We say Near-luxury enormous SUV with genuine off-road ability. But can't match BMW or Land Rover in this sector.Performance 3.6 and 4.2-litre petrols are capable but it's the diesels that excel with all their lovely torque that you need to drag a lump like the Touareg around. At the top of the range is the 5.0-litre V10 TDI that’s worth 308bhp and develops 553lb-ft of torque, clears 60mph in 7.6 seconds and hits a top speed of 140mph.
Emissions The Touareg is a thirsty beast and is extremely expensive to run. The V10 is obviously rubbish in terms of fuel economy and emissions returning just 23mpg and emitting 332mpg in CO2 in the process. The best in the line-up is the 2.5-litre 171bhp TDI which returns just 26mpg and emits 249g/km in CO2.Driving Built on the same chassis as the Porsche Cayenne, the handling is predictably good. Air suspension on higher models is good, but not amazing. Off road it’s more than capable but the Touareg is suited to the road maintaining its composure around corners well.Feel Some of the engines complain, but the cabin is well insulated. With the exception of minor roll around bends the Touareg is settled but steering is too light and there’s little feedback through the steering column.Space Plenty of space for five and their luggage.
A large boot is extended to nearly 1000-litres with the rear seats folded.Equipment CD player, air conditioning, alloys and cruise control are at entry-level. Leather and satnav are higher up while an auto box is an option on some models.Price Running costs are pretty poor and the Touareg will drop more cash than rivals, though 66% of value should be retained after three years. Prices range from a little over £28,000 and rocket to £59,000 as you move up the range.
Quality The Touareg boasts lots of quality in its interior with premium materials and equipment throughout and it shares a lot of its fixtures and fittings with the Phaeton luxury barge. It looks a bit dated but is a comfortable place to sit.Safety Six airbags, ABS, traction control and stability control are standard. 5 NCAP stars.Pros The Touareg is excellent both on and off road and comes with a brilliant engine line-up and a premium cabin.Cons The Touareg has a powerful engine range and the trade off is expensive running costs. It’s also quite expensive for high-end models and at around £50,000 it approached Land Rover’s more competitive models.Alternatives Volvo XC90, Land Rover Discovery
