 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI. Click image to enlarge |
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2009 Volkswagen Touareg
Surrey, British Columbia – The Volkswagen Touareg TDI may be related (by birth) to the Porsche Cayenne, but its 3.0-litre V6 TDI clean-diesel engine is available only in the Touareg. The new TDI engine is mated to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a low-range gear and adaptive torque distribution.
Starting at $48,975, the Touareg TDI is one of only four mid-size diesel-powered SUVs available in Canada.
While the V6 TDI offers a rather unspectacular 225 horsepower, the important stat is a whopping 406 lb.-ft. of torque, produced as low as 1,750 r.p.m. (compared to 265 lb.-ft. at 2,500 r.p.m. for the standard 3.6-litre V6). The outstanding pulling power of the diesel engine gives the Touareg TDI serious towing capability: it’s rated at 3,500 kilograms, (over 7,700 pounds). Fuel consumption is a thrifty 8.0 L/100 km on the highway allowing a Touareg TDI to travel up to 1,200 km on a single tank of fuel.
 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI. Click image to enlarge |
A new service feature of the V6 engine Clean Diesel system is a subsystem, first used by Mercedes, called AdBlue. This is a urea-injection system that works with an exhaust-storage catalyst to chemically bind harmful nitrous oxides, and a second unit that transforms them into harmless nitrogen and water in the exhaust. The Touareg TDI meets the most stringent North American clean-air standards and is sold in all 50 U.S. states, as well as Canada. The AdBlue fluid is stored in a tank that’s hidden under the spare wheel and is topped up during servicing. No info from VW on how far Touareg can drive on a full tank of AdBlue, but a service warning will pop up on the instrument panel, well in advance, and an emergency refill bottle comes with the vehicle.
A touch-screen satellite navigation system is a new option and it comes in a technology package ($3,450) that includes a rearview camera, a 600-watt audio upgrade and a multi-function monitor. My test vehicle, a Touareg TDI Highline ($57,975), also came with a Sport Package ($2,400) that included 19-inch wheels, a tow hitch and Bluetooth. With a $1,575 Freight charge, the as-tested price came to $65,500.
 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI. Click image to enlarge |
The Volkswagen family resemblance is clear from the front view, even though the Touareg is a tall and muscular member of the VW family. Unfortunately, the position of the front-mounted licence plate is decidedly unattractive.
The Touareg’s long 284-centimetre wheelbase provides a roomy cabin, yet its overall length is under 4.9 metres. This puts the Touareg’s wheels close to the corners, and trims body overhang. Its obstacle-approach and departure (front/rear) angles (28 degrees) are the same, a handy off-road attribute.
The Touareg’s rear glass window opens separately via a hidden power latch under the wiper arm. It’s a good feature for loading or unloading a packed cargo area and it has a clever self-closing feature, if the liftgate is lifted while the window is open.
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at 7:48 am
Sounds like a solid vehicle Bob. As for the mounting of the front plate, a necessary evil considering it’s probally a bottom breather and not at the front grill.
However, the same mounting on the new Mazada 3 really helped it in the looks dept…..I am getting used to that “smiley” face. “)
at 8:43 am
No mention of the Touareg’s shoddy reliability? Its many electrical glitches? Its engine and transmission problems?
I know this is a test drive and not a long-term investigation, but I think you’re doing readers a bit of a disservice by failing to point out how abysmally bad this vehicle has been since its debut.
I mean, if you want to quibble over the front-end license plate positioning as a potetial problem for Touareg buyers, that’s your call. But I think you’re highlighting the positives while ignoring the massive black mark against this vehicle.
at 11:34 am
Kaplan, we save most of our reliability questions for used vehicle reviews. Here’s one on the TReg: http://www.canadiandriver.com/2008/05/22/used-vehicle-review-volkswagen-touareg-2004-2007.htm
You make a solid point to be made about mentioning reliability in a test drive, but it’s not something we’ve done as a rule. I think Greg Wilson does so occasionally in his test drives, but not every time.
In fact, not many publications, including the glossy U.S. car mags, make much mention of long-term reliability in their test drives, either, though I agree this is something of a deficiency. Maybe I can make a case to have us add something reliability-wise to our test drives.
at 12:01 pm
I think reliability of an previous model is worth mentioning. After all, people don’t buy Honda’s and Toyota’s by the thousands because they’re cheap!
I can’t believe this thing bases at $49k. I was expecting something in the mid 30s range. For this small of a vehicle thats not a premium brand seems quite steep – regardless of the fuel economy. I would like to see this technology is something most of us can afford. If I’m going to drop $49k (let alone this rip off of a tester at $65k)on a vehicle it sure as heck isn’t going to be a VW compact SUV with a brutal reliability record (isn’t that why people buy German cars in the first place?).
I’d also like more info on the AdBlue technology – what the heck is it?! An emissions system of some sorts I understand but the fact that VW provides a spare bottle “emergency bottle” – that scares me. So in addition to running out of fuel do I have to be worried about running out of AdBlue?! Will this stop the vehicle? Or will this just make it less environmentally friendly?! And what does this stuff cost?! I think its exceedlingly ignorant of VW not to provide ANY information about distance or frequency of fill for AdBlue.
at 12:13 pm
Chris, thanks for the response.
Mentioning reliability would be a great move, most especially when you’re testing a car that is really known, industry-wide, to be a major problem.
I don’t read most of the glossy car mags simply because they can’t be trusted to get to the truth of a vehicle’s reliability.
I recall reading somewhere that it was the Wall Street Journal’s news reporters, and not the maintsream automotive press, that first revealed the massive quality problems that Mercedes had known about for a long time. I realize you guys aren’t undercover investigative journalists, but far too often interested car buyers are ill-served by automotive journalists…
at 2:40 pm
Spec5 I don’t know what kind of VW you were looking at but the Touareg is huge. And 30 thousand $? Come on man, where are you living? Even a midsize gm cust more than that. And I think VW is almost a premium brand.
