You could be forgiven for not having noticed - with either generation of car - that Volkswagen co-developed an off-roader with another manufacturer and outsold it. Because that car maker was Porsche and the car was the Cayenne, released to much hoo-ha all those these years ago.
The VW Touareg was developed at the same time on the same platform as the Cayenne and was in volume terms more successful than the Porsche, which was used as a cash cow by the German sports car manufacturer to shore up its reserve account.
Now we're up to the second generation and the Touareg has returned with the now-customary VW family face and some sharper lines around its torso. The styling remains conservative, however - but in many ways this only adds to the car's appeal.
The VW is an impressive car - you get the impression looking at its understated lines and quietly confident demeanour that this is the sort of 4x4 that Audi should have come up with rather than its own bloated, brash Q7. More than Audi or Porsche, the Touareg fits neatly in with Volkswagen's range and its premium pretensions.
The interior is as conservative as the outside of the car suggests, but the cabin is excellently trimmed and the dashboard swathed in soft-touch plastics that lend the whole experience a suitable sense of occasion. Having said that, you will want to avoid any trim with the fake wood inserts, which look fairly awful.
The Touareg isn't cramped inside, but it does feel cosy. Passengers will all have plenty of room, although it is strictly a five-seater with no option to expand that. Refinement on the move makes the Touareg one of the best models in its auspicious class, while the ride is always comfortable. Refinement and luxury is certainly emphasised above a dynamic driving experience.
There are number of diesel engines available for the Touareg and, new on this generation, is a petrol-powered 3.0-litre V6 hybrid which seems largely pointless, given that it cannot even outperform the diesel engines. The 4.2-litre V8 diesel is amusingly quick but thirsty and expensive - the best option is the entry-level 3.0-litre V6 diesel that VW says will return an impressive 38mpg.
The Touareg is impressively refined, but the top models do not justify their Range Rover Sport prices.