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Sav and Sav
BMW X5 or VW Touareg: Choosing a prestigious SUVUntil 2000, an off -road BMW phrase seemed an oxymoron. Apparently, therefore, presenting their first SUV, the Bavarians took advantage of the original marketing course, positioning the model as Sport Activity Vehicle, or Sav.
Like, our X5 is not an ordinary sports and ulytric rogue, but the founder of a new class of sports and active cars that can bring true pleasure from driving and not to save outside good roads. The Volkswagen concern did not make a position with positioning, supplying their version of the SUV - Touareg - an impressive off -road arsenal and thoroughly reimbursing the riding qualities of the model on the asphalt.
The updated BMW X5 differs from the original version of the 2000 model as a whole insignificant. The appearance of the car is brought into line with the modern BMW design language, the language of the Bavarian concern chef Chris Beng, on which the new seven spoke for the first time. Traditionally, restyling affected the optics primarily: the headlights received a characteristic incision and rings of the dimensional lanterns a la BMW of the 5th series, an updated block of the rear lights. Brown nostrils with wave -like vertical strips, silver on eight -cylinder models and black on six -cylinder cars became larger. The predatory squat profile of the Bavarian SUV is visually emphasized by modified bumper with low spoilers with elements of sports design (the innovation did not affect the road lumen). And finally, the hallmark of the top models X5 4.8is is double oval exhaust pipes.
Having debuted in the prestigious SUV segment, the Volkswagen concern sought to create a universal car, which, as they say, was not ashamed of a feast, and in the world, and good people. The result of creative searches was a luxurious limousine with promising off -road deposits. In the design of Touareg, there is indeed much in common with the VW Phaeton: characteristic body lines, false radiator grille, head and back optics. Let's say more, the stylistic unity of top models is consciously emphasized. Indeed, according to the plan of the creators, Touareg is designed to become a kind of connecting link between SUVs and sedans of a representative class. At the same time, an impressive road clearance, muscular wheeled niches, aggressive air intakes emphasize the sports and ublinical nature of the car.
To match the expressive appearance of SUVs and luxurious interior decoration. In the BMW X5 salon, restyling traces are even less than in the exterior. Unless the steering wheel acquired even more chubby and gripped rim and a combination of devices slightly changed: the place of the instantal fuel flow rate for Bavarians in the lower segment of the tachometer scale was occupied by the engine temperature in the engine, and the fuel-fuel scale was digitized differently. In addition, the panel itself acquired the effect of the chameleon and changes the color depending on the time of day: during the day the devices are gray, and at night - black with orange halo around the arrows.
Otherwise, everything is as in the prerestyling version: in the upper part of the central console there is a multifunctional display framed by the control buttons of the multimedia speaker system, in the lower - a separate climate control unit. Notice, no new -fangled IDRive systems, but the workplace does not look overloaded. On the contrary, everything is organized wisely and care for the driver, all governing bodies are within reach. The front seats deserve a separate good word, excellently defiled and equipped with all conceivable electrical adjustments up to the pneumatic lumbar support and the variable inclination of the upper back.
The Touareg driver's seat is practically not inferior to the competitor in terms of electrification (except that the back is regulated entirely, and the headrests have to be set up manually). However, lateral support is not so developed, and the seat itself is softer. The flaws of ergonomics include a strange form of steering wheel switches, located, in our opinion, too low. A mass temperature indicator and voltmeter were added to the standard Volkswagen combination of devices, and a lot of various information is displayed on the display in the center of the dashboard: from the testimonies of the triple to the air suspension settings. The central console, decorated in a corporate identity, may seem overloaded with buttons, however, it is not possible to understand the operating modes of the multimedia and climate labor systems.
As expected in cars of this class, passengers of the second row are not deprived of attention. Life space in the salons of both SUVs with excess enough for three, and together on the back sofa - a existing paradise. Especially if the machine is equipped with an optional climate control. By the way, Touareg boasts deflectors of the ventilation system located in the central racks of the body, which is not often found even in very expensive cars.
The dimensions of the luggage compartments are approximately comparable, but from the point of view of the ergonomics of Volkswagen, perhaps, it wins: thanks to the folding pillows in folded form, the rear seats form a perfectly flat cargo platform. The rear doors of both cars open upward (only glass can be lifted by Touareg), but in BMW the door is double -leaf, and to get a convenient luggage opening, you have to throw off the rear side.
A solid exterior and a spacious functional salon are factors, of course, affecting the choice of a machine. However, this is by no means determining. Especially when it comes to powerful SUVs. In the gamut of the updated X5 engines - six -cylinder gasoline and turbodiesel units with a 3 -liter working volume and an eight -cylinder gasoline engine of 4.4 liters. And this fall, the BMW dealers have a top version of the X5, equipped with a 4.8 liter V8 (360 hp), capable of developing an impressive torque of 500 nm. He got to our test. For Wolfsburg, the most powerful of the gasoline Touareg with a volume of 4.2 liters (310 hp) under the hood. In addition to this version, Russian customers Volkswagen can choose vehicles with a V6 gasoline engine (3.2 liters, 220 hp) or one of the turbodiesels: five -cylinder TDI 2.5 l with a capacity of 174 hp. or V10 (5 l, 313 hp).
