Test drive Volkswagen Touareg 2002 - 2007 SUV

Multifaceted talent

Representatives of Volkswagen really do not like it when Tuareg is called a parking member. They believe that they endowed their brainchild with many talents. Including in terms of off -road qualities.
 
If you come to the Volkswagen dealer and name the Tuareg with a SUV, the seller will touch the living. He will immediately object that the car has a lowering gear and locks. And in general: he climbs healthy!
 
It is difficult to believe in this car really a parkingate. But you can believe the seller. According to the combination of sled and off -road qualities, Tuareg seems to be a golden middle between the SUV and the real jeep.
 
However, you will come to the Volkswagen dealer without even knowing about the versatile talents of Tuareg. It will be enough for you that it costs significantly cheaper than its eminent European competitors.
  
Price list
The most affordable modification of the R5 TDI with a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbodiesel in 174 forces. With a manual 6-speed (!) Box it costs from $ 47,288, with automatic from $ 49 971. A little more expensive is a gasoline V6 with a 3.2-liter 220-horsepower six. In the basic configuration, it is asked for $ 54 308 with mechanics and from $ 56,445 with an automatic machine. A machine with a prestigious gasoline V8 with a volume of 4.2 liters and a capacity of 310 hp. It is equipped only by automatic and costs much more from $ 77 095. True, its equipment is initially richer.
 
Finally, the top version. At least $ 91 330 will have to be given for V10 TDI with an automatic box and a 10-liter 5-liter turbodiesel with a capacity of 313 forces. It is clear that a diesel with such characteristics should be just a plague. Indeed, it is the most painful, the most speedy and most dynamic of all engines. But the price! Even if the configuration of a gasoline version of the V8 is equated to the V10 TDI, the latter will still be approximately $ 5600 more expensive. So that diesel (no matter how good it is) is worth more than the most prestigious gasoline engine we do not understand this.
 
 
Side glasses (starting from the rear doors) and the glass of the fifth door of our Tuareg have a deeper 35 percent toning ($ 360). Cluggage religions on the roof are also registered with a key also custom -made equipment ($ 279)

The system of compiling the configuration of Tuareg allows you to choose equipment at its discretion. And although at first glance in the basic configuration there is almost everything you need, the list of pre -equipment contains a great many pleasant and useful things. According to statistics, buyers of version V6 order options for an average of $ 10,00015,000, and V8 for $ 700012,000.
 
Prices are similarly equipped, with equivalent Motors M-class and BMW-X5 look a little more. Not in dollars, but in ... euro.
 
 
The electric power drive of the mirrors is either ordered separately ($ 171), or the memory is included in the package

For acquaintance, we chose the modification of V8. Not because it is the most optimal. V6 version V6 in equal configuration costs $ 13,000 cheaper. Given that the 6-cylinder engine Tuareg is enough in most situations, not everyone will agree to overpay this amount for only two extra cylinders and an additional 90 forces. It’s just that we have already met with a 6-cylinder tuayag on a spring suspension (the dealers are rarely ordered for V6). Therefore, we wanted to test the most prestigious gasoline engine and pneumatics in the case. The copy that you see is equipped with a mass of custom equipment and is offered for $ 89,000.
 
List of standard equipment
V6 and R5 TDI engines:
ABS+ESP
Roam control system from the mountain
Anti -Catcet system (only with automatic transmission)
6 airbags
Immobilizer
Fire extinguisher
Warning triangle
Front doors illumination
Steering column adjustable in two directions
Air conditioner
Electric windows
Electric mirrors and heating
Central castle with d/y
CD-Magnetic, 10 speakers
Cosmetic mirrors with backlight
Front chairs with height adjustment
Fabric salon
Light alloy wheels, tires 235/65 R17
Tire -based electrical compressor
 
