Volkswagen's Touareg SUV is the sole
survivor of the carmaker's ambitious attempt to market luxury four-wheelers
during the noughties, having been able to hang tough in six-figure pricing
positions when the equally well-conceived Phaeton saloon couldn't Perhaps
that's because heavyweight UV buyers are less brand-sensitive than their
counterparts in the luxo-saloon sector. We buy luxury saloons for their image,
and large SUVs for simpler reasons like their engineering, their wide range of
abilities and uses, and because they're built to be strong and robust. Now
there's a further reason why the Touareg could find its way onto the shopping
list of more people: price.
The
VW Touareg is fundamentally a safe car, but also a surprisingly fun one
The introduction of a simpler Touareg base
model in a re- jig of the 2013 model range sees the entry price drop from
$105,000 to $89,750. That's about what the short -lived 2.5-litre five-cylinder
R5 TDi version used to cost during the launch of the first-generation Touaregs
here, but this time around you get a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel under the bonnet
instead. This more gratifying motor also drives the same ZF eight -speed
automatic gearbox as the other two turbo diesels in the restructured 2013
range, ensuring that any perfom1ance comparison with the old 125kW six -speed
R5 sees the ancestral model left for dead. Not only is the newV6 faster, it
also uses Jess fuel thanks to the way the Touareg shed the weight of its
high/low ratio transfer case, deleted during the transition to the
second-generation vehicles, and the more efficient gearbox. There's just one
catch with the new stripper model's powertrain- the 150kW compression-ignition
V6 produces 30 less kilowatts than the almost identical motor fitted to the
$108,000 version of the Touareg TDI V6. Torque output is pruned back even more,
the more affordable model producing the same 400Nm maximum as the ol' R5, but
an incredible 150Nm less than the 550Nm punch of the more expensive V6.
Cabin
quality is strong, as is basic equipment level, but interior design is flat
compared to rivals
None of this dumbing-down of engine
performance really matters when driving the most accessible Touareg on the road
at mean traffic speeds. Acceleration is as adequate as any mid-sized family
car's, and the less powerful V6 does reach its peak torque earlier in the rev
range than its more boosted-up cousin, making progress feel relatively
effortless. There is also one area where the most affordable Touareg outshines
its more expensive brethren-fuel use. Volkswagen says it uses 0.3 litres less
than the other V6 every 100km during urban use, extending the savings made at
purchase time over the entire life of the vehicle. Maximum towing capacity is
3,500kg, the same as the other two Touaregs in the 2013 lineup.
Rear
bench has plenty of adjustability and there’s plenty of leg room
Although this basic Touareg lacks the
faux-wood dash panels of the old R5 (something many will see as a blessing),
the interior still gives few clues that it is the least expensive model in
showroom. Just about every desirable item except for a reversing camera is
fitted, including sat -nav. On the outside, only the fitting of smaller 18-inch
alloys gives any clue that this Touareg is the model most likely to be
purchased by those with gorse-lined pockets.
