The larger 15-inch touchscreen and fully digital instrument cluster are now only available on the R-Line Tech trim, which makes the lesser grades feel less in keeping with the Touareg’s premium reputation. This change took effect in April 2021. Electric front seats with a memory function for the driver’s side, keyless entry, and high-beam assistance are further features of the R-Line Tech package.
The omnipresent VW Group Black design pack, 21-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, and air suspension are all added in the Black Edition. The regular Touareg range has starting prices of just under 47,000 and currently goes up to just over 64,500, with the Touareg R fetching a hefty 72,000 price tag. Given that the Porsche Cayenne e-Hybrid has the same powertrain for approximately $1,000 less, that might be a tough sell.
The Volkswagen Touareg has developed into a posh SUV with the potential to compete with high-end rivals for comfort and craftsmanship. Even though there isn’t a seven-seat version of the cabin, it is more than functional for a family of five. The cabin is wonderfully constructed and loaded with equipment. Additionally, the driving experience emphasizes the cabin’s comfort, which goes a long way toward defending the vehicle’s high price.
The Touareg is a wise choice if you want a big, plush, high-end SUV with the newest technology. Just a shame that many of the appealing features aren’t included as standard equipment.
In This Article...
Engines, performance and drive
Because it continues to use the tried-and-true V6 diesel, the Touareg performs well.
The Volkswagen Touareg is a fantastic all-around vehicle even though it’s not the class’s sharpest vehicle. In fact, it continues to be among the strongest and most refined automobiles available by staying with a variety of tried and true V6 engines.
We have only used the stronger of the two six-cylinder diesel engines thus far. It is a strong performer with 282bhp and enough of power and torque reserves, making it ideal for rapid overtakes or steady highway cruising. Additionally, it is exceptionally silent, which lessens the boredom of lengthy, boring drives.
Although the Touareg shares a basis with the Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga, and Lamborghini Urus, it’s obvious that VW prioritized comfort over pure driving enjoyment. Yes, the new Touareg is an improvement over the previous model, but the otherwise outstanding package is marred by the numb and slightly unpredictable steering. However, the clever four-wheel steering arrangement makes it surprisingly maneuverable, and the air suspension-equipped test vehicle we drove had minimal body roll. Although the DSG gearbox occasionally feels a little reluctant, this is hardly a deal-breaker.
The Touareg from Volkswagen is dependable.
With a 3.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating, the Volkswagen Touareg is ranked 25th out of 26 midsize SUVs. It has high ownership expenses because the average annual repair costs are $937. The Touareg requires repairs more frequently than other Volkswagen models, so you might make a few more trips to the dealership than usual.
Is the used VW Touareg a reliable vehicle?
The Touareg consistently performs well in our reliability assessments, and in the most recent one in which it participated, it won the luxury SUV category. The majority of vehicles under five years old were defect-free, and owners of those vehicles that did have issues weren’t charged for repairs.
Is the Volkswagen Touareg a high-end vehicle?
The first-generation Touareg was an impressive off-roader, unlike the majority of SUVs produced from cars.
Compared to the Passat wagon, the load area is slightly less, and several controls are too confusing.
Acceleration is sluggish because the 3.2-liter V6 consumes premium fuel and has trouble moving the Touareg’s 5,200 pounds.
The V6 acquired 20 more horsepower for 2005, and a 3.6-liter engine took its place in 2007.
The finest Touareg engine is…
The majority of reviewers agree that the VW Touareg’s engine options deliver good performance, but almost all agree that the 5.01-liter V10 TDI is the best option overall. Despite this, many claim that the V8 gives greater value and good power given the TDI’s hefty pricing.
Which Touareg motor is the best?
Most critics agree that the VW Touareg’s engine options deliver outstanding performance, but the 5.01-liter V10 TDI is considered to be the finest option overall. Reviewers claim that the V8 gives good power and greater value despite the TDI’s expensive pricing.
Has the Volkswagen Touareg a timing belt?
The Volkswagen Touareg has a variety of engines with either a timing belt or a timing chain from the model years 2004 to 2018. All of its engines, though, are disruptive.
Where is the VW Touareg produced?
As a joint venture project between Porsche and the Volkswagen Group, which included the Audi and Volkswagen brands, the Volkswagen Touareg (internally designated Typ 7L) was created. Porsche was not yet a part of the Volkswagen group when the Typ 7L was being developed and for the first few years of manufacture. Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche, saw that the sports car market was cyclical and sought to diversify the company by marketing its first four-door automobile among other things. The Volkswagen Group PL71 platform was created at Weissach, Germany, by a team of around 300 people under the direction of Klaus-Gerhard Wolpert. The Touareg, Audi Q7, and Porsche Cayenne currently share it. They differ from one another in terms of performance, technicality, styling, and equipment. While the Q7’s extended wheelbase can accommodate a third row for seven people, the Touareg and Cayenne can only seat five passengers each.