V8 engine Additionally:
Automatic inclusion headlight+track to house
Rain sensor
Intra -axial mirror with automatic obscurity
Alarm with autonomous siren, sensors of internal volume and inclination
Heating of glass washer nozzles
The backlight of the rear doors
External mirrors with lighting the zone around the doors
Lighting of the motor compartment
Leather decoration of the multifunctional steering wheel and lever gearbox
2-zone climate control
Cruise control
Front seats of increased comfort with electric drive and heating
Leather salon
Chrome decoration of the grille of the radiator, lateral moldings and window frames
Tires 255/60 R17
 
V10 TDI engine Additional:
Bixenon headlights with washer
Fog lights
Steering column with electric adjustment
The car access system and starting the engine without the key
Audiosystem with an 8-channel amplifier, 11 speakers
Preparation for installing a phone
Coloring metallic
Tires 255/55 R18
Pneumatic suspension
 
Outside and inside
The appearance of all -terrain vehicles is often controversial too heavy or, conversely, aggressive. But the appearance of the Tuareg of rejection does not cause anyone. Indicated proportions and restrained-strict design: Tuareg looks like a prestigious passenger station wagon put on a high chassis. The association is especially emphasized by narrow front headlights installed on top of a massive bumper.
 
If we consider the appearance of the Tuareg without emotions, from the point of view of functionality, it should be noted a protective belt of black plastic along the lower perimeter of the body and short overhangs. For an all -terrain vehicle, this is an indisputable plus. Only custom -made foglights ($ 236), located at the very bottom of the bumper, appeared unsuccessful solution. This is before the first snowdrift. But how soundly the body is worked out! Neat gaps, rubber seals between the joints of the doors, gently working locks of German origin is felt already when approaching Tuareg.
 
The wide doorways and the passenger componing of the body in combination with the high floor provide a very convenient planting both on the front and the rear seats.
  
In the design of the interior, Tuareg adopted a lot from the representative phaeton. The same combination of devices, the same machine gun selector, the same internal handles. And finishing materials to match. Soft, noble plastic, magnificent wooden decor, velvet upholstery of boxes for small things, ashtray with a sliding wooden lid, resembling an expensive box. The only alien detail in this world of German quality is a simple ceiling console with a score. But we will not judge strictly. In other expensive sedans, even a tree looks like plastic.
 
 
 

The spacious Tuareg salon is very hospitable for the rear passengers. The basic configuration has at their disposal a wide central armrest and adjustable ventilation deflectors in the end of the floor console and in the middle body racks. And for $ 360 you can get heated rear seats and a 4-zone climate control with a second remote control for $ 775. In addition, you can order curtains on the rear side windows, double noise-protective glazing and deeper, 35 percent tinting of the side and rear glasses. With such a set of amenities, Tuareg is quite suitable for the role of a representative all -terrain vehicle.
 
  
The glove box is cooled by air conditioning. It can be turned into a mini-bar

In the upper compartment of the central box, there is a holder for bottles
 
 
Air from deflectors in the central racks can be directed to the windows of the rear doors or to passengers

Sunscreen visors can simultaneously close the side and windshield and even a narrow strip between the mirror and the ceiling
 

Behind the wheel
As one familiar motorcycle racer aptly noticed: and the seats are square here. And in fact, flat and square, like pillows from a sofa sofa fashionable in Soviet times. Only German is tough. And although a long trip did not reveal any inconvenience of such a square, the feeling that the chair was made according to your figure, as in BMW-X5,.
 
But how much is the number and what huge ranges of the steering wheel and seat adjustments. With such settings, convenient landing is provided to the driver of any build. If the chairs are equipped with electrical regulations, they separately change the height of the front and rear parts of the pillow, and the lumbar shaft is moved not only in the horizontal, but also in the vertical direction.
 
For a surcharge, you can get an electric drive adjusting the steering column and the height of the seat belts, as well as the memory for three settings of the chair, steering wheel, mirrors and belts ($ 964). In memory, for each of the three drivers, even the reverse position of the right mirror is entered, which, when the rear door is turned on, is automatically tuned into the rear wheel. And the setting memory call can be programmed from the key key. But that's not all.
 
