Should you buy one?

Yes. It’s an excellent all-rounder, there’s a lot to recommend it, and it’s the best option for your money right now. We like its sporty outlook and seven-seat practicality, and despite being closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, it has a character all of its own in a crowded SUV market segment.

It’s attractive, with well-built interior and smart exterior styling, but it’s competing with some strong competition that are more practical seven-seaters. For example, the Hyundai Santa Fe feels a more premium, comfortable offering, while the Land Rover Discovery Sport is the true off-roader. Then there’s the VW and Skoda which both do comfort just a little bit better.

If you’re most likely to use it around town, a petrol version could be worth a look as it’ll cost less to purchase, however it’s the diesels we’d recommend if it’s going to be packed with passengers and luggage, and regularly being used on long journeys. The extra torque on offer makes it more relaxing to drive, especially if you choose the DSG transmission (which works better on the diesel Tarraco than it does the 1.5-litre petrol).

However, any Tarraco is well worth a look if you want a large family car with a big boot and manageable running costs. It comes with a simple line-up that’s easy to navigate thanks to a lack of optional extras available to keep costs down.

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What we like

The higher-powered models are effortless family hauers and load luggers, but you’ll not feel shortchanged on your own on B-roads. Price and finance also really stack up compared with all rivals.

What we don’t like

If you look hard enough, there are some low-rend plastics inside, and the standard 1.5-litre TSI model isn’t really powerful enough if you plan on filling it up with people or luggage…

Read more

• Read more: Best seven-seater SUVs
• Read more: The Parkers guide to SUVs
• Read more: Extended review of the 4Drive version