With the high-tech, but low-selling Phaeton limo consigned to history - its last global sales were in 2016 - the third-generation Touareg is now the flagship of the VW brand. Cue 'halo' new technologies like all-wheel steering, night vision and the stand-out Innovision Cockpit. Featuring a huge 15in centre screen that almost seamlessly joins up with the 12in driver display, it beats the 12.3in centre screen of the Mercedes E-Class and is only a couple of inches shy of Tesla's huge 17in set-up.     

Screen test   

Putting size to one side, the screen functions really well, with swipe-able windows, air-con controls always available at its base, great map options and an iPhone-like 'back' button to make 'starting again' easy. There are two potential negatives though. Firstly, the screen is angled markedly towards the driver, so shorter-armed front-seat passengers might struggle to access all of the great content within it. Secondly, only a 9in screen is standard and VW UK won't indicate how much this 15in special might cost, even though the car goes on sale on 7 June. Expect it to be pricey, but worth optioning. Once you've tried it, going back to a smaller screen, like the one in the car I drove home, feels like a let-down. 

Beyond the dominant, but optional, screen, the Touareg's cabin is well-finished, with fancy ambient lighting (also worth optioning), and spacious in the front and back. There's no seven-seat option, unlike rivals from Volvo and Land Rover, but the positive knock-on effect is a very big boot, 811 litres rising to 1,800 litres. 

Extra power   

A petrol and a plug-in hybrid will eventually fill out the engine range, but, at launch, there are just two diesels: 231 and 286hp versions of a 3.0-litre V6. On our test, only the latter 286hp unit was available. Offering 24hp extra over the outgoing 262hp V6 diesel, it's undeniably powerful, with more than enough shove for daily driving. Handling was enhanced by the four-wheel steering, active chassis control and excellent bump-suppressing air suspension.

Steering is neat, with a usefully small, VW Golf-like turning circle. A 340hp 3.0-litre petrol arrives in the autumn and, for those who need to tow big stuff (the Touareg can haul a 3.5-tonne trailer) or simply want more power, a 421hp 4.0-litre V8 turbodiesel arrives early 2019.