Guts and glory but with finesse

the amount of luggage we took, especially with three girls in the mix.

We were quite chuffed to find that there are also several storage compartments inside the car.

It was a rainy day in Joburg. The roads were slippery as we hit morning traffic on the N1 North. The climate-controlled seats kept us warm because the temperatures were a bit low outside.

Watching the raindrops fall on the panoramic sunroof was therapeutic.

I was not worried about the slippery roads because this beast felt solid on the tar road.

The girls brought their auxiliary cable, which they were able to connect to the car and their cellphones to play their tunes. The sound was crisp and clear through the top-of-the-range Dynaudio sound system. In our own car they usually complain about not being able hear the music at the back properly, but I did not get any complaints in the Touareg.

The Bluetooth hands-free phone connection came in handy because I am constantly taking calls from work.

We had no idea how bad the roads were closer to Louis Trichardt. The suspension accommodated even the most treacherous potholes as we approached the National Park.

There were times when we had to swerve to avoid large potholes, but the car remained solid on the road.

It was a breeze to overtake, even with the air conditioning on full blast. It felt as though you were in a safe cocoon.

The Touareg has all the guts and glory of a 4x4 but with the finesse and luxury of high-end sedan. Sometimes it felt so much like driving a lovely sedan off-road that you didn’t realise you were driving an SUV.

The spacious cabin interior makes for comfortable seating. The car also allows you to personalise your seating comfort with just a flick of a switch.

We felt we’d be safe and secure, even if there was an elephant in front of us and we had to hit the pedal to drive away quickly.

There were lots of untamed off-road tracks in the bush with deep muddy holes from the heavy rains, but the Touareg tackled them effortlessly.

We took it on the famous 4x4 Eco road in Mapungubwe that meanders up rocky terrain. With a flick of a knob, the suspension lifted the car and we drove easily in the muddy bush. In some instances we could not even make out where the road was, and sometimes we drove up the big rocks.

The Touareg certainly gave the game driver’s 4x4 a run for its money as it drove behind us.

The parking sensors at the front and back are quite helpful when you are parking at that height.

The fuel consumption was not bad at all for a car with a big engine, especially on a six-hour road trip. We filled up twice for both trips. After a six-hour journey you would expect to feel some cramps and aches, but we felt fresh and not at all tired.

I did have the privilege of dropping off the girls at school. All their friends were at the gate waiting. I suspect they were warned about the beast prowling through their neighbourhood.

The automatic boot opened right on cue. Chloe pressed the button, and it closed on its own as they walked towards their buddies. What a way to show off.

I could hear all the brownie points coming my way. I had finally made it to the “cool mums’ club”.

My absolute favourite with the car was when I stopped and opened the door. The seat automatically moved back, making enough legroom for me to jump out with ease. Now that’s a car with chivalry.