The VW Touareg unquestionably sets the bar for interior technology and entertainment in the luxury SUV market. The seamless dual-screen setup looks fantastic and functions flawlessly, offering a ton of capability and snappy replies.
The “Innovision Cockpit,” as VW refers to its most extravagant display option, is only available on R-Line Tech, Black Edition, and R models and costs more than $3,000 to add to the rest of the lineup. It features a massive 15-inch central infotainment screen in addition to a pair of 12.3-inch digital dials. While it is gently split in two right behind the steering wheel, it gives the appearance of being one piece of glass, according to VW, and the main purpose for this is to lower the cost of repair should one get damaged.
All of the menus may be customized in a tile configuration, allowing you to prioritize frequently used features and put less crucial ones to the rear. It works in conjunction with the factory-installed Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems and is a fairly simple setup.
For about $1,000, you can add a crystal-clear head-up display in front of the digital dials. It displays everything, including trip information, speed, and navigational instructions.
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Practicality, comfort and boot space
The VW Touareg has a large, spacious interior, but unlike some competitors, it does not offer a seven-seat option.
The five-door Volkswagen Touareg is a large, plush, and incredibly useful family vehicle. Despite not having a seven-seat configuration like the Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90, or Audi Q7, this SUV nevertheless has enough of capacity for five tall persons.
Volkswagen, do you have a seven-seater?
The Atlas, Volkswagen’s first full-size, seven-passenger SUV, has a ton of capability to help you extend your trips. Highlights include class-leading third-row legroom, a hands-free power liftgate, optional 4MOTION all-wheel drive, and a panoramic sunroof. The Atlas has a starting price of $34,335**, which includes standard amenities like Bluetooth connectivity, LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A Wi-Fi hotspot is part of the standard VW Car-Net 2.0 infotainment system.
Enjoy your favorite musicians with the 480-watt Fender Premium Audio System, which is an option. The optional Overhead View Camera (Area View) and Rearview Camera System, which combines numerous cameras to inform you exactly what’s around you, makes parking or maneuvering in confined places simple. Are you prepared for that family vacation? With a 5,000-lb towing capacity, the Volkswagen Atlas allows you to haul all of your toys and equipment.
Third row on a Volkswagen Touareg?
“The Touareg makes due without a third-row seat, restricting passenger capacity to only five, but the second row is roomy enough, with a higher cushion than you’ll find in the X5,” says Edmunds.
How it copes with people and clutter
Although it only has five seats, the Volkswagen Touareg is nevertheless useful for five people even though it doesn’t have as many as the seven-seat Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery, or Volvo XC90. There is almost as much room in the back seats as there is in the front, which borders on being palatial.
Even with the optional panoramic roof installed, the rear leg room is sufficient for adults over six feet tall, and the head room is quite roomy (this comes as standard on top Black Edition and the Touareg R). Only the large central rear floor tunnel is likely to be problematic for a middle passenger, but even so, it is at least less problematic than those in some rival SUVs.
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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.
Which VW models come with seven seats?
The new Volkswagen Atlas SUV comes standard with third-row seats and space for seven passengers. Whether seated in the front seat, the second-row 60/40 split-folding seats, or the third-row 50/50 split-folding seats, this Volkswagen seven-passenger SUV offers a comfortable ride.
What model Volkswagen has a third row?
The Atlas and the Tiguan, two elegant and functional SUVs in the Volkswagen portfolio for 2020, maintain the company’s illustrious legacy. Both spacious cars have three rows of seating and can hold up to seven people in comfort. Read on to learn more about what you may expect while positioned behind the wheel.
Tiguan
The Tiguan has enough power to get you where you’re going and back again with plenty left over. The SUV is powered by a 2.0-liter, inline, four-cylinder, turbocharged/intercooled TSI engine that generates 185 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive with 4MOTION is also an option. Passengers benefit from a seven-seat layout and optional third-row seating, just like the Atlas. The SUV’s extra foot of length, which increases cargo space, makes it even more roomy. The second row of seats can be adjusted up to seven inches forward or backward for convenience. The Tiguan has a Discover Media touch screen and optional technology systems like an overhead camera, pedestrian monitoring, and a premium audio system from Fender are available.
The VW Touareg: A luxury 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.
Is the Touareg a decent car?
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.
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.
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.
VW ceased producing the Touareg when?
Volkswagen continues to sell diesel-powered vehicles in markets all around the world, whether or not you think the firm has improved since its diesel emissions cheating scandal broke. In fact, according to the business, 27 percent of all Volkswagens sold in 2018 were fuelled by unrefined gasoline. Therefore, it is safe to assume that VW still values its diesel engines, and the car manufacturer now has to lament the loss of one of its potent diesel V-8 engines. That means that this limited-edition Touareg SUV is the last to have an oil-burning V-8, which is kind of like a hearse.
You do recall the Touareg, right? The Atlas took the Touareg’s place in the U.S. market in 2016, but the nameplate has continued to be used overseas for VW’s priciest, most opulent, and technologically advanced vehicle to date. Only 400 of the aptly called Touareg Last Edition will be produced, and its engine is none other than VW’s 4.0-liter biturbo diesel V-8, which produces 415 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission distributes the power and torque to all four wheels.
The Last Edition cars will all have unique serial numbers, making each one special. All of the vehicles will come with a black accent package that includes a black-painted grille, window surrounds, door mirror caps, and wheel arch covers. There are six different paint colors available: Pure White, Antimony Silver Metallic, Silicon Gray Metallic, Malbec Red Metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect, and Oryx White Pearl Effect. Every Last Edition vehicle rides on a set of 21-inch rims that have been coated black, giving the vehicle a slightly more utilitarian appearance.
Overall, the Touareg Last Edition appears to be a fitting way for the company to bid farewell to its diesel V-8 engine. If you’re reading this in a region where the Touareg is still available, you can place an order for one of the 400 Last Edition starting on August 17.
This automobile is more than just a tearful farewell. For VW, it signifies the end of an era. The Touareg R, a 465-hp plug-in hybrid that aims to carry Volkswagen’s SUVs well into the future while being kinder to the environment and the automaker’s reputation, is the new king of the VW SUV lineup because big diesel V-8s are simply unsustainable (even more so than the diesel V-10 long ago offered in the original Touareg).