Just about everything associated with the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg could be easily at home on a traditional luxury crossover SUV. The upholstery is as excellent as anything found on luxury vehicles. Handling the 2017 Touareg is easy and precise; and the 2017 Touareg offers near class-leading towing capacity. In short, there are very few other crossover SUVs at this level of the segment which can offer what the Touareg offers. For the new model year, a few changes have been made to offer new features on different trim grades. The automaker has chosen to do away with the Lux trim in name only. Buyers will now be offered the Wolfsburg Edition. Like its previous label, the new Touareg Wolfsburg Edition features a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, driver memory functions and a folding rear seat. Even buyers looking at the entry-level Sport trim are getting something very special. The previously optional Technology Package is now standard equipment featuring a rear view camera, front/rear parking sensors, forward collision warning and keyless ignition. An eight-speaker audio system is available.
New options include 10-color ambient lighting, heated and ventilated front seats, power driver’s seat with memory function, leather upholstery, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The infotainment screen is also new, making all vehicle information easily accessible. The Driver Personalization setting with up to four driver setting is standard and includes setups for driver seat memory, driver assistance system preferences, temperature, Volkswagen Digital Cockpit arrangement (if equipped), ambient lighting color, radio presets, and navigation view. The new Digital Cockpit instrument cluster is optional on the base model and standard on SEL and SEL Premium trims. It comes with a reconfigurable display and the possibility to position navigation data in front of the driver. Features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink integration, as well as the 400-watt Beats Audio sound system are optional. The latter makes the Jetta the first Volkswagen in the U.S. There’s bigger news in the driver assistance department, with new technology available. The rearview camera is standard on every model, while the options list includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, High Beam Control, and Lane Departure Warning.
Volkswagen didn’t have much to say about the drivetrain, but it did confirm that the new compact uses a turbocharged, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection. The unit cranks out 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet. That’s a three horsepower decrease compared to the outgoing 1.4-liter mill, but it keeps the Jetta at the top of the compact class output-wise. But while the engine didn’t change much, it mates to a new six-speed manual transmission. An eight-speed automatic is offered optionally on the base model and standard on the higher trims and includes a start/stop system for improved fuel economy. There aren’t any EPA estimates yet, but the new platform, the revised engine, and the new transmissions should make the new Jetta more efficient that the previous model. The outgoing sedan returns 28 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, so it’s safe to assume that the redesigned model will surpass the 40-mpg mark on the highway. 100 drop compared to the outgoing model.
