VOLKSWAGEN claims its facelifted Touareg has more than 2,300 new parts.

It shows. But not in an entirely positive way.

The SUV's cabin comes across as rather plasticky. There are plastics and there are plastics. The types found abundantly in the Touareg are the hard, hollow stuff you might associate with China-made toys.

The switchgear are depressingly cheap for a car that costs so much. Although VW has applied the usual accompaniment of alloy and wood veneer to the interior, this fails to mask the car's mass-market standard.

Even fit and finish are not of the quality we remember of the first Touareg. Its only redeeming quality is its keyless access and ignition system. If only it had motorised assistance for its barn-size tailgate as well.

Either VW has slipped big time, or there is method to its mediocrity. The latter is more plausible, just so the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 - which share underpinnings with the Touareg - are not eclipsed in any way.

For the record, the pair are leaps ahead of the Touareg in terms of luxury, ambience and build quality.

While the previous management had wanted the Volkswagen brand to rise in stature to take on the likes of Mercedes-Benz, it looks like the present honchos realise that being the "people's car" is really VW's station in life.

That said, there is really no reason for the Touareg to be priced at $188,600, even if it has a bigger engine than its 3.2-litre predecessor.

Not when another $50,000 or so buys you a Porsche Cayenne. Besides the better quality, the Porsche has a lot more brand equity.

If, however, you ignore these irritating details - as well as the price of fuel these days - you could find the big SUV attractive.

It is a huge vehicle with lots of road presence. Like the original, it is not short on space or versatility. As a driving machine, the revamped Touareg doesn't really disappoint either. But neither does it really impress.

Its 3.6-litre V6 has a lot more grunt than the previous 3.2. Its transmission seems to possess more urgency.

Sometimes, it would appear there is a tad too much urgency.

Moving off in urban traffic conditions can be a little unsettling if your right foot is not calibrated to exert just the right amount of pressure.

For such a behemoth, it handles admirably well. You can weave it through roads diverted by MRT works almost as easily as you would a mid-size sedan. It would be more pleasurable if the car's wing mirrors were not the size of Dumbo's ears. Along with the thick A-pillars, they actually hinder side visibility.

Ride comfort is appreciably better now. And VW has thrown in ABSplus, which shortens stopping distance on loose surfaces by up to 20 per cent.

The car has some aural appeal, and the credentials to back it up. Zero to 100kmh is done in a nifty 8.6 seconds.

Alas, with great power comes great consumption. The speed at which the fuel gauge needle falls would have triggered palpitations had the Touareg not been a test car.

VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 3.6 V6
Price: $188,600 with COE
Engine: 3,597cc 24-valve V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual override
Power: 280bhp at 6,200rpm
Torque: 360Nm at 2,500-5,000rpm
0-100kmh: 8.6 seconds
Top speed: 218kmh
Fuel consumption: 19.4 litres/100km (city)
Agent: Volkswagen Centre Singapore