Short Take Road Test
Volkswagen hasn’t always been known for shrewd product planning—consider the Passat W-8, or better, the Phaeton—but the new Touareg looks like a triumphal strategic SUV symphony in three keys: regular gas engine, hybrid, and diesel.
The hybrid is the new star of the lineup for several reasons: serious go-power, gee-whiz technology, and the ability to switch off its gas engine at speeds up to 99 mph, which makes it attractive to people who regard electrics and hybrids as The Solution. But if you don’t mind spending an extra blink getting to 60 mph—6.9 seconds versus the hybrid’s 5.9—and you don’t mind saving a pretty nice chunk of dough in the process, then the diesel may be the alt-fuel Touareg for you. It boasts impressive fuel economy by 2.5-ton-SUV standards, as well as flood-tide torque. Plus, you’ll never have to spend a nickel on spark plugs.
This redesigned Touareg is not quite as tall as its predecessor, a little longer, a little broader in beam, and a little more aggressive in its stance, thanks to a 1.5-inch increase in track. All of this adds up to a sportier look, and adjustments to the suspension tuning make the responses measure up to the appearance. “Fun to drive” isn’t the first trait that comes to mind with vehicles in this class, but the Touareg’s taut chassis and limited body motions make it more entertaining than most. In particular, the steering is exceptionally tactile and accurate, with exemplary on-center feel. Brake-pedal feel is also excellent, although the braking distance from 70 to 0 mph is so-so at 177 feet.
Compression Ignition
The heart of the matter here, of course, is VW’s 3.0-liter turbo-diesel. It’s joined this year by a new eight-speed Tiptronic automatic, and the combination results in a very smooth operator, indeed. Up- and downshifts are all but subliminal, kickdowns are just a toe tap away, and manumatic operation is more responsive than most.
Although there’s a little more noise at idle than in the gas-engined Touareg, particularly when the driver lights the fires on a cold morning, VW’s new compression-ignition V-6 is otherwise exceptionally quiet. And of course there’s diesel thrift—19 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway, per the EPA; 21 during our travels. That highway number is 4 mpg better than the new hybrid’s rating.
Diesel Dollars
As is the case with VW and other carmakers, you pay a premium for diesel thrift and durability. Pricing for the base Touareg Sport TDI starts at $48,770, $3500 more than the base Touareg V-6 and $3620 more than the base TDI model in 2010. The mid-grade Lux version starts at $52,620, and the top-of-the-line Executive model tested here is a hefty $58,320. Beyond that, diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline at the moment, but you’ll go farther on a gallon of it than the gas-engined Touaregs will on the same amount of petrol.
Nevertheless, if being first across the intersection isn’t a priority (if it is, you’re looking at the wrong class of vehicles), this powertrain, combined with cosmetic upgrades and a spiffy—and enlarged—interior, makes the 2011 Touareg TDI a very smooth operator and a compelling proposition.
