2012 Volkswagen Touareg Reviews

NEW After the generously proportioned first-generation Touareg the second-generation model released in 2011 emerged lighter and much sleeker. Dramatic new curves gave the new model a more dynamic look. Gone was the pudginess of the old model, the new one's lines were taut and terrific. VW's stated aim was to build a

Volkswagen has announced styling changes to the 2013 model Touareg and at the same time has significantly upgraded the equipment levels of its medium-large SUV.VALUEEntry level Touareg 150TDI now has a standard Rear View Camera (RVC Plus) that improves reversing safety by displaying static and dynamic guidance lines on the display. This is an important safety features as their can be no worse feeling than reversing into a child hidden behind a large vehicle. The petrol powered Volkswagen Touareg V6 FSI was never a big seller in Australia so has been discontinued to make space for more turbo-diesel models on the importing ships.TECHNOLOGYAll Volkswagen Tuoaregs are powered by V6 engines that drive through a sophisticated eight-speed automatic transmission. The entry level Touareg is powered by a 3.0 litre, six cylinder engine with an eight speed sports automatic transmission. This results in 150kw of power and 400Nm torque.DESIGNThe Touareg V6 TDI 4Motion body now has the same exterior design as the other variants, incorporating the body coloured lower side and bumper trims with chrome mouldings as well as dual chromed triangular exhaust tips on either side. The previous styling of grey and silver coloured lower body side and bumper trims as well as oval chromed exhaust tailpipes is now being offered as an option at no charge for those customers intending to put the Touareg’s off-road credentials to the test.The Touareg 150TDI has bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime driving lights and Karakum 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside the cabin, there’s now a luxury look provided by Vienna leather seat upholstery. The driver and front passenger seats have 12-way electric adjustment and electro-pneumatically adjustable backrest side bolsters. The new design of safety-optimised front head restraints permit height and longitudinal adjustment.The rear backrest now provides the convenience of split-fold 60:40 that can be operated from within the luggage compartment creating more convenient solutions for transporting bulky items.SAFETYThe biggest news is on the safety front with all 2013 Volkswagen Tuaregs getting Volkswagen’s clever Driver Fatigue System (DFS). At the start of each trip the system analyses the driver’s characteristic steering behaviour, their use of pedals and transverse acceleration. If the monitored parameters show a significant deviation from the steering behaviour recorded at the beginning of the trip, warning lights and buzzers alert the driver and recommends they take a break. If the driver does not take a break within the next 15 minutes, the warning is repeated. Which seems rather too long a gap to us, but hopefully Volkswagen’s engineers have considered this. The optional Driver Assistance Package now also contains the added City Emergency Braking function. The City EB function is active below a speed of 30 km/h and also reacts to stationary vehicles; if necessary, it automatically initiates a braking manoeuvre, thereby contributing to avoidance of an impending front end collision or at least minimising the resulting damage.DRIVINGVolkswagen Touareg V6 TDI has received 20-inch Pikes Peak alloy wheels with 275/45 R20 tyres that team with air suspension with adaptive dampening control. This gives the benefit of the looks of the big wheels without the harsh ride that can be created by low profile tyres on rough Australian backroads.The complete 2013 Volkswagen Touareg range is:150TDI 3.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $62,990 (automatic)V6 TDI 3.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $78,990 (automatic)V6 TDI 4MOTION 3.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $83,990Volkswagen TouaregPrice: from $62,990Warranty: 3 years roadsideEngine: 3-litre, 6-cyl, 150kW/400NmTransmission: 8-speed diesel, AWDSafety: n/aBody: 4898mm (L); 1965mm (W); 1732mm (H)Thirst: 7.2L/100km, 190g/km CO2

