“Congratulations,” your boss said. You’ve just been given a promotion. In your late twenties, this new exec job is what you’ve been eyeing since you joined your company. You envied the lifestyle it afforded your precedessors. But envy it no more, because you’ve made it.

Of course, things have changed since you joined the work force oh so long ago. You got married, and now you’ve got two little ones at home. You ferry around your in-laws from time to time, and your wife regularly fills the car with groceries for the family. The small sedan you bought when you first started work doesn’t really quite do it anymore, does it?

This litte scenario was playing in my head as I was dropped off at Menara Volkswagen in Bangsar, to collect my chariot for a long weekend. Unlocking the white example in the dark basement carpark revealed it had been fitted with some kit, as the optional HID-LED headlights greeted me. The solid white bodywork helped to give the car the illusion of heft, as the Tiguan is far from large. Despite competing on the same price point as cars like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, to this writer, it seems more at home in a sea of HR-V’s and CX-3’s. Hyphenated names out of the way, the Tiguan is a handsome thing, with all the right features in all the right places. Sharp rear lights, decently-sized alloy wheels, and a smattering of grey body cladding made it look the part of an SUV, although I knew full-well that very, very few Tiguan owners would ever take it off road.

Stepping inside, I was welcomed by the all too familiar grayscale architecture that is a Volkswagen interior. Very logical, very well engineered, but lacking visual flair in every aspect. Those who read my reviews will know that I’m not a fan of Volkswagen interiors, and this base-model Tiguan is certainly no exception. Sure, if you’re stepping up from an Asian car, you’ll welcome the plush materials and tactile feel of the switchgear. But if you drive something European already (I am guilty of owning an E36 BMW), you’ll get over the tactility of things rather quickly.

Sinking into the Alcantara seats, the Tiguan’s main objective becomes rather clear: Comfort. The seats are more pliant than most sofas, and the driving position they afford is brilliant. Leaving Bangsar, the Tiguan’s drivetrain (a 1.4 twin-charged engine with a 6-speed DSG auto, sending power to the front wheels) seemed a little off in the city. A little jerky at slow speeds, the overly sensitive throttle and brake pedal left me wanting in the way of smooth progress. That aside, the engine seemed very eager off the line, masking its relatively small displacement well. The start/stop system was a marvel too, with a much wider range in operating temperature (these systems disengage during hot weather) than some of its rivals, allowing it to be truly useful to Malaysian drivers.

Leaving town the Tiguan managed to stretch its legs a little. The peppy little mill never felt too hurried, even when keeping up with the more rushed traffic on the motorway. Wind and road noise was kept to a minimum, with plenty of thought also going into ensuring there were no rattles or squeaks when we ventured past the speed limit. In the twisty bits, the Tiguan exhibited excellent body control, with minimal lean through corners. Although far from inspiring, that’s not really what this car is about anyway. Designed as a family SUV, the Tiguan does its job well. It even has foldaway tables behind the front seats, perfect for when little ones get hungry. And you know all that clutter that family life brings with it? The Tiguan accommodates for that, too. There are cupholders everywhere, and when you need to stow stuff, there are cubbies and spaces to hide all your every day nonsense. And when the kids need new bikes, there’s plenty of room for that in the boot.

Of course, the Tiguan makes sense. It’s a German car, from one of the most typically-German manufacturers you’ll ever encounter. So of course it’s practical, and reliable, and refined and so on. You’d expect a Volkswagen to be just that, and that’s exactly what the Tiguan is. It’s also very much a premium offering in its segment, which is where Volkswagens always have been in the Malaysian market.

So the big question is, do you want a Tiguan in your life? Sure. But considering its upmarket pricetag, we’d suggest forgoing having that third tyke until your next big raise.