CD Article: 2007 Volkswagen Touareg V6

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:

For 2007, the Volkswagen Touareg features a new 3.6-litre V6 which Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh prefers to the available V8. "Throttle response is much better," she says, although it has "a tendency to rough idle at a stoplight." Otherwise unchanged from 2006, the Touareg features its usual comfortable seats and well-finished interior, and a smooth ride that eats up highway miles effortlessly.
   
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[JSCC]

Duh? 

Base price: $51,525
=> Options: $4,950 (Sport leather package, $3,855; "Cabrio Smarkant" 18-inch alloy wheel package, $720; wind blocker, $375) <=

Why is the EOS options/pricing added to the Touareg?

The luxury package is a $6400 upgrade, which gives the customer:
Cricket leather trim
12-way power seats with memory (driver's seat only)
Bi-xenon headlamps
Heated steering wheel & rear seats
Center console
Heated power folding auto dimming mirrors with memory
Upgraded sound system
Wood trim
Manual rear side sunshades
Front sliding armrest

[inco]

Would that be a case of "Car Confusion Overload" ? Too many cars to test and oncoming Alzheimer's.

But then a windblocker on a Touareg might be a good thing.

[Snowman]

A nicely designed SUV with a -119% worse than average reliability rating and priced $10k too high. How can this compete with a Lexus 350 or MDX?

[scottmcphee]

..according the "owner satisfaction" index, this VW is $50,000 too much money.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I'm pretty dang sure that 'wood pattern' is real wood. Also, LOVE the seats in this rig... they're supremely comfortable.

Really looking forward to the facelift version, will help lend a bit more upscaleness.

The reliability was a nightmare on '04s and some '05s, much better now tho far from Lexus. But this is a very capable 4X4 if you actually do some off-roading or towing.

Wish they could have priced the base at $45,5 and the model as equipped at $49,9. I believe it's fully competent and comparable to other luxury-branded models - with a twist, but is also getting a tad older and the Japanese models into the $50s are now well equipped in their base versions.

[Mike S]

Nice article.  It would be worth pointing out its off road capabilities and 8,000+ towing capacity, neither of which can be matched by compartively priced Lexus 350 or MDX.

[Eric Green]

I reckon less than 1% of owners will ever take these things "off-road", unless the driveway to the cottage counts.

And as for 8,000 lb towing capacity, it's irrelevant. Anyone who can afford a >$50K vehicle has the money (and brains) to hire a qualified third party to move their 2+ton boat. Offload the risk and saddle the mover with the liability insurance premiums. Moving a horse box? You'd be a fool to use anything less than a LWB American half-ton or heavier- you're not using this little toy. And I can't see a Tourage owner pulling a house trailer. So what's left for it to tow?

All in all, an unreliable, overpriced, bloated, thirsty soccer-mom thingie.

[Mike S]

I reckon less than 1% of owners will ever take these things "off-road", unless the driveway to the cottage counts.

And as for 8,000 lb towing capacity, it's irrelevant. Anyone who can afford a >$50K vehicle has the money (and brains) to hire a qualified third party to move their 2+ton boat. Offload the risk and saddle the mover with the liability insurance premiums. Moving a horse box? You'd be a fool to use anything less than a LWB American half-ton or heavier- you're not using this little toy. And I can't see a Tourage owner pulling a house trailer. So what's left for it to tow?

All in all, an unreliable, overpriced, bloated, thirsty soccer-mom thingie.

Eric - If towing capcity, load capacity and off road abilties are irrelavant to the buyer, they should be buying a car, not an SUV.  I don't disagree with its reliability rating, but that's not number one on everyones list and it has 4-years of bumper - bumper coverage..  If you look at the substance of this vehicle I disagree the V6 is overpriced, and cosidering its abilities and direct injection technology is probably one of the more fuel efficient vehicles out there.

[JSCC]

So just like the Phaeton, the Touareg is over-engineered for the VW badge?  

[Snowman]

I reckon less than 1% of owners will ever take these things "off-road", unless the driveway to the cottage counts.

And as for 8,000 lb towing capacity, it's irrelevant. Anyone who can afford a >$50K vehicle has the money (and brains) to hire a qualified third party to move their 2+ton boat. Offload the risk and saddle the mover with the liability insurance premiums. Moving a horse box? You'd be a fool to use anything less than a LWB American half-ton or heavier- you're not using this little toy. And I can't see a Tourage owner pulling a house trailer. So what's left for it to tow?

All in all, an unreliable, overpriced, bloated, thirsty soccer-mom thingie.

Mike:

The Touareg is a great vehicle and a “real” SUV with some worthy off-road and towing abilities. Unfortunately there is no market for it.



Eric - If towing capcity, load capacity and off road abilties are irrelavant to the buyer, they should be buying a car, not an SUV.  I don't disagree with its reliability rating, but that's not number one on everyones list and it has 4-years of bumper - bumper coverage..  If you look at the substance of this vehicle I disagree the V6 is overpriced, and cosidering its abilities and direct injection technology is probably one of the more fuel efficient vehicles out there.

[Mike S]

So just like the Phaeton, the Touareg is over-engineered for the VW badge?  

I guess it depends on the buyer, but this is far from the Phaeton mistake.

