Test drive Volkswagen Touareg 2002 - 2007 SUV

In search of a gold section

The perfect combination of the characteristics of the car is the dream of any designer. That's just to achieve this archlical. How, for example, to make an all -round at the same time passable and comfortable, reliable and fast, solid in appearance and affordable? The engineers of Volkswagen, Nissan and Mitsubishi imagine the perfect jeep completely differently.


Non -standard decision
The debut of an all -around in Russia is always an event. That is why Nissan-Passenger aroused the lively interest of customers, and we have a burning desire to compare it with the current excellent students.
 

True, Nissan's marketers decided to somewhat complicate all our lives so far in Russia only a diesel version of the ranger is sold. We, unlike Europe, are treated with diesel engines. And it turns out that the newcomer of direct competitors has only two Mitsubishi-Pajero-3.5did and Volkswagen-Two with a 2.5-liter turbodiesel. So, what can be opposed to the reconciliation of recognized leaders? How is he doing with the perfect balance of incompatible qualities?
 



Booms in half a dignity
From the face of water, we did not drink water for a long time for a long time not to give assessments, let the buyer judge. Therefore, we go to the salon.
 

The trackers are five years younger than Pajero and two Tuaregs. But judging by the quality of interior decoration, it seems that the youngest (read: modern) in this trinity is Volkswagen. The Tuareg salon is real apartments of a prestigious business class sedan, in which, according to some misunderstanding, there were off-road attributes such as transmission and air suspension modes. The Germans' reverent attitude to the interior decoration is well-known, but still the inner world of Tuareg falls in love with a directly corrupting luxury.
 

Not to say that the salons of Pajero and the PasFainer look ascetic. How can you if you have skin and servo drives? But still, the interior decoration of Mitsubishi and Nissan is more likely to set up in a business way than immerses you into the world of all -consuming comfort. And I admit, it is difficult to give preference to any of the concepts.

 
   
In the salon of Mitsubishi, it is obvious that you are sitting in an all -terrain vehicle. Moreover, in the all -terrain vehicle modern and stylish

Agree that in the Tuareg salon is much larger from the representative phaeton than from an ascetic all -around

High-tech style is now for Nissan's prose of life. It's nice that the originality of the finish is not a hindrance to real convenience
 
  
Pajero is ready to take seven people on board, however, passengers of the second row will have to put up with a short pillow of the sofa

Such a sofa would be decorated with any fashionable club, an exquisite design only emphasizes a comfortable pillow and back

On the second row of the PasFainer seats, the same problem as Pajero, a short, in our opinion, pillow of the sofa
      


If we talk about real convenience, then you have to climb into the cabin of any of them quite high. Massive thresholds to help the driver and passengers, but people over fifty will still be inconvenient. What else? In Tuareg, the steering wheel is regulated in two directions, while Japanese competitors only in the angle of inclination. But in Pajero the most comfortable rear -view mirrors. In these TVs, everything around and the roadside, and the space near the rear wheels, and two neighboring rows are perfectly read. Super! The PasFainer, in turn, conquered visibility. See how witty here got rid of the pile of headrests, usually blocking the entire rear -view mirror. When there are no passengers, the headrests clean up the flush with the back of the sofa.
 

In general, from the point of view of the interior, all three cars are close to the ideal. There are no serious punctures in ergonomics in any car, and their advantages are not so significant as to increase estimates. So Tuareg is ahead of rivals only in terms of the luxurious decoration of the interior.




Seven five do not squeeze
What is better than a salon designed for five or seven people? It would seem that a strange question does not pull the stock of pocket. Following the example of Mitsubishi engineers, the creators of the new Nissan chose the second option. And let the places in the third row, by and large, are not children in Tuareg, after all, after all. But traveling five is more convenient in Volkswagen. In order to find a place for the third row, Pajero and Pasherder had to squeeze the second. So it turns out that the sofas of these machines are more reminiscent of an unpretentious banquet in a school lobby. Sitting such a little pleasure.

And in Tuareg the sofa justifies its loud name. By the way, he will be able to accept three passengers a margin of legs and head allows. We also liked the front seats more with Volkswagen. It’s easier to take a comfortable pose here than in the PasFainer and Mitsubishi, who have too much a vertical landing. So in this case, a 7-seater salon cannot be called a definite plus. The compromise does not work.

