You can tell instantly by looking at the rear of Volkswagen’s Tiguan if the person at the wheel is seriously into off-roading. If the badge says Escape, you know this vehicle means business. All Tiguan models come with four-wheel-drive as standard, but the Escape trim gives a greater angle of approach at the front end and a shorter overhang, for greater off-road ability, a protective element over the front radiator grille, sump guard, hill descent assist and a compass.

If, on the other hand, the badge reads SE, as it did on the test car, then comfort and luxury are the name of the game. The SE model is also expected to be the most popular, accounting for about a third of all sales. The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s first compact sports utility vehicle and takes visual cues from its ‘big brother’ off-roader, the Touareg.

Like the Touareg, there is plenty of interior space, comfort and equipment.

Like them or loathe them, muscular-styled SUVs are incredibly, and understandably, popular. The beefy looks are matched by a high driving position, which tangibly improves the feeling of safety on board. The Tiguan’s rear seat bench is also pretty versatile, as it is fitted slightly higher than the front seats — useful for people with children as passengers. Not only can they see more through the windows, but fitting their seat belts is also easier, and each of the rear seat backs can also be reclined individually. If the rear middle seat is not occupied, the centre section of the rear bench can be folded down to make an armrest and cup holder; alternatively there is a load-through provision to enable long items to be transported with two rear passengers seated. Up against the likes of the Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, the Tiguan needs to be well equipped.

All Tiguans come with alloy wheels, air conditioning, MP3-compatible CD player, anti-lock brakes with Hydraulic Brake Assist, Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), a curtain airbag system and twin front and side airbags.

A really useful device, fitted to all models, is an electronic parking brake with standard auto-hold function. This function is activated by a button near the gearlever and is helpful when the car is regularly stopping for short periods, for example when driving in heavy traffic.

In this case, the parking brake is applied automatically whenever the vehicle is brought to rest on the footbrake, preventing it from rolling forwards or backwards. The brake is released as soon as the accelerator is pressed.

Another clever device fitted is VW’s eerie Park Assist system, which uses sensors linked to the steering to allow the car to parallel park itself with next to no help from the driver.

The engine choice — a 2.0-litre TDI 140 horsepower common rail diesel and a 1.4-litre TSI 150 horsepower petrol unit — is being joined shortly by a 170 horsepower TDI engine and a further pair of TSI petrol engines. Diesel is the overwhelming choice with an estimated 85 per cent of buyers opting for oil-burning power.