The modest Touareg with a 286bhp engine, still has 440ft-lb of torque and does 0-60 in around 6 seconds. So it isn’t modest at all.

There were many others, such as the Giulia Sprint GTA, the Fulvia HF or the Capri RS among them.

Well I don’t know about the Escalade, but it is not the case about the XT5:

Again, agree. I love American muscle cars, the looks, the noise, the power.

They were busy taking corners.

I would say tier 2 (BMW/Merc) and that’s a tough call. Audi is a bit of a mixed bag, could be both. Volvo is lower down, I agree. RR/Bentley play in an entirely different league.

I’ll go with the different. But it wasn’t only brakes. Suspension and weight play a part. And although I haven’t checked I suspect that 5 speed gearboxes were much more prevalent.

Cadillac will most probably never ever compete again with the leaders in the premium / luxury market segment.

The E34 is actually better looking.

And it was available with the 16 valve engine.

Agree on the Jags and Alfas, having driven both the XF and the Giulia.

The Ford Mondeo is in no way underrated. Everyone knows it is one of the best handling family saloons.

Mmmm this is the grey zone between estates and hatches isn’t it?

Number 4 is not an estate car.

Have to agree. A coworker replaced his Touran with a Tiguan, because there is no Touran any more…

Not just underrated, forgotten. The 205 and 106 Rallye are much better known.

I drive an M140i, which is underrated, but not for the reasons you mention.

I remember when smaller MPVs existed.

My mother had base model 1.4 i30 Mk1, which was lovely to drive, very lively (despite being utterly slow). It was the car that finally put Hyundai on the map.

I guess I put the 100.000km I did in it by having it in a rollong road!