 
Mitsubishi Pajero
 
 

Automatic and handout selectors Sample a magnificent combination of convenience and style
 
  
The second row passengers have their own climate control unit and, of course, individual ducts

The visual display of the side compound is lacking only indications of instant fuel consumption
 
  
More convenient indication of transmission modes has not yet been invented
 
The third row of seats easily hides on the floor, and its headrests are a cozy place in the fifth door.
 
 
Volkswagen Touareg
   
 


The only minus of the monumental beard is too many buttons and switches
 
 
Parkectronics with a visual indication for a long -nosed tuars option from the category of mandatory

The control unit control unit Tuareg on the left is the transmission switch, on the right is clearance adjustment, in the center of three air suspension modes
 
  
The makeup mirror has elegant backlight

The multifunctional steering wheel of Tuareg does not dare to call a bagel. This is really a steering wheel

With a folded sofa, a flat platform forms
 
Nissan Pathfinder
 

 
 
Without a handout lever, the central console looks a little lonely
 
  
Patch in a very prominent place

Secret containers and cup holders are generously scattered throughout the cabin

The rear passengers also have their own climate control unit
 
  
According to the possibilities of transforming the salon of the ranger at a height

The flywheel of transmission modes is exactly the same as on the X-Traile

Stretching to the cigarette lighter and inconvenient
 





Anything fits
But the places inside Pajero and the PasFainer are really a wagon. Of course, when all seven seats are used, the luggage volume, say, in Nissan, decreases to microscopic 190 liters. But if the third row is free from riders, it can easily be removed from sight. Moreover, unlike competitors (recall Toyota-Prado), chairs hide in hidden niches in the floor. As a result, an absolutely flat platform, which, by the way, can still be increased by folding the second row of seats.

 
   
The fifth door to Pajero, like most Japanese, opens from the side of the roadway

Tuareg pneumatics allows you to lower the road clearance, facilitating loading

PasFain trunk new class record holder for maximum carrying capacity


In this maximum cargo version, the PasFinder noticeably ahead of competitors. The numbers are actually impressive 2090 liters against 1570 liters of Tuareg and 1720 liters of Pajero. What is not surprising, because the trunk of Nissan is longer and wider both in maximum and minimal positions. Honored victory.




Tractors in the left row
A few years ago, it was possible to present a diesel car in the left row in one case, a visiting driver of KamAZ, stunned from the capital's movement, is looking for a U -turn. Our three diesel all -terrain vehicles occupy the extreme row rightfully. And this despite the fact that diesel engines are complete with machine guns. Mechanics, although it seems to be a more suitable choice for such a motor, is actually not too convenient. This was also shown by the example of the passfident. We managed to travel both on the version with an automatic machine and with mechanics. With all responsibility, we declare: an alternate with a diesel engine and a manual transmission combination for an amateur. Given the narrow working range of such a motor and six gears for moving forward, you have to switch too often. It’s not necessary. After all, the diesel all -round does not lose the abuse with the automatic transmission.
 

It may seem to someone that 1213 seconds to hundreds of the result is average. We will not agree. Firstly, on a large and high car, the dynamics is perceived more acutely than on a regular sedan. But most importantly, acceleration to 60 km/h, that is, the very first jerk in the traffic light of a duel is given to automatic diesel engines much faster. In turn, on the highway, our Trinity without problems developed 160170 km/h, and all fifty kilometers from Moscow to a chosen sand career, where we had to check the cross -country ability, we overcame in the left row.
 

If something did not like it, it is brakes. It even seemed that the engineers gave Mahu, not calculating the efficiency of disks and pads with such a solid mass of cars. However, why it seemed? Say, on a turbodiesel tuareg there are low-diameter discs than on a 3.2-liter version. The gasoline Volkswagen, although it will be faster, but the diesel is harder ... The brake discs are the same for diesel and gasoline Pajero, but no one canceled the difference in the mass. This is where the lack of charge, when slowing down, even in regular situations, a couple of times we stopped literally millimeters from the bumper in front of the coming car. In addition, on large illegal, the brakes heat up much faster and lose their effectiveness with emergency slowdown.




There is no limit
But the leader in terms of controllability did not have to choose for a long time. Folkswagen celebrated an unconditional victory. In terms of road habits, Tuareg generally has a few competitors. It is not for nothing that in the end, the fastest all-around the world was built on the same chassis on the same chassis.