The original version of the Volkswagen Touareg was designed to have good off-road ability - in the mistaken belief that buyers wanted a 4WD. The new model has been backed off in its standard format as very few people ever take their SUVs away from sealed surfaces.The Touareg 150TDI we tested is priced from $62,990, and also came with the $5400 driver assist package that includes active cruise control, lane assist, front assist and occupant protection system.TECHNOLOGYThe engine sits in front of an automatic transmission with eight forward speeds, there is no manual option. The automatic is a conventional torque convertor unit, not a double-clutch DSG as the latter are notoriously awkward at very slow speeds, such as in off-road driving.The Touareg 150TDI we tested had the basic 4Motion AWD system which does not include low range transfer case or differential locks. It is ideally suited to gravel roads as opposed to 4WD tracks or fire trails and rock hopping.The transition from ‘on-road’ to ‘off-road’ is achieved by turning a knob in the console that changes the traction control for better grip on loose surfaces. On dirt tracks, forest trails and the like we found it to have excellent traction and it retained it good on-road ride comfort.The Touareg has sensors fitted to the underneath of the external rear view mirrors and these monitor road markings. If the vehicle starts to drift to one side or the other the steering wheels shudders alerting the driver. Front assist lets the driver know there is insufficient braking space between the Touareg and the car in front.Weight reduction has been achieved as a two-speed transfer box is no longer fitted as standard. Instead it is an extra-cost option for those who do want go into the bush. The 4WD system without a transfer case uses the tag of 4Motion. The heavy-duty 4WD with a transfer case is called 4XMotion.DESIGNThe second generation Volkswagen has styling that follows the latest neat and tidy VW theme that is likely to remain timeless. Europeans are becoming increasingly anti-4WD in their thinking so Volkswagen has been sensible in making the Touareg look more like a sensible station wagon than an off-road vehicle.Though it looks smaller than the superseded gen-one model, the new Touareg is significantly larger inside due to its longer body and stretched wheelbase. This results in a spacious back seat so there's legroom for the tallest of adults. Comfort in the rear has been further improved by making the backrest adjustable for rake.VW has given the interior an all-new look, with a classy appearance and intelligent use of soft feel materials on the dash. There is the usual neat and easy to read Volkswagen instrument layout as well as an integrated LCD multifunction display that’s also simple to use and minimal in the distraction it causes,The Touareg’s luggage area has also been increased in size and is easy to load thanks to the squared off rear end, though the height of the floor may cause hassles for smaller owners.The cargo area is large at 580 litres and with the rear seat folded there’s a cavernous 1642 litres. The rear seat has a 60/40 split and the centre section of the backrest folds down to create an armrest with cup holders. It also folds down completely to create a ski hatch.DRIVINGThe new VW SUV has a solid feel and excellent refinement in noise, vibration and harshness control. At a cruising speed of 110 to 120 km/h there is almost no wind noise so the big VW wagon offers quiet relaxed travel for hours on end.We found the front seats comfortable and supportive. Leg and headroom is not an issue in front or back. The rear seat passengers also enjoy dual air conditioning vents at head height. However, the middle seat in the rear is rather firm - not a place we would like to be on a long trip.The interior has a good number of usable storage bins that makes it an ideal family vehicle.Visibility outwards is excellent thanks to the slimming down of the windscreen pillars and the moving of the windscreen slightly closer to the front seats. The view out to the rear is also very good and one of our shorter road testers said she had no trouble at all in normal driving and reverse parking.Touareg is predictable in the way it handles and only a tiny number of owners will ever come close to finding its limits, when the aforementioned safety electronics will get them out of trouble. Body roll for a largish SUV is minimal.Cleverly, though it has increased in size, the new VW Touareg is almost 100 kilograms lighter than the outgoing model. This weight reduction has been achieved not only by the different 4WD systems, but also in many other areas throughout the vehicle.Clever engine and transmission design, as well as the aforementioned trimming of weight, has reduced fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 20 per cent compared with the outgoing Touareg. Our review vehicle used about seven to nine litres per hundred kilometres in country running, increasing to nine to eleven litres around town or in hilly country. These are excellent figures for a large vehicle in this class.VERDICTAll-in-all the new Volkswagen Touareg has logical improvements on the original in almost all areas and should be a big seller with appealing combination of style, space and safety.MODEL RANGE150 TDI 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $62,990 (automatic)V6 FSI 3.6-litre V6 petrol five-door wagon: $67,990 (automatic)V6 TDI 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $77,990 (automatic)V6 TDI 4XMotion 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel five-door wagon: $82,990 (automatic)Volkswagen Touareg 150TDIPrice: From $62,990Warranty: 3 years/ unlimited kmSpare: space saver/ temporaryEngine: 3.0-litreV6 diesel 150kW/400NmTransmission: 8 gears, sports automaticBody:  4898mm (L), 1965 mm (W), 1732 mm (H)Weight: 2154 kgThirst: 7.2 L/100km, 190g/km CO2

