The Volkswagen Touareg is a capable luxury SUV both on and off-road. It is expensive to fuel and service. Volkswagen launched the Touareg in 2002. It is comparable to premium cars like the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Mercedes ML. It was developed as a joint venture with Porsche. It shares a chassis, all-wheel drive system and some engines with the Cayenne. At nearly five metres long, the Touareg is a big car, although its rounded style makes it look a little less imposing. Our review vehicle is a facelifted version with shaped headlights and a large metallic pattern around the front grille. The car’s lower sections are clad in black plastic for protection. The rear features a boot window that pops open for easier access to the load area. Inside, the materials feel thick, chunky and of high quality. The front seats have soft, comfortable bases and are quite supportive.
The leather feels of excellent quality. The rear seat has good legroom and enough space across for three adults. Each gets a headrest. The steering wheel features a large number of buttons to control the stereo, cruise control and information screen which sits between the four chrome-ringed instruments on the dash. Paddle shifters for the transmission sit behind the steering wheel - these are not well placed and can get in the way of the indicator and wiper stalks. The keyhole is on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel, rather than being on the side of the steering column. The centre of the dash features a touchscreen infotainment system. In this used import car, the system has Japanese navigation maps which can't be used in New Zealand and it will require a band expander to receive all local stations. The dash also has controls for the heated seats and climate control.
A dial for the all-wheel drive system sits behind the chunky transmission shifter. Boot space is plentiful at 555 litres, enough for five or six large suitcases. The rear bench splits 60/40 and folds forward for extra storage space. To create a flat floor, the spare tyre underneath is stored without air in it - you pump it up with a compressor if you need it. A full-size spare tyre mounted on a frame outside the rear door is a rare optional extra. A range of petrol and diesel engines can be found in the Touareg. The entry-level version uses a 2.5-litre five-cylinder diesel, and a three-litre six-cylinder diesel was added in 2007. The top model used a five-litre, ten-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. Three kinds of petrol engines were available: 3.2 and 3.6-litre six-cylinder units and a 4.2-litre eight-cylinder. Our review vehicle uses the 3.6-litre engine, which produces 206kW and 310Nm. The only transmission option with this engine is a six-speed automatic which can be shifted manually. The engine is very smooth and performance is good, although the Touareg takes more than nine seconds to get to 100kmh, which is not particularly fast.
It has a sporty sound to it as well. The transmission in our review vehicle wasn’t very smooth, which could be a sign of wear. The Touareg handles very well and it goes around corners without much body roll. The steering is responsive and the brakes are very effective - they’re able to stop this large SUV like a sports car. Ride quality is excellent; you won't feel many jolts or bumps from the road at all. Unlike many luxury SUVs, the Touareg has a reasonable level of off-road ability. An optional air-suspension system allows you to raise it for additional ground clearance. The locking centre differential, optional locking rear differential and intelligent traction electronics enable it to tackle most slippery surfaces. Almost all Touaregs are fitted with road-orientated tyres, which will be one of the main limits off-road. Parking sensors are standard on the Touareg. They are needed as it can be difficult to see what is behind the vehicle.
