VW’s superbly realized luxury SUV Posted on October 26th
At the risk of obtaining an embarrassingly high reading on the Geezerometer, may I say that I can remember when a Volkswagen, “the people’s car,” invariably came with people’s pricing.
That’s still true of most VW models, of course, but some pretty pricey guys have been slipping into the lineup lately.
I was reminded of this recently when I reached in the glove compartment of a 2008 Touareg test car for the window-sticker replica, and found that this diesel-powered, midsize SUV had a final price of $77,880, including shipping.
After a week spent taking the measure of this blood relative of the Porsche Cayenne, I can’t say it’s overpriced. It is a beautifully realized luxury SUV with sporty handling and the Range Rover’s taste for mud and rocks.
Guess I just wasn’t ready for that kind of price tag on a VW.
The Touareg (TWO-ah-reg) was redesigned for 2008, which triggered a number of changes, like its new grille and new name - Touareg 2.
But some things haven’t changed: This upmarket SUV’s name is still hard to pronounce, and its fuel mileage is still rather hard to take.
On a happier note, the new Touareg remains a superb compromise, a very comfortable marriage of on-road athleticism and off-road capability. Its sporty handling affords it an on-road leg up on most of its competitors, and its low-range gearing and center differential lock give it a big edge off-road.
This luxurious SUV, which debuted as a 2004 model, was jointly developed by Volkswagen and Porsche, which uses the same architecture in its Cayenne model. The Touareg is built in the same assembly plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, that turns out its corporate cousin, the Audi Q7, and the Cayenne.
The Touareg comes in three flavors, each with its own engine, equipment level and price tag. The base vehicle is powered by a 3.6-liter, 280-horsepower V-6 and starts at $39,300. Next up is the model with the 4.2-liter, 350-horse V-8 at $48,390, followed by the top-end V10 TDI Twin Turbo that I drove, which opens at $68,340.
This five-liter, turbocharged diesel is pretty lively business. Like any diesel, its horsepower rating (310) fails to reflect the kind of out-of-the-chute oomph it derives from its massive 553 pound-feet of torque. Jump on this guy at a light, and it will really shove you into the backrest.
This kind of performance, coupled with the quest for Range Roveresque luxury and off-road facility have left the Touareg heavier and thirstier than most of its competitors, particularly the light-duty crossovers.
As a consequence, the diesel’s EPA mileage ratings of 15 city and 20 highway are as good as it gets in Touaregtown. The gas V-6 weighs in at 14 and 20, while the gas V-8 logs a grim 12 and 17.
The four-door, five-seat Touareg’s other Achilles’ heel is its lack of an optional third row of seats, a popular feature found in most of its competitors.
The Touareg’s few flaws ultimately get buried under what it does right. The build quality on the Touareg tester was right there. The body fits and paint work were excellent, as was the interior execution. The interior, graced with saddle-colored leather, was at once handsome, comfortable and quiet.
The operation of the tester’s six-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive system were seamless.
The test vehicle also offered a huge array of standard hedonism, ranging from the leather seats to the real wood interior trim. The options list included a new, $2,100 goody called adaptive cruise control, which can slow or even stop the vehicle, depending on traffic conditions.
The Touareg also boasts excellent crash ratings.
Excellent
‘08 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V10 TDI Twin Turbo
Base price: $68,340.
As tested: $77,880.
Standard gear: 5-liter diesel engine, six-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive, center differential lock, and the full spectrum of luxury hardware from wood and leather to 12-way power front seats.
Options: Include adaptive cruise control, rearview camera, navigation system, four-zone climate control
Fuel economy: 15 m.p.g. city, 20 highway.
Engine performance: Zingy.
Handling: Exceptional.
Comfort: Top drawer.
Styling: Civil sportiness.
Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper.
The Ben Key: Four Bens, Excellent; Three Bens, Good; Two Bens, Fair; One Ben, Poor.
Contact Al Haas at BusinessNews@phillynews.com.