By Ian Strachan.
Volkswagen’s first ever luxury large 4×4 – the range-topping Touareg – has always been an impressive car. But now it’s got better with hybrid power, a host of hi-tech enhancements and styling updates front and rear.
It is also a more comfortable ride, with steel spring running gear and optional air suspension.
In addition, the new Touareg has bags of room, it handles well, is extremely competent off road and very well behaved on road. And it looks good, has more than enough power, and compared to some of its luxury 4×4 rivals, doesn’t cost the earth.
For me the permanent four-wheel-drive Touareg gives some of its more vaunted luxury 4×4 rivals a run for their money. It’s a superb motorway cruiser and it can go from tarmac to mud without the driver having to do anything other than turn a rotary switch to go into off-road mode.
My test vehicle never put a foot wrong in some sticky Staffordshire mud. With the help of a wealth of technology it maintained grip throughout and never threatened to get stuck. It also has superb ground clearance and wasn’t phased by some seriously flooded roads which were rendering lesser vehicles waterlogged and useless.
Despite its size, the Touareg maintains a clear Volkswagen identity, with a deep grille and pleasing lines. Inside it’s roomy and comfortable, with plenty of creature comforts. You even get a red illuminated VW logo in the re-designed rear end.
The design takes its cues from smaller Volkswagens but is obviously much taller. There’s plenty of capacity in the loadspace area with no wheel-arch intrusion and access via a powered tailgate.
I test drove a petrol powered Touareg with a smooth but powerful 3.0 litre six cylinder turbocharged 381 bhp engine, supported by a 136 bhp plug-in electric motor which can give up to 31 miles of electric-only driving.
The engine has plenty of grunt, delivering power throughout the range without ever feeling reluctant to propel this big car. The eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox is exceptionally flexible. It’s also pretty frugal for its size, delivering a combined mpg of 128 mpg.
The Touareg handles better than many 4x4s. It is stable and predictable, with no suspension wallow, and flat cornering. On road its manners are impeccable and it’s a great motorway cruiser. Steering is light but precise.
Specification on the Elegance spec that I tested is very good, and includes a wealth of electronics to keep you moving, safe and stable in difficult conditions, as well as big 20-inch graphite alloy wheels, automatic door locking, satellite navigation and six-speaker DAB radio and sound system via a 15-inch colour touchscreen, four-zone electronic air conditioning, heated front seats, leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control with distance monitoring, emergency braking and speed limiter, and curtain airbags.
You also get driver profile selection with four settings for eco, comfort, normal and sport, all-round electric windows, panoramic sunroof with electric sunblind, lane assist, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors with camera, smartphone charger, black roof rails, hi-tech matrix headlights and ambient interior lighting.
My test car came with several options including powered folding towbar with trailer assist (£1195), parking assist with smartphone remote control (£850), an upgraded leather upholstery pack (£1890) and crystal effect paintwork (£1385)
The Touareg that I tested will cost you £69,150 on the road without the above options. That’s still less than some of its less well equipped competitors and you get the benefit of a high specification, a vehicle that won’t depreciate quickly, and a stylish, versatile and more than competent performer.
