The only thing missing from the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is a luxury badge. If you appreciate a well-crafted cabin and lots of convenience and luxury features, you'll surely enjoy the Touareg. The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is largely unchanged, though the base Sport trim level gets the previously optional Technology package as standard equipment this year. Also, the previous Lux trim level is now referred to as the Wolfsburg Edition. The 2017 Volkswagen Touareg's V6 engine can feel strained during hard acceleration, and many rival crossovers are notably quicker. On the bright side, the eight-speed automatic transmission provides almost imperceptible upshifts along with responsive downshifts on demand. In general, the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg is pretty enjoyable to drive. It has responsive steering with plenty of road feel, and it stays stable and secure when you're going around turns. Luckily, none of this means it's uncomfortable on the highway. It's also quiet, smooth and confident over bumpy roads, all of which contribute to its luxury feel. The Touareg is similarly competent off-road thanks to a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system. That system makes up for most of the capability gap with competitors that have traditional low-range gearing. With a respectable amount of ground clearance and a compliant suspension, the Touareg powers over washboard roads and light-duty trails without breaking a sweat.
The entirely new front-end design gives the Volkswagen Passat - now 1,820 mm wide and 4,769 mm (Estate: 4,771 mm) long - an even more dominant look. Although the car has not grown in width, it has a greater presence and more visual dynamism. The heights of the two body versions also remained constant (saloon: 1,474 mm; Estate: 1,519 mm). The dominant expression of the VW Passat is reinforced by its new dual-reflector headlights with optional bi-xenon light source and its LED daytime running lights. Each daytime running light consists of 15 LEDs. Beneath the lines formed by the headlights and grille is the body-coloured bumper section. The next level down sports another air intake framed by chrome-plated fins - as stylised elements similar to the wing tips of commercial aircraft. The very low profile fog lights are integrated here. On the Highline equipment line, another chrome trim strip at the centre of the air intake joins the fins. At the lowest level, there is the front spoiler.
As on motorsport cars, it is designed as a so-called splitter. From the Comfortline equipment level, a chrome trim strip is also applied here. Side profile: The front end blends into the side profile over the side contour of the V-shaped bonnet, in the style of the Phaeton, and the car's distinctive wing panel lines. Noticeable here are the significantly crisper lower and (new) upper character lines. These two lines now structure the height of the Passat and give it a lower profile and a more powerful image. In one clean stroke, the upper character line joins the highest point of the headlights with the window line up to the C-pillar. Beneath this is the second character line; it runs from the side sections of the headlights to the rear lights that extend into the side profile. In the sill area, a black (Trendline) or chrome (Comfortline and Highline) trim strip upgrades the lateral surfaces between the flared wheel housings; this trim strip is continued in the front and rear sections. The side profile, with its new door mirror design, is also characterised by a very fluid sweep from the roof section to the rear.
Rear: The significantly reduced wedge shape compared to the previous model along with the new line styling in particular give the rear section a lighter and more elegant appearance. This makes the rear of the saloon appear lower, and the end surfaces of both body versions are wider. Very distinctive here are the rear lights that now wrap around into the wings. There are two lighting versions. The top version is in LED technology and has a night design in the shape of an M, similar to the implementation on the Phaeton. Beneath this, starting with the Comfortline the rear is framed by a chrome trim strip here too. In the estate car bumper, it runs right across the full width of the car; on the saloon it is split by the licence plate frame that is situated lower on the car. Like the exterior, the new Passat also sports an extensively upgraded interior. A new seating concept was developed, and the seats were completely redesigned with head restraints that now have horizontal adjustment like those on the Touareg, and there are new door trim panels.