Confidence at high speed and in turning the Germans cannot be occupied. This is especially obvious for a car with a pneumatic suspension, which we strongly recommend that you order. Its pluses are not only in the ability to squat or stand on tiptoe, but also in the variable rigidity of elastic elements. Even the only claim to the controllability of Tuareg is too lightweight steering and that is leveled by pneumatics. We transfer the switch to the sport position, and the steering wheel is noticeably heavy.
 

In corners, Tuareg is obedient and non -possessed in management, which is not at all characteristic of medium -sized all -terrain vehicles. Clearly writes an arc and demonstrates a reliable neutral nature of controllability. It is very difficult to disrupt it from the trajectory on the alert of the vigilant stabilization system, which completely does not get out of the game even with the burning ESP OFF indicator. And exemplary behavior on a high-speed line gives an obvious answer why there is an extreme 12-cylinder tuareg in the world. This chassis can afford such a luxury.
 

Pajero in terms of controllability is the opposite of Tuareg. No, it does not scare unnecessarily, but in no case is intended for active taxiing. To do this, Mitsubishi has too stupid steering wheel four turns from the stop to the stop. The same slowed by the car and reaction: unhurried, thoughtful. Pajero seemed to remind once again, they say, he is primarily an all -terrain vehicle, adapted for confident driving on asphalt. While Tuareg is a car with a jeep manner. But such an impression is only when you want to polyghat in corners. There are no special complaints about Mitsubishi in the standard modes.
 

The creators of the trace seemed to decide to give their brainchild a certain average, compromise character. Nissan, although he cannot pamper the agility of Tuareg, will nevertheless be the advantages of Pajero. The PasFainer has a more sharp steering wheel 3.5 turnover, and the transverse rolls are not so frightening. So Nissan deserved the second place in the dispute of the most sports in this test.




Almost Camel Trophy
Typically, all -frustrations from the conveyor are shod in highway tires. It is easy to understand why, if you recall that only 10 percent of the owners of all -terrain vehicles move on them from the asphalt. However, Tuareg, who visited our dough, flaunted a pyrell-scorpion with toothy tires. An excellent chance to check the cross -country ability of the machine, because representatives of Volkswagen are always offended when Tuareg is called a SUV.
 

In fact, his off -road potential is impressive. A powerful reducing gear that increases the ground clearance of the air suspension, the stabilization system, which skillfully plays the role of inter -normal locks. Finally, those who really intend to use the off -road Tuareg can order a rigid blocking of the rear differential. Expensive ($ 963), but cute.
 

And yet, despite all these bells and whistles, Tuareg lost to the Japanese in terms of patency. Yes, of course, the toothy Scorpions clung greatly to the soil and on slippery clay allowed to easily go after Pajero and the passfire. I was pleased with the ESP system even turning it off so that the electronics did not strangle the motor on complex lifts, the function of simulating inter -normal locks remained active. Great. As soon as we climbed into loose sand, and Tuareg began to burst helplessly. High for 200 kg, a large mass and narrow rubber have done a black thing compared to Pajor. But the main thing is not even that.

Tuareg in its off -road talents really looks good. Only no locks and a variable clearance will make an all -terrain vehicle out of an passenger car. How long in such extreme mode, which allows the transmission of Volkswagen, will the low -hanging elements of the muffler last? And the pendants of the pendants, you think, are adapted to blows to soil and stones? No, he is not a fighter on off -road, not a fighter.
 

The renegade looks much more tenacious. After all, he has a flat and honest road clearance. Plus, a successful combination of a powerful reducing, rigidly connected front bridge and smart ESP, which, like on the Tuareg, imitates the operation of inter -normal locks even in a turn off. The minus of Nissan, perhaps, is only one short -term suspension passages. This affects not so much on steep off -road, but during a quick ride on a primer.

In any case, the newcomer is far from Pajero. If not too massive rear overhang, it was Mitsubishi that could be called an ideal in the class in terms of cross -country ability. But even a long -term suspension, which allows you to reach the ground in almost any situation, to the envy of competitors. And how great the hard locking of the rear differential works! In a slippery rise, she pushes Pajero literally on one wheel. Well, the transmission is super-seal II, effective and understandable even to the child, this is just a classic of the genre.

