There seems nothing to stop the inexorable rise in popularity of the mini-MPV. These rather ungainly little cars appear to have knocked sales of small estates on the head and are now going about putting a big dent in the popularity of conventional family hatchbacks. It's easy to see why when confronted with a car as practical as Volkswagen's Touran. It betters something like a Golf in a number of key criteria and doesn't actually cost that much more. Even if you haven't got a huge family to cart around with you, the sheer space and versatility of the Touran make it a very handy companion and the latest facelift has successfully diminished the frumpy factor.

The styling of the original wasn't too much to get excited about, being exactly what you'd imagine a Volkswagen mini-MPV to look like. The latest Touran benefits from a far racier look than the original. Volkswagen restyled the front and rear lowering the car visually and creating a more dynamic appearance. Inside, the trim materials have been refreshed with a stainless steel finish for the dials being particularly fetching. The Touran campaigns in the upper sector of the mini-MPV market, unsurprising given its evidently superior fit and finish. When Vauxhall and Citroen are putting a lick on everyone sales-wise, there has to be a niche for something with a decently screwed together interior. But what of the seats? You can't bring a mini-MPV to market these days without having some sort of new seating stunt for shiny-suited salesmen to demonstrate. The Touran has more than one up its sleeve, offering the most practical interior seen since the launch of the groundbreaking original Zafira. Available only in seven seat guise, the Touran's seating system is certainly flexible. The rearmost pair of seats, whilst only really suitable for kiddies, can fold flat into the floor which means that for most of the time you'll have an easily accessible and spacious luggage bay. You can even fold the middle seat of the middle row, making a four seater that can transport long items like skis with supreme ease. All three of the middle seats slide backwards and forwards on separate runners. Quick release levers take care of seat removal and it's good to see seats that don't weigh a tonne. With 39 separate storage areas around the cabin, you may need to make a mental checklist of what you left where. Included in that number are under seat trays to keep valuables out of sight, three fold-down roof mounted cubbies, a rear under floor bin and more cup holders than the Real Madrid trophy room. Pockets in all four doors can accept a litre bottle and there are the usual MPV accoutrements such as seat backs that double as tables and aircraft -style fold down trays. Access to the rearmost set of seats is refreshingly easy due to the thoughtful way the middle row flips and slides forward.

One of the things that makes the Touran so unintimidating is the fact that it feels utterly car-like to drive. The dashboard is familiar Volkswagen fare and you're not greeted by a huge steering wheel, ponderous handling or a lumbering engine. Once, no fewer than eight engines were available in the Touran line-up, which seemed like overkill in a car that sold around 10,000 units per year. Volkswagen has sensibly rationalised the powerplant selection with the current Touran and has more accurately reflected buyer preferences. The green pump line-up is now comprised of the entry-level 101bhp 1.6-litre and the 140bhp TSI 'Twincharge' engine. Turbocharged cars have been around for decades and supercharged models even longer: the 140bhp 1.4-litre FSI Twincharge engine fitted to this Touran uses both. The supercharger operates at a maximum of 1.8 bar pressure, boosting the low end torque response where turbo cars can often feel lethargic. Once the supercharger has done its bit, the turbo kicks in for high-end power. Most Touran drivers want an engine that drinks like a desert scorpion and they rightly look to the diesel models to supply that sort of parsimony. Offering a decent slug of mid range power, 162g/km CO2 emissions and fuel economy that nudges 48mpg, the 105PS 1.9-litre TDI unit is likely to be the favourite of private and corporate buyers alike. This engine also comes in 90PS form where it should win friends with its low price tag. Should you be tempted by a little more clout when you acquaint pedal with metal, Volkswagen can offer the impressive 140PS 2.0-litre TDI. It's certainly a good deal quicker than the 100bhp engine, reaching 60mph in 10.4 seconds, but it retails at around £3,000 more which is a lot of money in this price sensitive market sector. It's also worth considering the impressive 170PS version of the 2.0 TDI engine.

The Volkswagen Touran is one of the easiest cars to live with imaginable. If anything it's almost too blandly competent for my personal tastes. I prefer something a little edgier and despite its multitude of good ideas and obvious depth of engineering, the Touran comes off as a little antiseptic compared to cars like the Ford C-MAX, the Fiat Multipla and the Honda FR-V. The latest facelift has helped on this score, however, and if you don't mind the mild charisma bypass, the Touran comes strongly recommended.