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alltorque of new vehicle sales this year to October. In 2011, SUVs accounting for 27.7 per cent The Australian SUV market is booming, FAST FACT accounted for 23.6 per cent of new vehicle sales. Its Swedish masters in the fine city of Gothenburg have your safety in mind. This includes a range of technology that means the car always seems to be on the lookout for something that might hit it, including the family dog running too close. Adding to that sense of paranoia, its safety gear keeps you safe in your lane, gives you more light for cornering, adapts the brake lights for panic braking and helps you avoid tailgating. If you think this Volvo is still the somewhat 'square' automobile driven by old men in hats, you're in for a surprise. Given its handsome, sporty lines, I threw my hat on the back seat and got down to enjoying the drive. On the road, I heard, now and then, more road noise than I'd like. Nonetheless, I was hitting the open road having more fun than I should expect from a car brand often maligned for its 'too sensible' styling. Its turbocharged five-cylinder diesel engine had plenty of pep when asked to perform, despite producing only 120kW of power. Power-wise, the similar-sized Mazda 6 leaves it in the dust, but the Volvo delivers about 50 per cent more torque. So, like the proverbial gingerbread man, it's hard to catch as it pulls over that range or tows your small camper trailer for the Chrissie holidays. THE CAR If $100,000 is more than you want to pay for the Mercedes, and the Volvo V60's price in the low $60,000s isn't for you either, yet you're still after something European, try the Volkswagen Tiguan Pacific. It's another of the many vehicles that Volkswagen ungrammatically and somewhat arrogantly insists is 'Das Auto' or 'The Car'. However, it's more than a car with an interesting name; it's an interesting car ready for your great Christmas escape. With all the charm of a city-bred all-wheel-drive, it has enough audacity for a rural adventure or as a second car on the farm. The new Volkswagen 132TSI Pacific with its 132kW, two-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine that I enjoyed came with a modest range of features, including Bluetooth connectivity, and a convenient, easily adjustable load space. Proving its city-centric credentials, the Tiguan is easy to drive and responsive enough when cornering. It also comes equipped with a remarkable park assist that will park you, hands free, into a parking bay that's 90 degrees to the curb. Although the styling looks a little 'sawn off', this is a vehicle that, without the slightest bah or humbug, will have you whizzing around wishing Merry Christmas to all and sundry.