Alongside the Audi Q7, the Volkswagen Touareg is produced in the Volkswagen Bratislava Plant in Bratislava, Slovakia. Porsche has a plant in Leipzig, Germany, specifically designed for the Cayenne’s assembly.
The V6 and V8 engine types make up the majority of Volkswagen’s American Touareg lineup due to market demand, currency exchange rates between the euro and the US dollar, as well as various pricing and environmental regulations in the US. Touaregs came in more upscale trims and were put in competition with other luxury crossover SUVs, in contrast to other Volkswagen-branded vehicles sold in the US that are targeted at the mass market. [2] [3]
Are more recent Volkswagens dependable?
Each brand is given an average dependability rating in the most recent 2021 Consumer Reports evaluations, and the Volkswagen received a rather high reliability rating.
The company received a score of 36, placing it in 24th place overall. This is much lower than brands like Ford (38) and Mini (37) as well as fellow German automakers Audi (46) and Mercedes-Benz (46), but significantly higher than Tesla (29 points) and Lincoln (eight points) (40).
Ranking in the top 30 is a strong sign that a Volkswagen is a dependable vehicle to drive, especially given the overwhelming variety of automobile models available in the United States.
The average annual cost of repairs for a Volkswagen vehicle is less than $400, and the typical duration on the ramp is close to 2.5 hours. This shows that the majority of fixes aren’t too serious (like an engine breakdown), but instead something that can be fixed rather simply.
What does the Touareg represent?
The Touareg, Volkswagen’s first-ever SUV, was introduced in 2003. In a news statement, they explained why they chose to adopt the nomadic North African ethnic group’s name: “Touareg” literally translates to “free folk” and is the name of a tribe that lives nomadicly in the Sahara.
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Both the Tiguan and the Touareg are fantastic options for anybody shopping for a new SUV. Both cars have appealing SUV characteristics, like a higher ride position, a strong engine, optimal handling in bad weather, and more load room than a regular car. Whether a client chooses a small SUV with precise handling that rides like a car because it is based on the Volkswagen Golf platform, or a larger vehicle that might use a little bit more gas but is more roomy and powerful than the alternative, depends on what is important to them.
Performance
When comparing the two cars’ base models, the smaller Tiguan has a 2.0 L inline 4-cylinder engine that makes 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of low-end torque. An automatic transmission with six shiftable speeds is connected to the engine. This is the only engine that is offered for the Tiguan, regardless of the trim level the client selects. Additionally, all-wheel drive is a drivetrain option.
On the other hand, all three trim levels of the Touareg have a bigger V6 engine as standard equipment. It generates 266 lb.-ft of torque and 280 horsepower. Being a V6, it has a bigger displacement of 3.6L and is connected to an 8-speed automated transmission with shiftable gears. The Touareg’s basic drivetrain also includes all-wheel drive. It will rely on the customer’s preferences for engine type and fuel efficiency as to which vehicle they choose. Both cars, for their size and engine type, provide outstanding power ratings.
Size Difference
The size of both automobiles will be the first aspect of their look that the customer will note. The Tiguan is significantly more compact on the outside. The Touareg’s wheelbase is 113.9 inches, or approximately 9 1/2 feet, whereas its wheelbase is 102.5 inches, or approximately 8 1/2 feet. The Tiguan is 174.5 inches long, or roughly 14 1/2 feet, whereas the Touareg is 188.8 inches long (15.7 feet). Additionally, the Touareg boasts 32 cubic feet of cargo space as opposed to the Tiguan’s 23.8 cubic feet.
Safety
The 2017 Touareg has not received a rating from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), only the Tiguan has. Out of a potential five stars, the 2017 Tiguan received an overall rating of four stars. The Tiguan obtained the highest rating possible for four out of the five crashworthiness categories, and was given a “marginal grade” for the small overlap front region, according to ratings from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), who has only tested the 2016 vehicles. Better results were achieved by the 2016 Touareg, which received the best scores available for each of the five crashworthiness categories.
Both cars have ABS, airbags, traction control, and stability control as standard safety features. Other trims of both cars provide more sophisticated safety features, and both cars offer the same kinds of safety technologies.