You'd expect a great deal of practicality from the Touareg - it's 4.8 metres long after all - and it doesn't disappoint. The second generation car has a 40mm longer wheelbase than the first, and it results in copious legroom front or rear in a car that already has ample headroom. The boot is impressive too. There's a wide, clear opening with no lip and 580 litres of storage, opening to 1,642 litres with the rear seats down. Ultimately it's not quite as good as some rivals - the XC90 manages almost as much with seven seats in place as the VW does with just five - but it's a lot of room that should suit most families. The lack of sixth and seventh seats is a bit of a sour note on the family front though. EuroNCAP tested the first generation Touareg in 2004, and it scored the maximum five stars.
The second generation car has not been tested in Europe, but US testing body IIHS has and found it to be 'Good' in all areas. Standard safety equipment includes electronic brake force distribution, stability control, traction control, differential lock, post-collision braking, a driver alert system and front and rear curtain airbags. There's only one engine available in the Touareg, although it comes in two forms. It's a 3.0-litre, V6 'TDI' diesel and it's available either as a 201hp unit or a 258hp version. The 201hp option will accelerate the Touareg to 60mph in 8.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 128mph. It is rated to 42,2mpg combined, equivalent to 176g/km CO2 which puts it in the £800 first year VED band. These economy figures do not change much for the 258hp model. Combined fuel economy falls to 41.5mpg combined, but the CO2 rating is still just 180g/km, putting it in the same VED bracket. Both versions use an 8-speed automatic gearbox and 4MOTION four-wheel drive. They have the same towing rating of 3.5 tonnes too. For the most obvious daily cost - fuel - the Touareg is a solid performer.
Either engine returns around 42mpg combined, though be aware of the effect that fitting optional, larger wheels may have on fuel economy. It's not bad for a car weighing nearly 2.2 tonnes, even if it will be a little worse in normal driving conditions. Other costs are less wallet-friendly. Insurance sits in group 40 of 50 for all models, so you might be facing an unpleasant bill every year. Your pocket might sting a bit at the first year VED of £800 too, and don't forget that every car sits in a higher annual band due to the list price, so it'll cost the full £450 every year thereafter. You'll also need to top up the 19 litre AdBlue tank every 7,000 miles or so. On the bright side, repair and service bills shouldn't be too bad. There's a lot of parts-sharing across the Volkswagen Group and this means that there's few specialist bits and a good availability of components, leading to lower prices.
Three engines were available for this generation. The first was a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that made 154 hp (145 with PZEV emission controls). It was mated to either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission (four-speed prior to '05) and should be powerful enough for the majority of buyers. A 3.0-liter V6 that generated 190 hp was also available (18 hp less prior to '04) on the LE and XLE trim levels, while a 210-hp, 3.3-liter V6 (introduced for 2004) was available on the SE model only. These six-cylinder Camrys came with the automatic only. In previous years, these power numbers were higher because of a change in measurement that occurred in 2006, although actual output never changed. Like the more recent versions, the 1997-2001 Toyota Camry sedan offered a quiet, stress-free driving experience. Many desirable modern features were also available, including side airbags and antilock brakes (which became standard on all trim levels except the base CE). It, too, was offered with four- and six-cylinder powertrains. Although a Camry older than 1997 is likely to have quite a few miles on it, it is still something to consider for folks on a tight budget. Provided it has been faithfully maintained, a 1992-'96 Camry (which was available in coupe, sedan and wagon body styles) should be able to spin its odometer to nearly 200,000 miles without major problems. It's this final trait, more than any other, that has kept the Toyota Camry popular with buyers over the last two decades.
The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2013 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2013 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2006 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2006 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2007 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2007 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2005 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2005 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2014 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2014 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg? The 2012 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2004 VW Touareg? The 2004 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC). What is the cam type of the 2010 VW Touareg? The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg has double overhead cam (DOHC).
