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The first impression

I recall the launch of the first Touareg, it was midway through the 2000’s.  A hoo-hah was caused at its arrival. To be fair, most of the commotion was spearheaded toward the Porsche Cayenne for sharing a platform with a VW and Audi Q7. Each brand obviously tweaked the shared base, making it their own. Think of it like a pizza base, with each chef adding their own toppings, giving the pizza its own “je ne sais quoi”.

2010 saw the arrival of the second generation platform, which is shared again by the current Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and 2015 Audi Q7, which will launch imminently. Not that I’m comparing, or maybe I am, but having a Porsche and Audi sharing the same underpinnings as a VW sounds like great PR for a VW, no? I think it is.

Park all three luxury SUV’s together and you’ll notice the similarities- in fact you can take the doors off all three cars and swop them out with one another.

Four years after its arrival, VW have now launched the upgraded version of the Touareg. Most notable changes that relate to the exterior are new bi-xenon headlights that form a stylistic unit with the likewise redesigned chrome radiator grille and a new front bumper (which gives the Touareg a much broader and thus more powerful look). On the inside are white illumination and ambient lighting, which add finesse to the night-time design and new seat cover materials and wood accents. Safety systems have been enhanced too: new driver assistance systems such as Automatic Post-Collision Braking System as standard, an optional new generation of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and an improved layout of the suspension.

Those with a keen eye will appreciate some new colours and new look alloy wheels available: ‘Senora’ (17-inch), 'Arica' (18-inch), 'Everest’ (19-inch), ‘Masafi’ (20-inch) and 'Talladega' (20-inch for optional R-Line package).

On the road

The Touareg in TDI V8 guise, with fitted optional air suspension, makes for an incredibly smooth ride. In fact, it is so smooth, it’s comparable to the full body Range Rover (which is the benchmark for road going comfort). The sensation can be likened to an air-filled running shoe- not all running shoes are created equal. If you’ve worn a Nike Air and compared it to any another, you’ll feel and then know the benefit of air under your soul.

The TDI V8 is VW’s most powerful engine. Quiet in operation, as smooth as an aged merlot in function- it’s transcendent. Underlying the Touareg’s refined exterior lies a hugely powerful V8 engine, with a large cubic capacity and a highly advanced turbocharger- the result is a sprinting goliath.  

The TDI V8 comes standard with and offers a variety of optional extras, which enhance the drive of the car. Standard, and what I believe to be one of the best elements of the Touareg, is the glorious 8-speed ZF gearbox. Gearbox isn’t really an accurate description for this unit- it’s seamless in operation to the point where gears seam invisible but rather just academic.

What I liked

• New enhanced styling tweaks.
• Glorious combination of engine and gearbox.
• Real off-road ability.
• Supreme comfort.
• Good fuel economy.
• Real leather seats (Nappa), where others are using Leatherette.

What I didn’t  

• Dashboard is good, but could be a tad more glamorous.
• It’s not cheap, but you get what you pay for.

The figures

The extra stuff

The new Touareg comes standard with a 3 year/120 000km manufacturer warranty and 5 year/100 000km Automotion Maintenance Plan.  All models have a 12 year anticorrosion warranty and 15 000km service intervals.

The Touareg achieved a five star rating in the EuroNCAP Crash test.

The verdict

In life there is always the good, the bad and the ugly- in theory that is! This VW turns that concept on its head. The Touareg is an exceptional vehicle. It’s incredibly comfortable, very capable off-road, has loads of cabin space and is hugely powerful. Perhaps unnecessarily powerful, but nice nonetheless. In my mind, its understated presence and lofty price are the only two things that could stand in its way from capturing a potential customer’s heart.

The X5 is also a great car, though less competent off-road and less comfortable on road.

The Merc is nice, but in truth, out matched in my option by its competitors.

The Jeep is a great car. Very well priced. Capable off-road and handsome to boot, but when matched to the same sized engine in the Touareg, things become hard to differentiate.

If it were my money, I’d downgrade and purchase the smaller engine TDI V6, at a rounded off figure of R800K. If off-roading is essential, option the Escape-Terrain Tech version, which adds R25 000 to the car’s price.

www.vw.co.za