Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen Touareg

The Touareg is the flagship model in the Volkswagen range. It is a large, fully featured sport utility vehicle (SUV) with real ability. Equipped with the connectivity of our new automotive technology era and a pioneering fusion of driver assistance, comfort, lighting and infotainment systems, this premium SUV offers impressive, luxury refinement.

The Exterior

The expressive front end of the Touareg is particularly distinctive with a chrome grille combining fully with elements of the front end and the latest in LED lighting (Matrix lights are an option). This leads the eye around to the accentuated front wheel arches through to the carefully formed rear shoulder; the idea being to impress as the most imposing SUV in its class. The design seamlessly extends on the eye-catching side line and dynamically concludes with the C-pillar that is angled towards the front. There’s a number of alloy wheel options for new orders. Sizes start from 18” through to 21” and a wide range of other options are available.

The Touareg is an important model for the German manufacturer as it is highly specified, incorporating the largest range of assistance, handling and comfort systems ever to be integrated into a Volkswagen, say the company. Technologies such as the ‘Night Vision’ assistance system (detects people and animals in darkness via a thermal imaging camera), ‘Roadwork Lane Assist’ (semi-automated steering and lane keeping, accelerating and braking), ‘Front Cross Traffic Assist’, (reacting to cross traffic in front of the car), active all-wheel steering for improved handling, and on and on. They are just there, working away, the driver experiencing all these systems as a single entity, interconnected by a central control unit. In other words, this car is one of the most technically advanced vehicles on the market today.

The Interior

Overseas buyers wishing to import from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand and elsewhere can expect high standards from such a prestige vehicle. Getting comfortable in the driving seat is easy; the steering wheel and driver’s seat offering plenty of manual adjustment. A powered 14-way driver's seat, with four-way lumbar adjustment, is standard on the R-Line Tech trim and above. On the entry-level version clear analogue instruments and a 9.2” touchscreen infotainment system are standard. Step up to higher levels and there’s the curiously-named ‘Innovision Cockpit’, a larger, 15.0” infotainment touchscreen and a further 12.3” digital touchscreen for the dials. Th latter can be configured to suit.

It’s a big car but large windows ensure good all-round visibility with the added bonus that all specifications come with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard. The interior is cavernous. There's enough leg and headroom room for five full-sized adults even with the optional panoramic roof fitted, the latter item comes as standard on the range-topping Black Edition and on the performance ‘R’ variant. Optional air suspension ups the comfort stakes further and the boot (trunk) is huge.

Driving The Volkswagen Touareg

There’s no doubting that with all-wheel-drive this car is very able on rough terrain, but it is on the highways and autoroutes that it truly belongs. It is a refined and quiet ride thanks to a tuning set up for motorway driving, the power and smoothness of this car making even very long journeys a pleasant experience.

There can often be a bewildering choice of engines and power outputs, especially with premium brands. Fortunately, with the Touareg, the choice is restricted to either of two diesels, one with 228bhp and the other a 282bhp version, both derived from the same 3.0 litre V6 diesel. The alternative is also a 3.0 litre V6, this time powered by petrol, and with 340bhp. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard, shifting smoothly and unobtrusively through gear changes. Economy isn’t at all bad given the size and weight of this SUV. With the base level engine over 35 miles per gallon is achievable, driven appropriately.

Given the versatile nature of this SUV, it’s good to know that there are various drive modes viz. Eco, Comfort, Sport, Normal and Off-Road. Rear-wheel steering turns the back wheels slightly in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speed to help manoeuvring, parking and reducing the turning circle, and in the same direction at high speed to aid stability. This is all automatic by the way. The standard four-wheel-drive delivers tons of traction, with the Touareg gripping resolutely with well-controlled, minimal body roll. Buyers of new models can specify an optional ‘Professional Chassis’ pack to enhance the off-road ability still further, but for most users the regular version will be fine.

Should You Buy One?

A number of major components have been tried and tested across the whole Volkswagen Group, so reliability is pretty much assured. The Volkswagen Touareg is also a practical car with a huge amount of variable passenger and luggage space and it’s great as a tow car. It’s a complete package; find out more about this SUV on our MHH International website which lists current stock and detailed specifications.