The school run, the airport run, the long weekend that turns into a week. A family SUV earns its keep in the ordinary moments, and the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI Life is very good at the ordinary moments.

The 2.0-litre turbo petrol is the heart of it. There is a real shove of torque low down, which is exactly what you want pulling out of a side street with the boot full, and the seven-speed DSG shuffles through its ratios so smoothly you stop noticing it is there. It feels brisk without ever feeling frantic.

4MOTION all-wheel drive is the part you will appreciate on the days you did not plan for. Wet freeway on-ramps, a paddock car park at a weekend market, the beginning of a ski trip - the Tiguan just puts the power down and carries on, and you never have to think about which wheels are doing the work.

Inside is where Volkswagen quietly wins. The driving position is spot on, the switchgear feels solid under your fingers, and the whole cabin is calm at 100 km/h in a way that makes conversations in the back seat possible. Rear legroom is genuinely adult-sized, which matters more every year your kids get older.

The boot swallows a pram and the shopping at the same time, the rear seats fold flat when the hardware store wins the weekend, and the whole car is small enough outside to park in Camberwell without a three-point turn.

At 56,000 km this MY23 Tiguan is barely run in, finished in black, and still carrying that new-car tightness in the way it goes down the road. If you want the practicality of a family SUV without giving up on driving, this is the shortlist.

It is a German SUV that spent its life doing the school run. Somewhere in Wolfsburg, an engineer is trying not to think about it.

All prices displayed exclude government charges. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, MM Carz recommends you confirm with one of our consultants to confirm specific specifications/features about the car. Please also note our vehicles may not always be on display, as they may be in for detailing - please contact us in advance to confirm availability before visiting our showroom.