 
Governing bodies

 
1. The unlocking button of the gas tank hatch. 2. The unlocking button of the fifth door. 3. The windows buttons. 4. The central lock button. 5. The handle of turning off the parking brake. 6. The central light switch. 7. Instrument lighting controller. 8. The switch of the backlight on the steering wheel. 9. Cruise control control panel. 10. The buttons of the volume control of the audio system. 11. The control panel of the on -board computer. 12. Boxing for little things. 13. CD magnet. 14. The switch and heating controller. 15. The switch of parking lots. 16. Alarm switch. 17. Indicator of disconnected passenger airbags. 18. Climate control remote control. 19. Ash. 20. The switch of passenger airbags. 21. Rosette 12 V. 22. A regulator of the height of the air suspension. 23. The speed limiter switch. 24. The stiffness regulator of shock absorbers. 25. ESP switch. 26. Transmission control handle. 27. The mirror settings remote control.
 

In the Option Memory, the steering wheel and the chair are automatically moved in different directions for the eating convenience of the entrance-exit when you turn off the engine
 
The steering wheel with a cruise control, radio and route computer carried out on it is very convenient. If the machine had preparations for installing a phone with a speakerphone system ($ 486), a pipe removal key and the possibility of scrolling a notebook would be added on the steering wheel. But I would replace the bagel itself, leaving instead of a custom -made wooden rim (cold and slippery) standard for V8 leather. And perhaps I would pay $ 157 for heating the steering wheel. It will be cheaper and more useful than wood ($ 321).
 
 
Devices in Tuareg, thank God, are highlighted by soft yellow light, and not toxic blue, as in other Volkswagen. The blue backlight is no longer annoyingly bright, remained only on climate displays and radio. But the tidy itself is overloaded with fine digitization and excess dials. Well, why should I know the temperature of the oil in the engine and the voltage in the on -board network? And the look still scans all the devices. Oh, this German technocracy.
 
 
Dashboard
  

1. The indicator of the oil temperature in the engine. 2. Tachometer. 3. The clock button. 4. The indicator of the temperature of the coolant. 5. Multifunctional information display. 6. Fuel level indicator. 7. Button for the zeroing of a daily run. 8. Speedometer. 9. Voltmeter.
 

All settings from the radio to the rigidity of the suspension in the Tuareg are performed by traditional buttons and regulators. At first, their number is discouraged. But, I assure you, getting used to many buttons is much easier than with one joystick of ae-dereva. If the buttons on the central console were distinguishable to the touch. But no, a bald console tradition of the Volkswagen concern.
 
How are things with visibility? Front and sides are fine. The back is also not bad. Nevertheless, the car is large and high, so do not stir up at the factory parking sensors. Its price of $ 758 is quite justified. For this money, you get sensors in both bums. And they will give not only a sound, but also a light signal. Moreover, by the length and direction of the running track, you can accurately determine the distance to the obstacle and its location. In case of urban traffic jam, where pedestrians scurry around the car, there is a disconnection of parking sensors.
  
We load the baggage
To abandon small things into the trunk, you can use the fifth door that separately opening glass. The door for $ 125 can be equipped with an automatic closer.
 
 
 
The glass of the fifth door opens separately

 
Ski cover in the hut of the central armrest ($ 253) and a retractable safety grid ($ 189) are offered for a surcharge
 

The trunk of Tuareg is quite capacious, correct rectangular shape without nooks. On the sides there are roomy pockets with lids. The right is hidden in the right CD changer ($ 549). With a folded sofa, the site is completely even, and the threshold of the fifth door is covered with a protective lining of stainless steel. In addition, there are numerous brackets for attaching luggage, a hatch in the back of a sofa for transporting long-termers and a couple of 12-volt sockets. For a surcharge, you can get a twisting safety grid ($ 189) and a cover for skis from dense fabric ($ 253).
  
Loading height is small even in a machine with a spring suspension. And if the car is equipped with pneumatics, it can helpfully sit down, and it will be even easier to load suitcases. So in terms of the transportation of Scarb, Tuareg is very convenient.
 
