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| Background: The folks at Volkswagen have ventured into once uncharted waters. Last year, the German automaker introduced its first ever ultra luxury car, the 2004 Phaeton. This deviates from a tried and true business model utilized for decades. Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automaker, has been successfully marketing relatively modest priced small and mid-sized vehicles to working and middle class audiences. Phaeton starts in the $64,000 neighborhood but the available 12-cylinder engine sets a checkbook back as much as $94,000; not the typical price tag for the average Beetle buyer. Another vehicle making its debut last year was the 2004 all-wheel drive Touareg (pronounced “Tour-regg”). The name means “free folk” and is also the name of a nomadic Sahara desert tribe. It’s the German automaker’s first sport utility vehicle and designed for true off-roading. Touareg is a mid size premium SUV (with matching premium price), an interesting marketing strategy. One might expect VW to first introduce a lower-priced SUV for the masses and later segue to a premium entry. Volkswagen chose to enter the SUV game in the U.S. with a premium vehicle instead. The Touareg is notable for a rugged unibody construction which may seem like a contradiction in terms. Generally speaking, pavement-friendly passenger cars are built from the unibody structure while pickup trucks and other rugged vehicles chose the more off-road ready body-on-frame design. But Touareg, with its four-wheel drive independent suspension, is designed from the get-go to wade through up to 22 inches of water and provides a huge ground clearance of 11.8 inches (when equipped with the optional air suspension) to handle such off-road chores. When choosing the more practical pavement route (which most Chicago-area buyers do) these same characteristics create car-like ride and handling. The European-built Touareg competes with other mid-size SUVs including BMW’s X5, the Mercedes-Benz M-class, Lexus RX 330, Cadillac SRX and Lincoln Aviator.
Engine: Touareg offers two gasoline-powered engines: V-6 or V-8. Our test vehicle featured the 3.2-liter, 220 horsepower V-6. The larger 4.2-liter V-8 cranks out 310 horses. Both recommend premium unleaded fuel for their 26.4 gallon tanks. Both are mated to a silky smooth six-speed automatic transmission and permanent, always engaged four-wheel drive which Volkswagen designates “4XMOTION.” The standard six-speed transmission comes with a “Tiptronic” manual input system allowing drivers to select shift points without using a foot clutch when desired. Fuel economy is less than spectacular. The V-6 averages 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 highway while the more potent V-8 registers 14 and 18 respectively. The two gas engines were offered when Touareg debuted last summer. Added a few months later was a V-10, 5.0-liter turbodiesel with 310 horsepower and improved fuel economy. Touareg is one of the few mid-size SUVs sold in the U.S. available with a diesel engine. Volkswagen offers diesel power in several other products including the Golf and Beetle. The V-10 diesel generates 17 m.p.g. city and 23 m.p.g. highway plus 553 lbs.-ft. of torque for enhanced towing capabilities. Volkswagen differentiates the three models basically by engine size with no assigned trim level designation.
Price: Volkswagen supplied the Daily Herald with a silver/blue V-6 Touareg sporting a $35,900 starting price. Options included an in-dash navigation system with built-in up-level stereo ($2,650), air suspension ($2,600), leather seats with 12-way power driver’s seat ($2,200), Xenon headlights ($750) and rear differential locks ($550). With a $615 destination charge, the bottom line reached $45,265. Center differential locks come standard. The V-8 version lists around $41,000 while the turbodiesel V-10 resides in the $58,000 neighborhood. Comparatively speaking, the lowest-priced mid-size Acura MDX with all-wheel drive and seating for seven starts at $36,400. The MDX is a six-cylinder exclusive vehicle. The lowest priced BMW X5 with seating for five and all-wheel checks in at $40,000 for a six-cylinder version with manual transmission.
Standard features: Touareg comes standard with all the popular equipment one would expect with a luxury vehicle plus dual-zone climate control, a sliding glass sun roof and heated driver and front passenger seats. A single-feed, in-dash compact disc player is also standard. A multi-disc feature is optional.
