Some cars have presence, at any price point. Touareg is one of them.

Classically imposing might be the correct term. Unmistakeable once you have seen your first.

There are, apart from the big badge, some unmistakeable VW hints. The slab sides are strong, and while I wouldn't have personally styled the substantial level of chroming that sets them off, it actually works well.

The whole strength thing is continued on the rear aspect, good big lights high out of harm's way, a wide and clutter-free tailgate, and one of the most-neatly executed opening rear window designs that I've seen.

And just in case you hadn't got the visual message in its entirety, those great bulks of alloy wheels have a go-anywhere attitude about them.

Inside, the review car was all leather, wood, and brushed aluminium tech. I liked the creamy look, a nice change from the more usual gloominess of standard VW trim.

The cockpit area is Master of the Universe, everything large in scale, including any press-buttons and rotary knobs. Those last have a style all of their own.

The steering wheel follows the same massive ethos, and incorporated controls include radio and cruise management.

Instrumentation, also in the large theme, is commendably clear, with good white figures on black that turn to blue at night. I like blue for clarity. It ought to be mandatory.

The big T-Bar of the automatic trans (an option) has a craftworked look with its inlay of wood and a stainless steel 'V6' badge discretely inset.

For all the bulk of the seats design, there's much head, shoulders and legs room.

And in the luggage area, despite all the 4WD stuff underneath, there's quite ample room.

As an entry-level model, the Touareg doesn't take prisoners, and the 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine doesn't even consider such mundanes as VRT and insurance and car tax.

There's a solid 220bhp of power, and a pull of 305 Nm which - with manual or automatic - gets below the 10-second barrier in 0-100 km/h.

There's a penalty, though, with an on-paper fuel consumption of just over 20mpg. If it is any consolation, I returned 24mpg plus in my time with the car.

The drive system has full reduction gearing ratios, electronically controlled, so this is a full offroader, albeit with a monocoque build rather than on a ladder frame.

That means better comfort and handling on the tarmac, and in Touareg's case right up to luxury saloon standards. Offroad it can climb 45-degree slopes, drive sideways at an angle of 35 degrees, wade through water up to 580mm deep, and generally take you most places that you'd want to go.

The six-speed gearbox is well up to class, and with the amount of torque available it rarely has to hunt for better positioning.

This is a car that starts out around the €60,000 mark and gets quickly more expensive. Will people accept it as a luxury SUV?

I certainly think Touareg might well be breaking out the trail for a revolution.