 
 
Car dimensions, mm
 
Salon dimensions, mm
 
 
Safety
Tuareg has not yet been subjected to independent crash tests according to the Euroncap methodology. And his safety can only be judged by indirectly by the presence of six inflatable pillows in the basic configuration, which are adjustable in the height of the seat belts on the rear seats and the alarm of the unsastened belts.
 
But there are Germans care for active security. This is eloquently evidenced by such a trifle. If the velocity index of winter or off -road tires is below the declared maximum speed of the car, a warning signal can be displayed on the display, which will appear upon reaching the maximum permissible speed tires.
  
 
A fire extinguisher is hidden under the right passenger chair. Near the fitting of the hose for pumping tires (shown by an arrow)
 

Tuareg will take care of your personal safety. For example, the central castle can be programmed so that when pressing the key fob button, only the driver's door is unlocked. You can activate the function of automatic locking of doors when reaching a speed of 6 km/h. And in the accident, the central castle is unlocked in any case itself.
 
For the transportation of children in special armchairs on the back sofa, the standard fasteners of the isofix standard are provided. In addition, the Tuareg allows you to transport the child in a children's armchair installed by the back forward and in the front passenger seat. To do this, the front and side pillows on the right are turned off the key on the central tunnel. When the pillows are disconnected on the torpedo, a warning inscription lights up.
 
On the roads
Wow, how 310-horsepower V8 rides! This is what is needed for Tuareg. Only, as they say, do not understand correctly. The V6 motor is also objectively enough for this car. Just Tuareg is recordly heavy for its class of almost 2300 kg. And when a 220-horsepower six begins to disperse such a colossus from 120130 km/h, you feel its weight with your own body. And the V8 in all situations is easily lucky. He is a start with 120, that with 150 km/h came and received a very powerful, but at the same time smooth, without tearing acceleration. Of course, V8 is voracious. For 100 kilometers, it pounds twenty, or even with a tail. But it is with such a motor that Tuareg goes into the category of luxury surveyors.
 
Engine
  

1. Glass washer tank. 2. Expansion tank of the cooling system. 3. The oil -polling neck of the engine. 4. The tank of the main brake cylinder. 5. Plus (under a red cap) and a minus pins for connecting an external battery or electrical compressor for pumping tires. 6. Tank of the power steering. 7. The oil probe of the engine.
 

A 6-speed tiptronics showed himself well. It switches very gently, without jerking. True, in mode D, when moving to Kik-Dawn, he thinks for a long time. It makes no sense to deal with this with manual switching. As on most thrones, manual regime is pampering. If you want to go actively, it is better to convert the selector to the S (Sport) mode, and the machine will do everything as you quickly switch down, twist the tachometer to the stop and actively help the engine when braking.
 
But Tuareg can not only accelerate well. He slows down and steer also excellently. It feels just a good car, but heavy. It is understandable to ride Tuareg by Porsche engineers. This is where the powerful 6-piston calipers peering through the casts came from through cast. It is not surprising that with such brakes, almost 2.5-ton colossus with 150 km/h besieges like a thoroughbred sedan.
 
 
The transmission and air suspension control unit is located on the floor console, between the front seats

 
Light indicators of parking sensors show the degree of approach to the object and place of its location

 

But what about the adjustable pneumatics? I remember that with a spring suspension, the Tuareg was quite rigidly passing by sharp irregularities. In pneumatics, the car demonstrates a similar nature of the smoothness of the course only when the stiffness of the stiffness of the shock absorbers is installed in the Sport position. But in the sports mode, the body does not swing on long waves, and the reactions become as collected as possible. Comfort mode is the exact opposite. On the broken road, the car rides tangibly smoother, but on the asphalt with speed it becomes slanting. Well, the middle ground is the Auto position between Sport and Comfort.
 
