When you think of Volkswagen, you think of Golf. The legendary family hatch has been the German brand's best performer in the UK for years, pursued by the slightly smaller Polo. But in third place is the Tiguan, an unsung hero of Wolfsburg's expansive range.

The latest generation of this compact SUV is based on the MQB platform that forms the foundation of the Golf and Passat, as well as other VW

Group cars from Seat and Skoda. It's been upgraded visually and borrows in-car tech from Audi, making the Tiguan's interior one of the most up-to-date in its sector. All of this is a huge improvement on the already-good Tiguan, which had just begun to feel dated.

The Tiguan's chiselled, Germanic features set it apart from more fluid-looking rivals. It's a handsome car and has much more road

presence than the outgoing generation, which didn't benefit from Volkswagen's current design language. Short overhangs at the front and rear are hugely beneficial off-road and add to the chunky, utilitarian aesthetic of this fundamentally road-orientated car.

The inside of the car is largely well-built, but in comparison to the price tag (around £25,000 for a sensible Tiguan), the materials used are disappointing in places. Beige plastic dominates the front below knee-height, though the seats are fetching and the soft-touch plastic feels built to last.

Volkswagen's image has been undeniably dented by its emissions scandal, but that's unlikely to put buyers off. The VW badge is still an upmarket

- if conventional - choice. The upcoming Seat Ateca, which is mechanically similar but has a much lower starting price, could represent better value for buyers who like the Tiguan, but aren't fussed about brand.

There's more room in the Tiguan than before, but tall people will find the back seats cramped. Legroom has been improved, but avoid the flimsy plastic tables - they fill the extra space with hard plastic that will bruise the knees of your rear passengers. Door bins are large and storage is generally excellent throughout the cabin.

The boot can theoretically hold over 600 litres of luggage, depending on the exact position of the adjustable rear seats. Those rear seats can be adjusted or folded down with a tug of a small spring-loaded tab - a very user-friendly system. When the seats are folded down, the Tiguan boasts 1,655 litres of space for those occasional garden centre trips.

Volkswagen has lengthened the wheelbase of the Tiguan, making it slightly more comfortable on British roads. The Tiguan is also a few pounds lighter, with clever weight savings mitigating the added weight of all the new convenience and safety tech. Noticeably light steering suggests that the Tiguan has been optimised for urban and suburban driving. But buyers of the 4x4 Tiguan will be pleasantly surprised at how adept their new car is at handling quite serious off-road challenges. It will never compare with a well-driven Range Rover, but the ground clearance, four-wheel-drive system and short overhangs combine to make an unnecessarily good utility vehicle. External cameras situated around the vehicle can be used to help visualise difficult terrain from the comfort of the cab, too.

An advanced infotainment system is available on the Tiguan. The instrument binnacle is digital, visually emulating a conventional speedometer and rev counter, but with much more flexibility. The driver can choose to display Google Maps, including satellite imagery - while this often duplicates information found on the centre console touchscreen, it's a futuristic touch that helps maximise time spent looking at the road. A head-up display, showing the car's current speed in comparison to the prevailing speed limit, is another driver-orientated safety improvement.

Volkswagen occupies a different market position to key rivals. The Qashqai, which continues to outsell its opposition quite convincingly, is an excellent car but has a cheaper image. Similarly, offerings from Kia and Hyundai are very competent choices, but lack badge appeal. Yet the Tiguan isn't as posh as the Evoque or Discovery Sport - it's somewhere in between.