For people of a certain generation, “clean diesel” is an oxymoron. Chattanooga baby boomers — like me — grew up in an era when diesel engines were smelly and noisy.

Boy, times have changed. My 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 TDI “clean diesel” tester from Village VW of Chattanooga was easily one of the most satisfying SUVs I have ever driven, a torque packed powerhouse that was whisper quiet yet eager to charge up mountain roads. Since I’m new to this car-review game, I was suspicious about my over-the-top enthusiasm for the Touareg TDI. I felt validated, though, when I picked up the current issue of Motor Trend, which scored the Touareg TDI ahead of similarly sized SUVs from three luxury brands.

“It has plenty of torque and handles like a sports car,” said Village VW of Chattanooga sales manager Ron Kwiatkowski. “You can put a white cloth over the tailpipe, rev the engine, and the cloth will be as clean as when you started.”

STYLING: My Alaska gray metallic Touareg tester came with a fancy SUV a rolling billboard. The peel-off graphics made the SUV look like it had lost a fight with a ficus tree. My 2-year-old son asked the day after my test drive: “Daddy, where you flower car go?” But there is no denying the Touareg’s well-proportioned styling underneath the graphics. Tasteful chrome grill accents brighten what is otherwise a nicely buttoned-down exterior.

The interior manages to be both businesslike and sumptuous. Analog gauges are well-placed and functional. The cricket leather seating surfaces fit like a first-class airline seat, and the walnut trim gives the cabin an upscale feel.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: The Touareg weighs in at over 5,000 pounds, but the V6 turbo-diesel actually makes the SUV feel nimble. At 225 horsepower, the turbo-diesel power plant makes a hefty 407 foot pounds foot pounds of torque. The Touareg’s cabin is amazingly hushed, with none of the clatter I expected to hear from a diesel vehicle. Steering is taut and well-balanced. The Touareg’s full-time four-wheel-drive feature makes the SUV a capable off-roader, although the only off-road duty most of these rigs will ever see is a suburban driveway.

FEATURES: Our Touareg 2 TDI tester was loaded and included a $3,350 tech package featuring a high-tech navigation system and rear-view camera. Other goodies included a power sunroof, dual climate controls and satellite radio.

BOTTOM LINE: At 25 mpg highway, the Touareg bests some hybrid SUVs in fuel efficiency. All this goodness comes at a price. Still, the Touareg holds up its end of the deal with performance and styling that stack up against the world’s best SUVs.