   
Under the trunk floor, a wide dock, a tool set, a jack and a receiver of the air suspension are hidden (with a spring suspension, an electric compressor for pumping tires). Before installing the dok, it is necessary to pump up to 3.5 atmosphere from the pneumatic suspension line (hose with a pressure gauge under the left rear seat) or an electric compressor
  

However, the air suspension is interesting not only to the ability to change rigidity. With an increase in speed, she presses the body to the ground. After 125 km/h, 25 mm from the initial level, and after 180 km/h another 10 mm. Due to this, stability increases, and also slightly decreases fuel consumption and maximum speed increases. Nevertheless, paying $ 3403 for the air suspension only for the sake of some improvement in the smoothness of the course is probably not worth it. The pneumatics reveals its main trump cards to off -road.
  
And without them
Passenger roots in the design of the car are clearly traced. For example, the protection of engine card and checkpoints are not metal, but plastic. The hug of the rear axle and the upper levers of the front suspension from the light alloy. And the back multi -stroke, albeit steel, is flimsy for a real jeep. Therefore, it is obvious that it should not abuse the offroud on Tuareg.
 
Nevertheless, the designers did everything so that Tuareg did not plow before off -road. Its exhaust system and suspension levers are maximally pulled to the bottom. Under the crankcases of the distribution and rear axle, powerful tubular crossbars are fixed. The bottom itself is almost flat, and its lower points are limited by the massive longitudinal skis of the front subframe.
 
 
Flat and maximum as possible to the bottom the rear muffler to damage on the off-road is not so easy

 

But most importantly, Tuareg has very serious transmission weapons. A permanent all -wheel drive with a uniform distribution of the moment between the front and rear axle, the self -locking central differential and partial blocking of inter -coil differentials by slowing down the skid wheels: there would be more than enough such a set for any SUV. Tuareg is also equipped with a powerful lowering transmission in the handout and forced hard locking of the central differential. If this is not enough for you, for $ 963 you can get a forced blocking of the rear differential.
 
At the same time, the designers laid in the transmission mechanics a very competent work algorithm. For example, the locking of the center does not turn on simultaneously with a lowering gear, as in many jeeps, but only after it, at the request of the driver. This is relevant when you are driving on heavy but dry off -road (for example, stones). The reducing gear in such conditions is necessary, but the rigid blocking of the center in order to avoid overloading the transmission, on the contrary, is undesirable. Differential, working in the standard mode of the self -block, will be quite enough in such a situation.
 
 
The information display clearly displays the suspension, transmission and the number included at the moment of the program

The off -road electronics for Tuareg is also very smart. Even if the ESP-OFF button disconnect the system of dynamic stabilization, which strangles the engine in the mud and snow, its EDL subsystem that simulates partial locking of inter-normal differentials will remain activated. ABS when the lowering is turned on significantly reduces its sensitivity. So that when braking in snow or liquid dirt, the wheels are blocked and buried in a loose surface, allowing the car to stop faster. Well, the usefulness for the anti -leaving jeep and the descent control system from the mountain is all the more obvious.
 
And now pneumatics. In the standard strassen mode, road clearance, as with the spring suspension, is 205210 mm. After the handle is transferred to the Offroad position, the body rises to 230 mm. It would seem that the car grows only by 2025 mm, but it is very noticeable on impassability. And finally, at the highest level, Xtra the body rises to an impressive 275 mm.
 
Most of the machines equipped with pneumatics begin to squat with the speed to the initial level by default. That is, in a hungry car you get out of a deep track, unnoticed by yourself on an even area, the suspension is treacherously blown away, and on the next bumps the car is applied by the bottom
 
 
Now the suspension is installed as high as possible. Road clearance is 275 mm
   

This will not happen with Tuareg. By default (but with a warning on the display!) It falls only from XTRA to Offroad after exceeding a speed of 20 km/h. It is explainable. Since in the highest position the suspension is stretched to the stop and actually stops working, the X TRA mode is intended exclusively to overcome particularly heavy areas with a turtle speed. But so that the car does not fall below Offroad, a Lock button fixes the suspension at this level and including a speed restriction of up to 70 km/h.
 
Now you can imagine what level of engineering is laid in this car. The Germans created a truly universal all -around. On the asphalt, Tuareg is good, like a SUV. But at the same time, if necessary, it can defeat a broken track or stretch the trailer with a hydraulic cycle on a steep coast. This is the perfect balance of sled and off -road qualities, which will arrange the vast majority of buyers of expensive all -terrain vehicles.
    