Interior: Touareg includes seating for five. No third row is offered which runs contradictory to most of the news mid-size and larger SUVs recently introduced. Despite it’s SUV stance, maneuvering in and out of the vehicle requires a simple sit down motion rather than a jump up maneuver. Four cruise control buttons are conveniently arranged in a vertical manner on the steering wheel’s left side; radio volume functions and instrument panel message board buttons are to the right. Fuel door and trunk release buttons are found on the driver’s door; a more convenient location than the floor where many manufacturers tend locate these functions. Knobs monitoring outside power mirrors are to the left and right of the floor-mounted automatic transmission. In back are two permanently-molded side-by-side beverage holders and a deep storage bin/arm rest combination. The center floor console is high enough to butt up against the bottom of the center dash. Power lock functions are near the door handle while power windows are placed on the driver’s door arm rest. The large, attractive instrument panel has two center chrome rimmed analog gauges with four smaller gauges along the bottom. In between the two large speedometer and tachometer readouts is the square, digital information center. Front windshield wipers activate from a right side steering column stalk. The ignition cylinder is positioned rather high on the dashboard also to the steering column’s right. Headlights activate from a far left dashboard rotary dial. High beams and parking lights activate via the turn signal stalk. The center dash area houses the optional navigation system display with built-in radio functions. Volkswagen’s in-dash navigation system is not quite as intuitive as other recently tested designs and takes time to master. The same holds true for the small, rectangular pre-set radio frequency buttons. Below is the automatic climate controls system with two large dials controlling temperature, push buttons monitoring fan direction and toggle types for fan speed. Large digital interior temperature displays (one for driver and front passenger) are positioned next to the dials. At night, the dashboard illuminates with blue and red backlighting as is the case with many other Volkswagens. Leather seating is optional in V-6 models and standard in V-8 and V-10 models. With the second row folded, storage room reaches 70 cubic feet, less than both the Acura MDX and Lexus RX 330 but slightly more than the BMW X5. Second row seat backs fold with a 60/40 split. Headrests must first be removed and stowed before flipping the seat cushions forward and dropping the backrests down. These seats required more effort when folding down than some rivals. With second-row seats up, two adults fit with optimum comfort; three adults would be a squeeze. Under the cargo floor is an inflatable spare tire with compressor.
Dimensions (V-6):
Wheelbase: 112.4 inches
Overall length: 187.2 inches
Overall height: 68 inches
Overall width: 75.9 inches
Curb weight: 5,086 pounds
Ground clearance: 8.3 inches
Outside: The rear hatch, hinged at the top opens as one unit from the bottom. For quick trips in the back, the rear window opens independently by touching a release lever under the wiper. A select few premium SUVs, including the Lincoln Navigator, have a power rear lifting hatch. Touareg currently does not offer this feature. Band-like headlight housing flank the grille with a centered circular VW logo. Front fenders mold into the hood with no sharp angles. Red tail lights are horizontal and narrow in nature. Four strap-like body-colored door handles adorn Touareg. The radio antenna is built into the rear glass and the fuel door is positioned on the right rear fender. All season tires with alloy wheel covers come standard.
Safety features: Touareg is loaded with safety features, as one would expect with a premium-type vehicle. Included in the price of admission are: four-wheel antilock brakes, stability control, daytime running lights, child safety rear door locks, remote keyless entry, anti-theft systems, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, stability control and an assortment of airbags including dual front, side and head protecting versions. Another nifty safety nuance becoming more prominent in some SUVs are turn signal blinkers built into the side view mirrors. Touareg includes this feature which alerts other road warriors of a driver’s intention. Optional is an electronic parking assist feature and OnStar Satellite communication system linking occupants with 24-hour-a-day manned centers in the United States.
Warranty: Volkswagen’s warranty coverage is better than many. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) and is fully transferable to the next owner. The bumper-to-bumper warranty covering many non-powertrain items is good for four years or 50,000 miles. Twenty-four hour roadside assistance is four years or 50,000 miles. Corrosion coverage is the best in the business at 12 years with no mileage limitations.
Final thoughts: Precise steering requires little movement of the wheel to maneuver the vehicle. Braking is sure and firm. Touareg features better off-roading capabilities than just about any luxury mid-size unibody SUV on the market yet handles on-road adventures just as effortlessly. For a 5,000-pound vehicle, Touareg handles with remarkable ease. However, be aware of center dashboard controls that take some time to master and no third row seat is offered. Although Touareg sports some higher pricing than most other VW products, the all-new SUV in some ways is a bargain. The vehicle is the automotive twin of another German offering, the Porsche Cayenne. Both were developed together sharing many underpinnings but Cayenne has a significantly higher starting price. The V-6 Cayenne starts in the $44,000 neighborhood (compared with Touareg’s $35,900 price). Cayenne also offers a V-8 and turbocharged V-8 with the turbo starting around $90,000.