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The suspension feels well sorted, with a good degree of composure on tricky roads, but light steering linked to less than grippy Nexen tyres frustrates.

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

VW openly says the new Tiguan represents a “major update” as opposed to a clean-sheet design. It looks familiar on the outside, and has a 1.4-litre engine offered for more than a decade.

That’s not great when it’s the most expensive model here, priced from $41,490 drive-away in entry-level “Life” form.

But this Tiguan brings more kit than the majority of its rivals.

The cheapest is loaded with satnav, a powered tailgate and lovely digital dashboard. You also get a good array of driver aids, and back seat occupants are spoiled by three-zone climate control plus a sliding bench and reclining seat back missing from the Toyota or Hyundai.

Power comes from a familiar turbocharged engine sending 110kW and 250Nm to the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch auto. A more powerful 132kW engine with all-wheeldrive and a seven-speed automatic adds $4000 to the bill.

As with Hyundai and Toyota, VW backs its cars with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. The Volkswagen is expensive to service, with five years of maintenance bundled into a $2400 care plan (or $3069 bought separately).

Spacious and well-appointed, the Tiguan has the nicest cabin materials in this class. It’s also quiet and refined on the road, helped by a hushed yet punchy engine and grippy premium Pirelli tyres.

Volkswagen didn’t try to make the Tiguan too sporty in the suspension department, opting instead for a pillowy-soft ride likely to please the rest of the family. The Tiguan feels a cut above its rivals on the road.

TOYOTA RAV4

The oldest car here is a class benchmark, sitting in first place on the sales charts and boasting a cabinet full of trophies. Particularly outstanding in hybrid form, the Toyota still stacks up with a regular petrol engine.

Priced from a little less than $39,000 driveaway, the RAV4 GX comes with a basic 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a CVT automatic driving the front wheels. Peak figures of 127kW and 203Nm aren’t bad for this class, and the RAV4’s claimed 6.5L/100km fuel use is impressive.

On our real-world testing, it easily undercut the Hyundai and Volkswagen. Toyota customers can upgrade to a frugal and punchy hybrid motor with 160kW of grunt for $2500.

All-wheel-drive adds $3000 to the cost of the hybrid system, for a $44,000 drive-away price. The RAV4’s cabin is dull in this company.

It matches rivals with an 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone mirroring, rear air vents and dual rear power outlets, but does so without flair. Cheap cabin plastics, particularly on the rear doors, let the side down.

But it gets other elements right, with the most comfortable seats of this trio, plenty of boot space and outstanding visibility.

Toyota surprised by offering the most driverfocused dynamics of this group. Its weighty steering response delivers quicker reactions than the other cars, and the RAV4 minimises body roll through corners without compromising ride quality.

The engine has enough punch to get the job done, and its CVT automatic does an excellent job of keeping the motor in its sweet spot.

VERDICT

The new Tucson is well equipped, modern and safe, but is let down by a lacklustre engine. The RAV4 impresses, but more so in hybrid form. That leaves the Tiguan as the winner, thanks to its punchy motor and superior refinement.