The new Volkswagen Touareg is a little like a gentleman in rogue's clothes. It looks and stands very purposefully like the aggressive SUV it is designed to be. But get inside, experience the luxurious and tech-heavy cabin, and drive - it reveals the other side. It is one of the smoothest and safest drives an SUV can offer. It's a practical demonstration of Volkswagen's catchline for the previous iteration: ‘SUV meets luxury class saloon'.
It looks the part. The Touareg sits somewhere between midsize and large, but it carries its bulk well. A major plus point because ever since most carmakers moved from truck-based, body-on-frame SUVs to car-based crossovers, not all end products have been great looking. The new Toureg has a more elegant face, based on the new Volkswagen design DNA. This means a new horizontally-aligned front end with its distinctive headlights, in keeping with the new ‘face of VW'.
It is now longer - 41mm more at 4,795mm. However, it is 17mm shorter at 1,709 mm. The wheelbase too has increased by 38mm to 2,893 mm, and the width by 12mm to 1,940 mm. And yet it is lighter - 208kg less than its earlier version. It also manages 1,642 litres of cargo space despite its improved aerodynamic design, and large array of new assistance and safety systems. In a nutshell, the new Touareg is longer, lighter, sleeker, and roomier than its predecessor.
There's a lot of chrome here. A chrome grille, chrome step plate on the rear bumper, chrome lining the undersides of the mirrors. Even the roof rails shine. But it's not just a lot of bling; it works in totality.
The interiors are something else again. It seems to have been carried down from its sister brand Audi, which is usually the best in the business. Short of the hand-crafted marquees like Rolls-Royce.
I've never thought of having tan and black leather upholstery in my car, but after having the test car in the said colour, I am quite inclined to plump for it. It certainly adds to the look of a luxury SUV. So, lesson learnt: it works best in two tones. Single-colour seats don't quite match up. And at no extra cost either. The walnut trim is standard, but polished aluminium is an extra. VW's aluminium trimmings give the interior more of a textured, subtle look. It works very well.
The new interior is certainly more functional. VW says legroom in the rear has been increased by 41mm. What I do know is there were no complaints from my 6ft 2in tall son. The rear seat bench can be adjusted and can also be electrically unlatched by means of a button to increase loading space.
The quality and appearance of the materials used in the interior is excellent, as usual.
There are more goodies in the Toureg now: a standard navigation system and an eight-inch colour touch-screen with a 3D screen view, a 60-GB hard drive, SD card input, and a premium 650-watt Dynaudio system with 12 speakers. Suffice to say, you can enjoy your favourite music the way you want to.
The system also includes Bluetooth phone connectivity and iPod interface. The centre screen can also display climate control functions, and vehicle information such as a compass and altimeter. A separate, smaller screen between the tachometer and speedometer displays vehicle info such as average fuel consumption, radio station, outside temperature, compass and tyre pressure.
Creature comforts are many and cosseting: Twin cup holders in the front centre console, a bottle holder in the centre armrest, a storage compartment in the instrument panel, sun blinds for rear door windows, double sun visors to protect the driver and front row passenger from the front as well as side,‘ Climatronic' four-zone air-conditioning system that can be controlled by the driver or the passengers, to name a few. Integrated into the multifunction steering wheel are the controls for the radio, telephone, climate control, navigation system and cruise control. They are simple and practical.
So, how how does it perform? Especially since VW claims that the new optimised V6 FSI engine consumes 2.5 litres less petrol per 100 kilometres than the previous iteration.
No fears, the direct-injection 3.6-litre engine that outputs 280hp, with 360Nm peak torque is as peppy, if not more compared to the earlier version. That it now consumes 2.5 litres less speaks very highly of the engineers at VW. This also leads to lesser CO2 emissions - precisely 60g/km less than before.
by the way...
l The new Touareg is available in a hybrid version (V6 TSI plus E-motor) that can drive up to 50 km/h on pure electric power.
l When the V6 TSI and E-motor work simultaneously, a total power of up to 380hp is generated with a maximum torque of 580 Nm.
l It is the first SUV in Europe to be offered in a hybrid version, and boasts a fuel consumption value of just 8.2 litres fuel per 100 kilometres.
The new Toureg also lays claim to being the world's first SUV with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The two extra gears - seventh and eight - are fuel-efficient overdrive gears. The eighth gear is said to reduce engine speed by 34 per cent compared to sixth gear. That saves on fuel and reduces emissions.
The ride is supremely comfortable, whether on road, sand or gravel. I drove it from tarmac to sand and gravel in one flow and hardly felt a bump (I did that on the way to Wadi Wurayah near Kalba.) The new eight-speed transmission features Sport mode for more aggressive shifts and Tiptronic mode for manual shifting. You're not going to outrace a Mustang, but the Touareg doesn't feel like a big SUV when you step on it and shift it manually with a tap of the stick. The Sport mode actually works, and the change is noticeable.
The Touareg's standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive with Torsen limited-slip differential handles most situations with aplomb. It also has an optional "Offroad driving programme", which tunes the ABS, EDS and ASR for off-road duty.
On gravel, the Touareg felt very stable and secure with excellent grip even when the road was wet.
The Touareg's standard "On Road" differential setting with variable front to rear torque distribution is all that's needed on slippery roads. The "Off Road" setting which locks up the centre differential, is only needed for steep hills or soft sand.
The steering wheel is meaty and communicates well. The eight-speed transmission is outstanding, and the 3.6-litre V6 has enough muscle to just float along without seeming to try.
VW has included a safety package that makes an already safe car more secure. It includes Bi-xenon headlights with Dynamic Light Assist: this thoughtful innovation adjusts the main beam headlights for oncoming traffic automatically to eliminate glare. This camera-based feature only activates if it senses a potential hindrance to other drivers. Certainly, safer for us.
It also features a camera-based surroundings monitoring system called Area View. This consists of four cameras (in the tailgate, outside mirrors and radiator grille) which monitors the surroundings and beams them to the central touch screen in the centre console. The view from all sides are shown via split-screen and the driver can decide how to manoeuvre.
Touareg's Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) helps you keep a safe distance from the car ahead - a cruise control that not only accelerates but also brakes to a stop in an emergency. It even features ‘Stop and Go': if the vehicle in front stops, the Touareg also brakes and stops. If the driver in front then drives off again within three seconds, the ACC will allow the Toureg to automatically follow. A handy feature if you get stuck in a traffic jam. The Stop-Start system shuts off the V6 engine automatically at traffic lights and restarts as soon as the driver releases the brake pedal.
Want more? It comes with up to nine airbags and a panoramic sunroof - the largest on an SUV, and new LED daytime running lights?
I'm sold on this one!
Insight...
Buy a dark colour. Our test model, in Campanella White, barely got a glance while another Touareg (in Night Blue Metallic) in the same parking lot turned heads.
A more powerful 4.2-litre V8 version will be available towards the year end
Inside info
- Engine: V6 3.6-litre FSI
- Power: 280hp
- Max. torque: 360 Nm / 3,000 - 4,000 rpm
- Top speed: 228km/h
- 0 - 100km/h: 7.8 sec
- Gearbox: 8-speed automatic gearbox
- Price: Starts at Dh149,000
