Touareg lands on our shores
VOLKSWAGEN’S all-new Touareg large SUV has landed in South Africa in two derivatives, one priced at just below the R1-million mark and the other just over.
Following its world reveal in Beijing, China, in March, the third-generation Touareg reaches local showrooms in a Luxury model selling for R999 800 and an Executive version for R1 088 200. Both are gunned along by the well-known 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6, with outputs of 190kW and 600Nm (up from the 180kW and 550Nm made by the former Touareg), with all-wheel drive.
The new Touareg shares its MLB Evo platform with the Bentley Bentayga and Audi Q7. At 4878mm in length it’s slightly longer (and also wider) than its predecessor but sheds 106kg due to its body being construced of lightweight aluminium and high-tech steels.
Along with more cabin room and a boot that swells in size from 697 to 810 litres, the Touareg features a completely new digitalised interface which VW calls the Innovision Cockpit. It comprises a 30.4cm digital instrument cluster that flows into a huge 38cm central infotainment hub that almost completely does away with conventional buttons.
This Innovision Cockpit is an extra-cost option, and the Touareg comes standard with a 23cm touchscreen with ‘Discover Pro’ navigation.
The terrain-taming VW also boasts a raft of driver assistance and comfort functions including semi-automated steering, lane-keeping assist, an accelerating and braking system that operates at speeds of up to 60km/h, Front Cross Traffic Assist, and a thermal imaging camera that detects people and animals at night.
As a standard feature the Touareg also features the largest panoramic sliding roof yet created by VW. The transparent roof section is 1 270 mm long and 825 mm wide, and the front half of the roof can be continuously opened and electrically moved back by 495 mm and raised.
The standard package on both models also includes a power-operated tailgate, LED headlights, electrically adjustable front seats, rear view camera with park assist, electrically folding towbar, climate control, and adaptive cruise control.
The Executive derivative adds a sportier-looking R Line exterior package, LED matrix headlights, four zone climate control, and Dynamic Chassis Control with a tyre pressure monitor.
Optionally available on both versions is air suspension, and a 730 watt Dynaudio sound system with sub woofer.
The Executive can additionally be specced with four-wheel steering which boosts handling and stability at higher speeds, and reduces the turning circle at lower speeds.
Dipping further into the options budget gets you the Advanced Safety Package which includes Lane Assist and Side Assist with Night Vision and Head-up Display.
Both Touareg models are sold with a three-year/120 000 km warranty and five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.