“…the V6 more than makes up for its extra heft with its ability to slingshot the small crossover to the legal limit in very short order…”

To say that the compact soft-roader market is overcrowded is one hell of an understatement. From the Ford Escape to the BMW X3 there’s no shortage of high-ridin’, load-luggin’ vehicles to tempt family-bound new car buyers – some of them good, some of them not so good.

Two of the newest players on the market are the Volkswagen Tiguan 103TDI and Suzuki’s revamped Grand Vitara V6 Prestige. Both are within striking distance of each other price-wise and, on paper at least, both look like a good buy.

But what are they like to live with? How do they drive, how much family-related junk can they swallow and can a man unburdened by the demands of fatherhood ever grow to like either one?

I drove both to find out, but let’s take a little look at the two candidates first.

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara V6 Prestige

Unusually for a two-car comparo between a Japanese vehicle and its European equivalent, it’s the one from the Far East that boasts the biggest pricetag. With a base price of $39,990, the top o’ the line Suzi manages to overstep the Tiguan’s $35,990, but thanks to a hefty list of standard features, the Japanese contender outstrips its German rival for sheer value-for-money. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard in the Grand Vitara, as is leather trim, a power sunroof, 17-inch alloys, climate control, auto-on HID headlights and a full-size spare wheel.

The Suzuki’s permanent all-wheel-drive system and low-range transfer case also puts it ahead of the Volkswagen in terms of off-road capability, while its 200mm of ground clearance also bests the VW.

Yep, the shape has been around for a while now, but this year’s Grand Vitara V6 packs enough mechanical and cosmetic revisions to warrant our attention. You get more power from the Grand Vitara’s new-for-2009 3.2-litre V6, with the new motor’s 165kW and 284Nm comparing favourably with the old 2.7-litre’s 135kW and 250Nm.

Ventilated disc brakes have also replaced the previous model’s rear drums and hill descent control has been added as standard kit. On the inside, marble-effect trim replaces the old model’s faux-wood garnishes and the trip computer has migrated from the top of the centre stack to between the speedometer and tacho.

Despite its small footprint, the Grand Vitara boasts enough sprawling space for five people and up to 398 litres of luggage, or two people and a grand total of 1386 litres of cargo with the rear seats fully folded. A side-hinged rear door also makes it easier to load when in the weekly clinch in the shopping centre carpark.

So, the Grand Vitara V6 looks like a pretty good deal, right? Absolutely, but can the much newer, fresher Tiguan deliver even more? Let’s find out.