MY mum doesn't know much about cars. But she knows lots about been partially disabled, suffering with arthritis and having been through several knee and hip operations.
She declared: "This car is the easiest that you've had for getting in and out of as far as I'm concerned."
She volunteered it without my asking, and if she says so, it must be right.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show two years ago, the Touran is Volkswagen's impressive compact MPV and a sibling to the Sharan and Caravella.
It is unusual in the compact MPV class because it is offered with either five or seven seats. The latter accounts for most Touran sales and the third row can be folded flat into the floor when not required.
It has more interior height than any other car in its class. Pitched against the likes of the Renault Scenic and Vauxhall Zafira, it actually takes up no more road space than the Golf Estate, but it has a very spacious interior.
The seven-seaters are the most popular, with diesels accounting for more than 75 per cent of Touran sales.
Exceptional bodyshell rigidity is another of the Touran's key features, and one of the ways in which it has been achieved is through extensive use of laser welding.
This has resulted in the combining of the body's steel elements into a strong, crash-optimised structure which additionally offers protection from unwanted shake and noise transmission, as well as providing a firm platform for the suspension systems.
Some 62 per cent of the body structure features high-strength sheet steel, again improving rigidity and crash safety.
Notable styling elements of the new car include the short front and rear body overhangs and the large, wide-opening doors to facilitate entry and exit, which met with my mum's approval.
Other styling touches which also offer safety benefits include the external mirrors with their integral indicator repeater lamps, the extra large rear lights and the wide and deep rear window.
Considerable thought has gone into the design of the tailgate and its action. It opens in two stages, the gas filled dampers raising it to an initial height - ideal for a shorter driver - and then a final height.
Three trim levels are available, S, SE and Sport, and there's clearly a great deal of attention to detail.
Nowhere is this more demonstrated than in the windscreen wipers. Every time they are switched off, the mechanism moves them slightly upwards to reverse the angle at which the rubber blades are parked, thus prolonging their working life.
And each time the Touran comes to a halt in traffic, the wiper speed automatically reduces to the next lower setting. As soon as you move off again, the original speed is restored. Quite clever when you think about it.
You get good headroom in the Touran and this allows the front seat passengers to sit slightly higher than in a conventional car, giving a better view of the road ahead and a more relaxed sense of space in the vehicle.
The Touran is pretty versatile, too. For instance, the second seating row is made up of three separate seat units which can, with a few easy movements, slide forwards or backwards, move sideways, fold down or be removed completely.
The refined two-litre, four cylinder TDI engine in my test car is among the most powerful in the sector and very impressive in terms of power and economy.
FAST FACTS
Volkswagen Touran SE 1.9 TDI 7-seats
Price: £17,405
Mechanical: 105bhp, 1,896cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 110mph
0-62mph: 13.5 secs
Combined mpg: 47.1
Insurance group: 6
CO2 emissions: 162g/km
BiK rating: 19%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 3yrs paint; 12yrs anti-rust