Efforts by Volkswagen to entice buyers to the latest generation of the Touareg appear to be paying off. Monthly sales are up more than four-fold since the 2012 models went on sale in August. For good reason.The latest version is roomier, lighter, better proportioned and easier on fuel than its predecessors, the first of which arrived here eight years ago.DESIGNThere are four models -- three diesels and one petrol -- and all have been to the gym. They are up to 90kg lighter and look slimmer, yet are 114mm longer and 37mm wider than previous models. The big gains show in greater cabin space, especially backseat leg-room and a larger load volume.PRICES AND DRIVETRAINSPrices reflect the competitive nature of the luxury SUV market. The entry level 150kW TDI 3.0-litre V6 diesel is $62,990 -- or $13,000 less than the outgoing 176kW TDI, which was the only Touareg available after the V6 petrol and V10 diesel were dropped late last year.Next is the 206kW FSI petrol V6 at $77,990, the same price as the 180kW TDI. Top of the range is now the 180kW TDI 4XMotion at $82,990. All models come with eight-speed automatic transmissions, up from six, and all-wheel-drive that, in the 4XMotion, includes low-range gearing. For an extra $5000, the 4XMotion has serious off-road gearing, with a 2.72:1 reduction and a lockable centre diff. The wide spread of gear ratios provides a short first gear for launch and two overdrive top gears for touring, the diesel being slightly taller geared than the petrol.The all-wheel drive versions are well set up for moderate off-road forays. They have high clearance, off-road settings and a torque-sensing centre differential to vary drive from a normal 40:60 front to rear up to 20:80 and 60:40.ECONOMYFuel-saving tricks include lower drag, the multi-speed gearbox, engine stop-start, brake energy recuperation and fast warming of the driveline. Fuel efficiency improves by up to 20 per cent.On test, the 3.0-litre 180kW diesel had a combined average of 7.4l/100km and the 3.6-litre petrol FSI a combined average of 10.1l/100km, both about 2l/100km less than their predecessors.Both engines are smooth and quiet and perfectly matched to the silky and decisive eight-speed auto, reaching 100km/h in a sprightly 7.8-seconds, a little more than a second quicker than previously and impressive for a 2.2-tonne wagon.DRIVINGThe Touareg is easy to drive and feels more agile than its size and weight suggest. Handling is accurate and poised, with minimal body roll. The ride is mostly composed and compliant, although there is still some tyre thump over rough edges. Fit and finish are excellent, the interior has a quality feel and the controls are clearly marked and mostly easy to use.The front seats are wide and firm, with plenty of adjustment. The rear seats are well padded, recline and have generous leg and headroom. Load space is useful and benefits from the extra length in the latest models.EQUIPMENTStandard equipment includes nine airbags, stability control, leather seats, alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, hill descent control, hill-hold assist, active rollover protection, multi-function display, Bluetooth, an equal-top-of-class 3500kg towing capacity, heated and folding mirrors. But there is no full-size spare wheel, not even as an option, just an inflation kit.Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI AmbitionPrice: $77,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 55%Service interval: 15,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 7.4 l/100km; 196g/km CO2Safety equipment: nine airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TCCrash rating: 5 starEngine: 180kW/550Nm 3-litre turbo-dieselTransmission: Eight-speed automaticBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4898 (L); 1965mm (W); 1732mm (H); 2904mm (WB) Weight 2159kgTyre size: 255/55R18, collapsible space-saver, compressor.Volkswagen Touareg V6 FSIPrice: $77,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistEngine: 206kW/360Nm, 6 Cylinder, 3.6 LitreTransmission: Eight-speed sports automaticBody: 4-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4898 (L); 1965 (W); 1732(H); 2904(WB) Weight 2097kgTyre size: 255/55 R18, alloy, space saver/temporary