Take a look at the new VW Touran and you might be tempted to adapt the joke that went around when VW launched the 'Golf 6' and some people started calling it the 'Golf 5.1'.
Yet is it a facelift that simply infuses VW's predictable but smart new design language into the old Touran or is it all-new?
Well, VW claims to have restyled every single body panel except for the four doors so it's almost a full reskin, technically speaking and as a bonus aerodynamics are improved as well, the Cd value dropping from 0.32 to 0.29.
You'll also find plenty of new componentry beneath the bonnet - a completely new engine line-up to be exact.
The entry-level engine is an all-new 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged petrol which punches well above its weight with outputs of 77kW and 175Nm, which VW claims will get it from 0-100km/h in 11.9 seconds, with tamer driving achieving a decent 6.4-litres-per-100km combined fuel consumption.
The flagship petrol is the familiar 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol, in this guise good for 103kW at 5600rpm and 220Nm between 1500 and 4000rpm for a 9.5 second 0-100km/h sprint and combined fuel use of 6.8 l/100km.
On the oil burning front, VW has replaced the previous 77kW 1.9 and 103kW 2.0 TDI engines with a more refined and economical version of the 2-litre that's also less powerful with 81kW on tap and 250Nm at 1750rpm. Claimed consumption is impressive, though, at 5.4 l/100km, equating to emissions of 144g/km.
As with the exterior design, the German carmaker has done nothing radical to the interior of the MPV (which can seat up to seven if you order a third row of seats), but there are numerous detail improvements to its form and function.
New materials, instruments, applications and controls have been added, including Golf-like white backlit instruments and a restyled three-spoke steering wheel.
The Touran's single-seat system, in which three adjacent second-row seats can be easily moved forward or backward, folded up, taken out or shifted sideways, remains unscathed - why fix what ain't broke?
Additional features include pockets and folding tables, a middle seat that can be used as a table, storage bins in the floor in front of the second row seats and under the front seats and large storage bins in the doors.
There are now three trim options available: Trendline, Comfortline and, you guessed it, Highline.
Standard equipment on the Trendline includes air conditioning, an 8-speaker CD/MP3 audio system, multifunction display, electric windows and mirrors (the latter also heated), a rain sensor, multifunction leather steering wheel and a glut of storage bins.
Safety items comprise dual front, side front and head airbags (the latter for the first two rows of seats), as well as ABS and ESP.
The Comfortline has all this and 16-inch alloy wheels, luggage compartment cover and net, lumbar support in the front seats and various decorative items in the cabin.
The flagship Highline adds Alcantara upholstery, heated front sports seats; aluminium look decorative trim, Dual Zone (Climatronic) automatic air-conditioning, bespoke 16-inch alloy wheels, silver anodised roof rails; tinted windows to the rear of the B-pillar and an additional static corner lighting function.
Of course, there is also a lot of extra stuff to be had if your wallet can make friends with the options list, including VW's automatic parallel parking system and touchscreen infotainment interface.
Pricing is competitive with rivals and includes a 5-year/ 90 000km AutoMotion Service Plan.
PRICING: VW TOURAN:
1.2 TSI Trendline - R260 300
1.4 TSI Highline - R299 800
2.0 TDI Comfortline - R286 500
2.0 TDI Comfortline DSG - R301 000