PEDIGREE simply isn't enough in today's tough car market to guarantee that a new model will make it.

Just because the Volkswagen badge can boast quality and the hugely popular Passat and Polo ranges, plus that evergreen private buy, the Golf, doesn't mean each and every new VW will soar up the sales charts.

Vehicle choice is now so vast, and global production standards so high, that if any newcomer is going to attract buyers, it has to be good enough to stand on its own merits, regardless of who makes it.

Brand loyalty, always a German strongpoint, has consequently looked a little on the fragile side of late in the face of such stiff competition.

Last summer, Volkswagen dealt virtually the last hand at midi-people-carrier poker, trotting out the Touran trump card against a clutch of established players.

Only time will tell if the Touran can turn a flush against Ford's family-sized full house, the Focus C-Max, another latecomer to the game, or even beat Renault's long-standing ace card, the Scenic.

But the Touran is good, it is beautifully built, and it does have family appeal. No worries for Volkswagen, then, because this midi-MPV keeps the image well intact.

It drives and handles like a supermini, too, and has a good choice of engines to keep everyone happy. The stiffer damping on the Sport might not be to everyone's taste, but the resulting extra control and better cornering behaviour is a fair pay-off.

The new 2.0 litre, 148bhp petrol unit has just joined the Touran range, to sit alongside the more powerful of the two diesels, the tested 134bhp 2.0 litre turbo power plant.

The lesser oil burner, the 1.9 litre turbo, will probably sell best, with enough performance and economy to satisfy most needs, plus the chance to buy a five-seater version for £15,000 or so.

The larger diesel, with a six-speed manual gearbox, a 122mph capability and 53.3mpg country cycle economy, is priced at £18,520 for a five-seat SE, and the seven-seat Sport version tops the price range at £20,965.

This engine oozes confidence, even with a full load, and can deliver excellent surge through every gear change.

Most Tourans feature that six-speed transmission - the basic 1.6 litre S is the five-speed exception - and a six-speed auto box, where available, puts another £1,000 on to the bill.

The latest move by VW is to boost the range with more seven-seaters... for the price of five.

Starting at £14,495 on the road for the seven-seater 1.6-litre S, this entry-level price has been cut by £555. This price-saving continues throughout the range with £630 taken off the cost of all seven-seater SE and Sport versions.

Anyone concerned that having seven seats will reduce the flexibility of their vehicle need have no worries. When the extra seats are not in use, they simply fold flat into the floor, freeing up the Touran's spacious 695-litre boot (that is 200-litres more than the Passat estate's boot space).

The Touran is unique in its sector, having seven seats and all Euro IV emissions compliant engines. This means significantly lower tax penalties for company car drivers as well as more environmentally-friendly vehicles on the road. As well as low tax costs (car tax liability at 165g/km C02 emissions works out at 16 per cent of cost of car when new), the insurance grouping is an affordable nine.

The Touran also maintains low whole-life costs, helped by its fuel efficient engines and residual values.

What's more, the Touran scored a class-best five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests, reinforcing its excellent safety package, and did so well on pedestrian safety, too, that it led the midi-MPV class.

All models have anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic stabilisation programme, twin front and side airbags, plus a side-curtain airbag system, three-point seatbelts for all seats, active head restraints and Isofix child seat.

Prices rise to £20,965 for the seven-seater Sport 2.0-litre turbo diesel injection model. There is also a 1.9-litre turbo diesel with an entry price of £15,830.

Performance and economy figures are quite impressive, too. There is a top speed 122mph, and the 0-62mph dash can be achieved in 10.6 seconds.

To give an example of economy, official fuel figures for the Sport are city 36.7mpg, country 53.3mpg, combined 46.3mpg.

Volkswagen's obsessive attention to detail is highly evident in the equipment list.

Every model gets tinted glass, a dust and pollen filter, air conditioning, front electric windows, heated and powered door mirrors, reading lights, a radio/CD player, and full adjustment for the driver on both seat and steering wheel.

The tested Sport model adds zoned electronic climate control, front fog lights, sporty suspension, alloy wheels, darker rear glass and chrome-finish roof rails to all that, plus improved upholstery and a sportier interior of brushed aluminium trim.

The rear two seats fold into the floor, and there's a cavernous cargo space if you take down the middle three chairs, too. Using both that and the roof rails, you could probably carry a decent-sized sofa and a couple of armchairs.

So it fits every flexibility bill but one: with seven occupants, there's not much interior room left for holiday gear, but VW will be happy to sell you a 350-litre luggage box to go on top for around £250.

Updated: 10:03 Friday, March 19, 2004