ingress you won’t be getting your Gucci loafers wet when you traverse that babbling brook.

In common with other luxury off-roaders the equipment and options list runs to several pages. All models get alloy wheels, an air-conditioned cabin and glove box (to keep your chocolate bar crisp), electric windows and mirrors and an alarm. Leather upholstery, an option on base models, is an essential and the factory satellite navigation system is desirable. When buying used, a complete service history is a non-negotiable must. It’s worth insisting on seeing the original invoices.

So there you have it: the Volkswagen Touareg. Unfortunate name but brilliant second-hand buy.

• Four-wheel drive Permanent four-wheel drive and clever electronics mean the Touareg takes the hard work out of off-roading

• Bodywork Should be immaculate, thanks to a galvanised body shell

• Towing The V10 diesel has to be driven to be believed — it can pull the side off your house — but all the models are capable of up to 3,500kg if the trailer is braked

• Servicing Variable service interval usually sees the car visit the garage about every 10,000 miles

• Tyre wear Check tyres carefully as some owners report uneven wear and short life expectancy due to transfer box problems or incorrect wheel alignment

• Under body Check underside of the vehicle carefully, preferably on ramps, for signs of off-road damage

• Wheels The standard 17in rims are fine but the V8 Sport and V10 models come with chunky-looking 18in ones

• Leather upholstery Standard on most models but essential on all

• Warranty New Touareg's were originally covered by a three-year/ 60,000-mile mechanical warranty together with a 12-year bodywork deal

• A 2003 03 VW Touareg 2.5 TDI tiptronic auto with leather upholstery and 40,000 miles. Pay £19,995 at a franchised dealer or £18,500 privately

Manual model worth £1,000 less than equivalent automatic. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer

Alternatives

Figures based on CAP December 2005 edition

 © Jason Dawe Productions Limited August 2006