Versatile vehicle can do it all
SUV remains top of mind in a competitive class
MUNICH, GERMANY — The price of fuel continues to be high and our streets are not becoming any less congested with traffic, but the popularity of large and luxurious SUVs continues unabated. Witness Volkswagen’s Touareg. First seen in 2002, the Touareg was one of the German automaker’s largest and most luxurious products to date. Alongside the VW Phaeton full-sized luxury sedan, the all-wheel-drive Touareg offered the room and performance of much pricier luxury SUVs — such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz ML-Class — but at a more down-to-earth price.
Twelve years, two generations and more than 800, 000 copies sold worldwide later, the Volkswagen SUV continues to impress with its classy combination of luxury and both on- and off-road capabilities. And for 2015 the SUV is getting updated styling inside and out and new driver aids and safety technologies to keep it top of mind in a very competitive class.
The exterior changes VW has made to the 2015 Touareg include a front grille with a more horizontal theme with bi-xenon headlights as standard and a chrome band that wraps around its sill line. That’s about it. Inside, the changes are equally subtle, with VW saying there are some new leather colours, decorative trims, updated aluminum buttons and controls that used to be illuminated in white now lit in red.
Underneath its fancier knobs and dials, the 2015 Touareg gains some new high-tech driver assistance and convenience systems. For instance, there’s Lane Assist and Side Assist (which warns of any vehicles approaching from behind when changing lanes). Also new are Automatic PostCollision Braking System (which prevents any further dangerous collisions after initial impact) and Automatic Cruise Control with Front Assist, City Emergency Braking function and optional Stop-and-Go function. And, finally, an Area View assistance system (which uses four cameras to recognize what’s around the Touareg when parking).
What hasn’t changed for 2015 is the impeccable build quality and use of top-notch materials.
Compared to higher-level Jeep Grand Cherokees, the Touareg’s fit-and-finish elevates it to the major leagues, right up there with luxury-brand SUVs at twice the price. Details such as the high-quality and easier-to-use graphics on its touch-screen interface and its completely rattlefree cabin makes the Touareg feel like a bank vault on wheels.
While those looking for minivan-like seating will have to wait until VW’s American-made three-row crossover (based on the CrossBlue Concept) arrives in a few years, the five-passenger Touareg still offers plenty of flexibility in its cabin design when it comes to hauling people and their stuff. Its 40/20/40-split rear bench seat slides so you can swap cargo room for knee room. Fold the VW’s rear seats down fully, and there’s a generous 1,642 litres of luggage room.
For 2015, Canadian-market Touaregs will continue to be offered with a pair of six-cylinder engines. Carrying over will be the Touareg’s 3.6-litre gas mill. It makes 280 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, and is rated at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 8.8 on the highway. The 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel also returns. It’s rated at 240 hp and 406 lb-ft, and is rated at a more economical 10.8 L/100 km in the city and 6.7 L/100 km on the highway.
Whether you go for the gas or diesel, both engines employ an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW’s 4MOTIONbranded all-wheel-drive system with adaptive torque distribution. And when the refreshed 2015 Touareg arrives in Canadian VW showrooms next January, expect starting prices to be similar to the current $50,000 to $65,000 range.
Although VW doesn’t offer a high-performance Touareg to compete against V8 brute-utes such as the Grand Cherokee SRT or Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG, it’s still a very competent and confident vehicle to cover great distances in short periods of time.
During a day driving on both two-lane back roads and autobahns around Munich, the big VW SUV always felt nimble in a way you would not expect a vehicle of this size to be.
Excessive body roll is held in check, even in tight corners. And the steering actions of the Touareg are surprisingly crisp and accurate.
VW set up a light off-roading course to remind us that the Touareg isn’t afraid to gets dirty. And note: with its optional air sus- pension, the VW’s ground clearance can be jacked-up to as much as 300 millimetres.
The 2015 Touareg is just the thing to handle many driving needs. Luxury cross-country driving machine, roomy peoplehauler, off-road SUV: whatever you need, the big VW seems capable of dealing with it.