Stepping Up
VW enters the SUV field with the new Touareg, an impressive blend of cutting-edge technology and luxury.
February 1, 2004
As if there were any doubters
remaining, VW's new Touareg provides yet more proof that SUVs have completely taken over the
automotive world. Not that anyone should be surprised by the fact that VW's built an SUV, since
it's been building trucks and truck-like vehicles for ages, and recent history shows that the
designers and engineers at VW can capture the public's desires just about perfectly, as with the
New Beetle and the hyperpopular Jetta. So now comes the Touareg, pronounced "tour-egg," a midsize
SUV that's designed to compete with the upmarket models from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
It's only right, then, that the technology driving the Touareg is about as cutting-edge as you'll find on an SUV. The 4XMOTION full-time 4-wheel drive system is seamless. In normal conditions the torque is split 50/50 between the front and rear axles, but automatically adjusts if a loss of traction is detected and is capable of directing 100 percent of the torque to a single wheel if necessary to keep moving.
The 4XMOTION can be matched with an optional air suspension that allows you to adjust the ground clearance from a minimum of 6.3 inches all the way up to a maximum of 11.8 inches, a full 5.5 inches of travel. (The standard steel-spring suspension provides 8.3 inches of ground clearance, a little less than the air suspension's standard ground clearance of 8.7 inches.) The air suspension also features adjustable damping, so you can stiffen it up for a sportier feel and better handling, or soften it for a more comfortable highway ride.
The optional 4.2L V8
pumps out 310 hp and 302 pounds-feet of torque, with good midrange acceleration that makes getting
on the highway a cakewalk. That power makes the Touareg an excellent tow vehicle, with a towing
capacity of over 7,000 pounds. And that excellent suspension makes pulling a load, even one close
to that listed capacity, less difficult than expected, with greatly reduced sway through corners.
There's a little low-end lag on takeoff, though. That can be attributed to the full-time 4-wheel
drive, which can also be blamed, partially, for the rotten fuel economy figures, a dismal 14 city
and 18 highway.
In place of fuel economy, the Touareg delivers luxury and lots of it. The large, leather seats were supportive and almost infinitely adjustable - both for the driver and the front-seat passenger. Both driver and passenger have dedicated climate control operated by highly intuitive knobs, and as an added bonus, the rear-seat passengers also receive dual-zone climate controls operated by similarly intuitive knobs.
The interior comfort is increased by the overall quiet, even at highway speeds. If there's one thing that kills the luxury experience, it's an interior filled with wind, road and engine noise, something that's all too common on SUVs. The Touareg, however, rides almost as quietly as a sedan, easily matching the BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in terms of sound damping.
It's still amazing that a VW can carry a sticker price of almost $50,000, but the Touareg does, coming in at $49,915 (as tested). Even more amazing: It's worth it. Skipping some of the amenities can bring the price down, of course, and the majority of buyers would actually be very happy opting for the V6 engine (220 hp) instead of the more expensive V8. Either way, VW has done itself proud with this one.
It's only right, then, that the technology driving the Touareg is about as cutting-edge as you'll find on an SUV. The 4XMOTION full-time 4-wheel drive system is seamless. In normal conditions the torque is split 50/50 between the front and rear axles, but automatically adjusts if a loss of traction is detected and is capable of directing 100 percent of the torque to a single wheel if necessary to keep moving.
The 4XMOTION can be matched with an optional air suspension that allows you to adjust the ground clearance from a minimum of 6.3 inches all the way up to a maximum of 11.8 inches, a full 5.5 inches of travel. (The standard steel-spring suspension provides 8.3 inches of ground clearance, a little less than the air suspension's standard ground clearance of 8.7 inches.) The air suspension also features adjustable damping, so you can stiffen it up for a sportier feel and better handling, or soften it for a more comfortable highway ride.
The optional 4.2L V8
pumps out 310 hp and 302 pounds-feet of torque, with good midrange acceleration that makes getting
on the highway a cakewalk. That power makes the Touareg an excellent tow vehicle, with a towing
capacity of over 7,000 pounds. And that excellent suspension makes pulling a load, even one close
to that listed capacity, less difficult than expected, with greatly reduced sway through corners.
There's a little low-end lag on takeoff, though. That can be attributed to the full-time 4-wheel
drive, which can also be blamed, partially, for the rotten fuel economy figures, a dismal 14 city
and 18 highway.
In place of fuel economy, the Touareg delivers luxury and lots of it. The large, leather seats were supportive and almost infinitely adjustable - both for the driver and the front-seat passenger. Both driver and passenger have dedicated climate control operated by highly intuitive knobs, and as an added bonus, the rear-seat passengers also receive dual-zone climate controls operated by similarly intuitive knobs.
The interior comfort is increased by the overall quiet, even at highway speeds. If there's one thing that kills the luxury experience, it's an interior filled with wind, road and engine noise, something that's all too common on SUVs. The Touareg, however, rides almost as quietly as a sedan, easily matching the BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in terms of sound damping.
It's still amazing that a VW can carry a sticker price of almost $50,000, but the Touareg does, coming in at $49,915 (as tested). Even more amazing: It's worth it. Skipping some of the amenities can bring the price down, of course, and the majority of buyers would actually be very happy opting for the V6 engine (220 hp) instead of the more expensive V8. Either way, VW has done itself proud with this one.
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Stepping Up: VW enters the SUV field with the new Touareg, an impressive blend of cutting-edge technology and luxury.
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Nissan Frontier Crew Cab: SUVs may be getting all the press these days, but for a lot of people, the best tow vehicle is still the one with an open bed in the back.
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