Tire question
The off -road potential of any jeep largely depends on the tires. On regular summer tuies, the Tuareg in the mud is absolutely helpless. Therefore, if you are going to drive not only on asphalt, it makes sense to order at least all -season tires. In most cases, this will be enough. After all, Tuareg is equipped with a compressor. Therefore, before entering the slush, the tires can be lowered, and when leaving the hard road, quickly pumped it up. But keep in mind that low -profile rubber does not like riding in a very low state. Therefore, at least 1.31.5 atmospheres must be left.
 
If you decide to install more toilet tires on the Tuareg, it will be easier to find in dimensions of 255/60 R17 than 255/55 R18. Therefore, in this case, instead of custom-made 18-inch discs, it is better to leave the standard 17-inch.
 
In the basic configuration, instead of a spare, in the trunk lies a spray can with a sealant. You understand, this is not serious against lateral cuts, the sealant is powerless. Therefore, at least it is necessary to order a doom.
 
Operation, service
The factory guarantee for Tuareg 2 years without limitation of the run. At the same time, you need to come for planned service every 15,000 km. The cost of the normchass of work for dealers is an average of $ 4050.
 
In Russia, 39 dealers work, each of which provides a complete set of services. In Moscow there is a training center for mechanics and the central warehouse of spare parts. Delivery of spare parts absent in the warehouse usually takes no more than two weeks.
 
In addition, now the National Technical Center for Volkswagen is being created in Moscow. This is not a private dealer enterprise, but a unit of the concern, which is designed to provide technical support for dealers and identify specific malfunctions caused by local operating conditions. If, for example, a dealer in St. Petersburg has difficulties with the diagnosis or repair of a complex unit, the national technical center can conduct a television dialect online and issue recommendations on repair technology. If necessary, the national technical center is promptly associated with the technical service of the concern.
 
 
We liked
 

The possibilities of adjustable air suspension

Transmission possibilities
 
Functionally thought out trunk

A large number and ranges of the driver's seat and steering column
 

As well as:
 
Rich set and optimal balance of consumer qualities
High level of engineering
Favorable against the background of European competitors price
The possibility of individual selection of configuration and interior decoration
 

 
We didn't like it
 
 
A large amount and small digitization of devices

Low located fog

Buttons not distinguishable to the touch on the central console
 

 
Volkswagen-Touareg V8
common data
 
Body
5-seater station wagon
 
Equipped mass, kg
2250
 
Complete mass, kg
2945
 
Maximum speed, km/h
218
 
Acceleration time 0100 km/h, with
8.1
 
 
Highway fuel consumption/city, l/100 km
11.6/20.3
 
 
Fuel supply, l
100 (AI-95)
 
 
Engine
 
Location
The front is longing
 
Design
gasoline, 8-cylinder, V-shaped, with four upper distributions
 
The number of valves per cylinder
5
 
Diam. cylinder x Piston stroke, mm
84.5x93.0
 
Working volume, SMZ
4172
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
310/6200
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
41.8/3000
 
 
Chassis
 
Transmission
permanent drive to all wheels, an interdose differential with automatic and forced blocking
 
Transmission
Automatic, 6-speed
 
Gear rates I; II; III; IV; V; VI; Z.Kh.
4,15; 2.37; 1.56; 1.16; 0.86; 0.69; 3.39
 
Transfer case
2-speed
 
Transporting numbers
1.00; 2.70
 
main gear
4.56
 
Suspension:
Independent, pneumatic, with stabilizers of anti -resistance stability
 
front
on double transverse levers
 
behind
Mollycent
 
Steering
REMENCH with an amplifier
 
Brakes
disk, ventilated with an amplifier and ABS
 
Tires
255/55 R18
 
Prices* for spare parts and then, euro
 
TO1 (15,000 km) 235
TO2 (30,000 km) 235
TO3 (45,000 km) 300
Oil filter 23
Air filter 30
F

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [04-04]