Just my 2 cent.
at 3:12 pm
$65 000!!!! For something that will give you repeated headaches when things don’t work right. At least for that money my old Lexus GS ran like a top, and I never had to do anything but oil changes. For the price they are asking, why can’t VW -a semi-luxury brand with bigger aspirations- make vehicles that just work.
at 6:13 pm
That’s certainly a question I’d like to see an enterprising journalist or two actually put to VW…
at 6:15 pm
I’ll never buy a VW again, especially not a $50,000 + one based on reliability of their vehicles, hype created by their marketing department and abysmal dealer service.
VW dealers are small timers on par with those of GM and Chrysler. VWs are mediocre cars by any stretch of the imagination.
at 7:18 pm
Our experience mirrors m hadi’s. Lousy durability, poor engineering and stupid-expensive parts.
Never again VW in our garage.
at 8:00 pm
Kaplan, we’d love to do that. But I’m sure you can imagine how difficult it would be to get a meaningful answer out of their PR department.
You’re right, though; it would be grand to get an honest explanation for quality troubles from any manufacturer.
at 11:51 am
Richard – The Touareg is about the same size as a Nissan Murano or Ford Edge – by no means huge – at least not where I’m from.
The Murano starts at $37k – so I’m still in my mid 30s range there. The Edge bases at $30k (albeit with the Ford family pricing and in FWD only form – so just over $34k for the SEL AWD).
We’ve already established I think without question that the Toureg (if not VW) has a miserable reliability history as of late. (last year or so at least lets say) So why is it they feel they can demand this kind of money when the competition offers superior quality and arguably the same level of comfort as this thing?
And VW a “premium” brand?! Just because its german doesn’t mean its premium. VW is rated 25th by CR – GM is 26th – Nissan 14th and Ford 17th.
Just doing some more checking – heck a Honda Pilot bases at $39k w/AWD. You want to dump $10k for this VW? Glad its your money. I know where mine would go – anywhere but here.
at 1:02 pm
Apart from the towing bit, my 2007 Passat wagon can do everything this thing does, on far less fuel and it’s even a 200 hp gas engine. I average 7 L/100 km with it in the summer driving conservatively.
This thing went out the door for almost exactly twice what I paid for the Passat. I live on a dirt road in Quebec and with stability control and FWD I have never been stuck. I doubt many of these things, at $50k+ a pop, will venture much farther off road than a suburban mall parking lot… so unless you need to tow, a waste of money and resources.
at 8:31 am
Many people are making the mistake of equating vehicle size with price, a BMW 3 series interior is similar size to a Civics after all – does this make them comparable? While I agree VW reliablity leaves alot to be desired it is easy to see where the extra money goes into this vehicle say vs. a Pilot. Superior interior materials across the board, thicker sheet metal (look at the door dings on most Japanese cars), this vehicle and the Cayenne have crazy offroad ability – not that anyone would take a vehicle of this $ offroad though. It’s too bad the quality isn’t there – a Jetta tdi wagon would be nice,but until the quality improves buyers will stick with boring vehicles like the Camry.
As for the adblue I know other similar vehicles like the BMW X5 diesel gives you a warning with the # of Kms left before a refill of the fluid. If you ignore this too long the vehicle will not start. My concern would be the cost of this return to dealer service requirement.
at 2:48 pm
If I had taken into account reliability reports I would not have bought my 1987 Volvo 740 wagon or my last 3 Jetta TDI. I still drive the Volvo after 22 years and 345,000 km. Maybe I will have the change the original clutch on of these days.
The Jetta have been very good. An oil change costs me less than $70.00 cdn (for synthetic oil and replacement filter). so basically I do 2 changes per year.
Two guys I know bougth new Nissan Rogue, one had to have a engine module changed, the other a new transmission. My god, if it had been VWs it would be disastrous! I beleive that most problems are on the driver seat!
at 8:17 pm
Blogs are always interesting when pathetic Toyoto owners like Kaplan & spec5 feel so threatened by a superior product that they find the time to spread negativity to justify their inability and lack of knowledge in their purchase decision.
If statistical reliability based on owners biased information is your main purchase consideration – buy a Toyoto or Honda. They are both plain, low technology, simple and reliable. For others, however, we can appreciate the features a company such as VW brings: Direct injection, low pressure turbos, blue tec diesels, direct shift gearboxes, premium interiors, etc. All in a design package studied if not copied by other car makers and with real load and towing capacities – don’t waste my time with US driven volume measurements to justify comparing a Toureg to the homily Murano – this is nothing but an expensive car with 4wd!!
CR reports indicated if performance and safety were the main purchase drivers, VW would take top honors in almost all categories. C&D selected a VW in its top 40 in almost every category.
“VW not a luxury brand” – look at the substance. Only the pathetic north american car market (driven by US standards) is this shallow.
“Comparing a Honda Pilot to a Toureg” – you have to be kidding me? 2 totally different classes of vehicles and capability and the Honda has officially thrown in the towel on design and gone to a US style box but if you like Mattel style interiors go for the Pilot.
If you can’t afford the premium for the VW or can’t appreicate the technology of the product, just go away and leave the rest of alone to enjoy it.
at 10:04 am
If you want to convince yourself that this piece of junk is a luxury vehicle, go right ahead.
It’s your money. If I want luxury and reliability, I’d spend my cash on a BMW, Lexus, Acura, even an Infiniti. All these carmakers offer superior luxury, technology, handling and reliability.
But you justify your purchase any way you want…and hey, at least you’ll get to know your town’s mechanics really well.