Best luxury SUV over $60,000

This series two Volkswagen Touareg is all new and bristling with technology.

It’s larger than the previous model, with improved occupant and load space thanks to an additional 50mm in the wheelbase. It also boasts class leading body structure yet weighs up to 90kg less.

That additional wheelbase length translates directly into extra legroom. Versatility has also been improved with the introduction of a rear seat that can slide backwards or forwards by 160mm to give additional cabin or boot space, and the rear squab can also be reclined in three stages.

The plush cabin will comfortably seat five adults while drivers get comfort seats with 12-way electric adjustment and electro-pneumatic side bolsters.

Power comes from a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine delivering 180 kW and an impressive 550 Nm of torque from around 2000 rpm. BlueMotion technologies, which include faster engine and gearbox warm up, engine stop/start and regenerative braking, and an eight-speed auto result in a significant reduction in fuel consumption (7.4 litres/100 km average) and emissions.

Touareg’s AWD setup, called 4motion, has a Torsen limited slip differential suitable for maximum grades of 31-degrees and a simple to use two-position rotary switch, which tunes ABS, ESC, hill descent and auto shift points for off-road driving.