 
 
 




Diesel means quiet
Modern diesel engines with a carpet-Rial injection system are not only cleaner, faster, but also quieter than their predecessors. The Tuareg engine is visual confirmation. It is barely audible on idle, and on the highway traditional for high all -terrain vehicles, the whistle of wind around the mirrors and racks perfectly masks the rumble of diesel.
 

It is for this reason that at high speed the motors of Nissan and Mitsubishi do not at all annoy the sound background. Another thing is that on idle and with a leisurely city ride, Pajero is clearly noisy both inside and outside.
 

As for the smoothness of the course, you, of course, already guessed the palm of the championship again at the very car of the trinity, Tuareg. In the mode of comfort, pneumatics literally envelops the inhabitants of the salon with this very comfort, reliably isolating from all the flaws of the road surface. And how good a Volkswagen is on a broken suburban primer! I cannot recall the cars that would so easily and at ease support a hundred on the speedometer. Bravo!

The transfire with his short -flowing suspension on the primer did not catch comfort. Already at 60, shaking, generously transferred to the steering wheel and body, forced to remove the leg from the gas. But Pajero on a broken rural path is almost as good as Tuareg.

 

 
 




One of many
Tuareg is the third in a row and so far the last alternate, who received five stars in the Euroncap crash tests. His status of an excellent student only confirms the basic equipment, including six airbags and ABS.
 

Pajero and Pashander did not take part in European crash tests. It remains to be comforted by overseas results. At the tests of the Road Security Insurance Institute (IIHS), Pajero crashed into a solid four, while the PasFainer managed to grab his well on USNCAP crash tests. We will take into account the quite worthy basic package of Pajero and four airbags, and the Air Bags PasFainer has already six pieces. For which Nissan earns an additional half a bell.

 

 


We pay for pleasure
Eh, if all -districts in Russia also had a price close to the ideal! They wouldn’t be the prices ... but the most affordable Tuareg is at least $ 47,288. $ 49,971 is released with an automaton. But a car for fifty thousand without metallic ($ 935), parking sensors ($ 785), a winter package ($ 373) and electric load ($ 178) It looks strange. Add here the skin ($ 2774), wooden decoration ($ 351), bixenon ($ 1305) and two -zone climatic and get $ 57,224. And how to be without such useful air suspension ($ 3527) and rear differential blocking ($ 963)? The $ 61,714 ran noticeably more than Pajero and PasFainer.
 

The price of Nissan starts at $ 44,800, and the version of the automatic transmission in the configuration of Laxori will pull $ 48,700. Even the most sophisticated passfident performed by eleganes with skin, hatch, bixenon and rear view camera costs only $ 56,450. True, Nissan’s air suspension cannot be. by definition.

The minimum price of a 5-door diesel Pajero $ 47 990 (automatic transmission $ 49 750). This equipment is so comprehensive that it can only be upgraded before execution with the skin, a cd changer, an electric lover and an electric drive of the front seats. Such a pajero against the backdrop of competitors, we can say, is just the cheapness of only $ 52,670.


 
    
We decided:

The very case when the final grades do not give a complete picture. Formally won in our test Tuareg, who scored the best amount of points (, average estimate 4.2). This is a very interesting car with a luxurious salon, a comfortable suspension, excellent handling. That's just an all -terrain vehicle in the full sense of the word cannot be called. The future owner must be aware that the entire off -road arsenal on this car is only in order to turn off asphalt with extreme need. Regular jeeping on a luxurious Tuareg will bring it to an unscheduled TO.
 

Pajero (average rating 4) cannot be called the loser in any way. Despite the already venerable age, this all -terrain vehicle is in no hurry to take up positions. Among the diesel universal all-terrain vehicles of the middle class, Pajero still has no equal in terms of cross-country ability. By and large, all its disadvantages are the opposite side of the merits. After all, the average handling on the asphalt is the consequence of just prepared for a meeting with the off -road chassis. Moreover, the chassis is very tenacious. Mitsubishi has already established himself as a reliable and unpretentious car.
 

The easiest way would be to call the passfire (, the average rating of 4.1) the golden middle between the asphalt tuareg and the all -terrain pajero. But if Nissan is the middle, then it is still to Mitsubishi much closer. The permissiverier in the full sense of the word, the ranger is a very successful car. Stylish, spacious and roomy. The main advantage perhaps the ideal balance between handling on asphalt and off -road vitality.
 
Mikhail Medvedev, photo of Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine buy a car [14/2005]