52: Volkswagen Touran – best and most sensible seven-seat people carrier around

To dip into national stereotypes for a moment, the Germans really are a race of supremely rational people, so perhaps it’s no surprise that they turned that nature into building the best and most sensible seven-seat people carrier around.

The VW Touran is going to inspire no poetry nor mid-life-crisis ownership with that simple, neat shape and nor will it have you gently stroking and fondling the dash mouldings out of your passion for it.

But it’s handsome enough, and well-made and sensibly laid out inside. It’s roomy, it’s comfortable, you can fit kids (but not really anyone bigger) in the third row seats and the boot is roomy when they’re not in use.

Build quality is excellent, it’s refined on the move, and you can have all sorts of safety and convenience add-ons that make family life easier, such as self-parking and a system that helps you back up when towing a trailer or caravan. It’s not an exciting car, but it is one that’s very hard with which to argue.