If a Murano costs $45k has a Tonka Toy interior, no off road abilities or towing capacity, and a golf cart transmission, I'd pay $5k more this and take the extra years warranty.  A comparable GMC or Explorer is not far from this price range either.  Like I said earlier, if off road & towing aren't your thing, pay $20k less (from any SUV pricing) and buy a car.  Save gas, incsurance, brakes, tires, etc.

One other item I do like about this vehicle is that it doesn't pretent to have 7 passenger seating capacity.  Real adults can be comfortable in the back seat, unlike other SUV's where the back seat is compromised to fit in a third row - you can have 7 passengers in those vehicles as long as 5 are dwarfs.

[Mike S]

I reckon less than 1% of owners will ever take these things "off-road", unless the driveway to the cottage counts.

And as for 8,000 lb towing capacity, it's irrelevant. Anyone who can afford a >$50K vehicle has the money (and brains) to hire a qualified third party to move their 2+ton boat. Offload the risk and saddle the mover with the liability insurance premiums. Moving a horse box? You'd be a fool to use anything less than a LWB American half-ton or heavier- you're not using this little toy. And I can't see a Tourage owner pulling a house trailer. So what's left for it to tow?

All in all, an unreliable, overpriced, bloated, thirsty soccer-mom thingie.

Mike:

The Touareg is a great vehicle and a “real” SUV with some worthy off-road and towing abilities. Unfortunately there is no market for it.



Eric - If towing capcity, load capacity and off road abilties are irrelavant to the buyer, they should be buying a car, not an SUV.  I don't disagree with its reliability rating, but that's not number one on everyones list and it has 4-years of bumper - bumper coverage..  If you look at the substance of this vehicle I disagree the V6 is overpriced, and cosidering its abilities and direct injection technology is probably one of the more fuel efficient vehicles out there.

Your mostly right Snowman - only I'd say the market is small versus nil.

[ktm525]

I reckon less than 1% of owners will ever take these things "off-road", unless the driveway to the cottage counts.

And as for 8,000 lb towing capacity, it's irrelevant. Anyone who can afford a >$50K vehicle has the money (and brains) to hire a qualified third party to move their 2+ton boat. Offload the risk and saddle the mover with the liability insurance premiums. Moving a horse box? You'd be a fool to use anything less than a LWB American half-ton or heavier- you're not using this little toy. And I can't see a Tourage owner pulling a house trailer. So what's left for it to tow?

All in all, an unreliable, overpriced, bloated, thirsty soccer-mom thingie.

Eric - If towing capcity, load capacity and off road abilties are irrelavant to the buyer, they should be buying a car, not an SUV.  I don't disagree with its reliability rating, but that's not number one on everyones list and it has 4-years of bumper - bumper coverage..  If you look at the substance of this vehicle I disagree the V6 is overpriced, and cosidering its abilities and direct injection technology is probably one of the more fuel efficient vehicles out there.

I would hate to see the V6 Touareg tow anything considering that even the new V6 struggles to cope with the T-Regs heft. The evaluator noted that the transmission is shifting all the time. That is because even the new V6 is barely up to the job of moving that mass around. GM is hammered on regarding their 4 speed auto but it is much better matched to a hefty SUV than a gazillion ratio auto powered by a less than adequate V6. A rig of this weight needs a 250HP, 350-400ft-lb (at low rpms) engine. Unfortunately if it was a gasser it would be lucky to get 10 MPG on Premium. This thing needs a sticker of less than $50k and  a no-cost diesel option or it is done like dinner.

[JSCC]

How about a 3.0L TDI?

Engine cubic capacity 2967
Fuel Consumption 
    Urban 19.9mpg - 14.2l/100km
    Extra-urban 33.6mpg - 8.4l/100km
    Combined 26.9mpg - 10.5l/100km
Engine emissions 278g/km
Engine noise levels 74.0dB
Engine maximum Speed** 125mph - 202km/h
Engine acceleration 0-62mph 9.2secs
Maximum output PS 225
    at RPM 4000
Maximum torque 369 lbs.ft / 500 Nm
    at RPM 1750

From www.vw.co.uk

[ktm525]

Perfect. It should have been in the T-Reg from the start. Call VW and tell them.

[Lesley]

Fifth Gear vid of V10 Touareg... towing a 747.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/337140/vw_touareg_towing_a_747_fifth_gear/

Never driven the n/a V6. But I spent a week with the twin turbo V10, there are no delusions of grunt-deur, it's no poseur. I drove it straight up the vertical incline of our nearest ski hill after a heavy snowfall, down the rough backside of the hill using the "walk mode". If it hadn't been frozen, I'd have gone through a nearby creek to test its water fording capabilities (snorkel intake, and adjustable height option). It was great fun in lowered sport mode, since it had great gobs of power and serious braking power. Dunno how many of those features carry over to the less power-endowed versions.
If I won a lottery (and I'd damn well need to, since the tester driven was almost $110,00 Can) I'd seriously consider tracking down one of these things.

[ktm525]

A $110k VW?

[mrthompson]

"VW - The Rich People's Car"

[JSCC]

A $110k VW?

How about a $150,000 VW Phaeton LWB 6.0L 450HP+ W12!