According to the manufacturer, X5 4.8is accelerates from a place to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and develops a maximum speed of 246 km/h. It was not possible to check the last statement - due to adverse weather conditions, to disperse Bavarz more than 200 km/h was scary. But we were able to fully feel the truly cannon acceleration demonstrated by this solid car in Kick-Down mode. It is necessary to dose the force on the accelerator pedals extremely carefully: it was a little overdue - and the food in front of the coming car, which had just seemed so far, is instantly in dangerous proximity to the hood.
Fortunately, the brakes of X5 are excellent. In front and rear, ventilated discs with a diameter of 356 mm and 324 mm are installed. The system of distribution of brake efforts, which, along with ABS is the standard part of the brake system, provides maximum efficiency of inhibition in emergency situations. In general, there are no complaints about Touareg brakes: ventilated disc brakes on all wheels in combination with electronic systems (ESP and EBV braking assistant) are quite satisfactory. Unless the pedal did not seem as sensitive as on BMW, some kind of cotton.
Not bad (of course, taking into account the difference of 50 horses) accelerates Touareg. At the same time, the reactions to the operation of the accelerator are more predicted: the car smoothly sorting out the ranges of automatic transmission, trying to reach the economical regime (sixth gear). Both cars are equipped with six -speed ZF automatic transmission, with Sport mode and manual control. In sports, transmission is switched at higher speeds, and the sixth gear is not used. It is interesting that in manual mode, when braking, the BMW does not dump the transmission below the third, the car is touched from it, the benefit of engine power is excess.
But up the Bavarian box switches properly, it is worth the tachometer arrow to approach the red zone. Such protection from the fool is provided in the Touareg transmission: electronics independently selects the optimal, in her opinion, range, focusing on engine speed.
The impressions of the controllability of both SUVs are generally positive. Thanks to the sports settings of the chassis X5 4.8IS, it has a more squat planting: the body is located 15 mm closer to the ground than other X5 options. Thus, the lower center of gravity has a beneficial effect on controllability: the car is less fucked in corners and pecks with the nose during braking. In addition, the pneumatic suspension of all the wheels with the regulator of the body height above the road (served in the top version, and for others it is offered as an option) allows the driver to lower the X5 another 20 mm or increase the road clearance away from the asphalt roads by 40 mm . At the same time, unlike the Touareg, the suspension is configured once and for all - that is, it is composed in sporting: the rigidity of the shock absorbers does not change.
The Volkswagen test was equipped with an optional CDC pneumatic suspension (Continous Damping Control) with adjustable road clearance and three shock absorbers' modes. Depending on the speed and quality of the road surface, the clearance of the car automatically changes. So, at a speed of 125 km/h, the chassis drops from 215 mm to 190 mm, and at 180 km/h - up to 180 mm. Automatic correction of the body height also occurs when driving by off -road. The maximum road clearance is 300 mm.
The clearance and rigidity of Touareg shock absorbers can be adjusted manually using the chassis control module located in front of the gearbox selector. In total, you can choose four levels of clearance and three different shock absorbers: Auto, Comfort and Sport. In practice, the behavior of a car in various modes varies insignificantly, at the level of nuances. Although in sports mode, the smoothness of the Touareg stroke naturally decreases (approaching the harsh Bavarz), and the rolls and longitudinal buildup still remain.
The XDRive transmission includes a multi -disc clowing with electrical control, distributing torque between the axes and the DSC stabilization system, which regulates the moment directed to each individual wheel. Under normal conditions of movement, a multi -discground coupling smoothly redistributes torque along the axes, including in a ratio of 50:50. XDRive reaction time is only 100 milliseconds. This is about half of the time that is required for the car to react to press the pedal. With a threat of drift, electronics closes the coupling, increasing the moment directed to the front wheels, and pulling the car out of the turn.
Similarly, preventing the demolition of the front wheels, XDRive reduces the moment directed to them, and, if necessary, throws back to 100% of the moment. Of course, the DSC can intervene in what is happening, but thanks to the ability of XDRive, it is done to redistribute the torque and counteract the loss of sustainability of the stabilization system does this only in extreme situations. If the loss of tire grip with the road is inevitable, the DSC strangles the engine and if necessary use the brakes on separate wheels, thereby allowing the car to restore stability.
Touareg constant all -wheel drive - 4xmotion - in general, is similar to Bavarian. The multi -disc clowing of the center differential blocking is automatically controlled by the electronics of the chassis: depending on the needs of up to 100% traction force, it can be transmitted to one of the axes. However, the center differential is blocked by hand by turning the switch on the instrument panel (the rear differential blocking is also proposed as the option). And for off -road driving, you can use a lowering gear. Under normal conditions, the all -wheel drive distributes the traction force between the front and the posterior axes in a ratio of 50:50. But as soon as one of the wheels begins to slip, the force directed through the multi -disc cyk of the center differential on the axis with a large clutch with the road increases (up to 100%).
Unfortunately, the test conditions did not allow full -fledged off -road tests. However, their result is quite predictable. In Off-Road mode, the victory will definitely remain with Touareg with its impressive ginger arsenal. Although, the heart, most owners of the Volkswagen SUV, are unlikely to be needed: does it make sense to climb into the swamp by car worth a hundred thousand cu?
Andrey Tsybulsky
Source: Mkobil magazine [12/20/2004]
