Test drive Volkswagen Touareg 2002 - 2007 SUV

White bone

These cars are united not only by all -wheel drive, close price and dimensions. Tuareg and RX300 RISSIALS of the XXI century, taking into account all the requests of the modern buyer of such machines.

Substantine in more detail
Lexus-RX300 is a completely new car, despite the fact that its name has not changed. Having first went on stage in January this year in Detroit, by spring he appeared on this side of the Atlantic. The European version has a more economical engine by 300 cm less working volume, with variable phases of gas distribution. The machine is equipped with an automatic 5-speed gearbox and a constant all-wheel drive with viscousyft as a soft lock. The most expensive RX300 in our test R3 with a pneumatic suspension and a complete set of additional equipment took part in our test, including the audio system Mark Levinson with 11 speakers, a hatch and adaptive headlights looking around an angle.
 
The Volkswagen-Tuer was represented by the public last fall, but it became really accessible for ordering only after almost six months. There are already many options for configuration. Buyers are offered Tuarezinsky engines V6 3.2 liters and V8 4.2 liters and turbodiesels: 5-cylinder 2.5 liters and a super-powerful five-liter V10 in 313 liters. With. Any option can be obtained with a 6-speed automatic, and the most modest versions of a gasoline and diesel engine with a mechanical 5-speed transmission. Pneumatic suspension option for all machines except V10TDI, where it is installed in mass. The price of the ability to squat at 55 and rise by 85 mm is 27303020 euros.
 
You understand, the 174-horsepower diesel tuareg in the basic equipment with RX300 is pointless to compare. As well as Lexus from 204 liters. With. Not a competitor to the super -powerful Volkswagen model 5.0TDI for 80 thousand green. Therefore, from the whole variety of German cars, we chose a 6-cylinder engine, machine gun and air suspension.
 
Not yet generals
The image is nothing only for those who drink a sprite from a bottle in the middle of the street. To the one who buys cars for $ 50 thousand and higher, it is sometimes more important than the price. Tuareg, on the one hand, already has the right German origin, but is not yet included in the prestigious club of the Mercedes-Benets, BMW, Audi and Porsche.
 
Lexus, of course, is the number one brand in the hierarchical ladder of Toyota, and the degree of trust in Japanese technique in Russia is very high. But the word Lexus itself is by no means a synonym for luxury and aristocracy. At least, far from automotiveism, it does not say anything at all. So the crawls will have to be taken from both contestants.
 
Five minutes handsome
Lexus-RX300 is similar to itself. This is not praise and not condemnation is a statement of fact. If you take the previous RX300 and try to imagine how the next should look, you will get a modern RX300. Is it good or bad? The well -pleasant proportions, the hollow of the height inclined back of the body, a fashionable crystal lighting technique, a slightly more faceted look, embossed hood plastic, large size and an increased wheelbase increased by 100 mm. It is worse that there are few new ideas in the design of the car. And the overall impression is no more than the four with a plus. On the street to the new RX300, only the owners of the previous model pay attention.
 
Tuareg is a novelty from the category of long expected. Expectations are always high, and the first impression is rarely balanced. Yes, outwardly the car is not too original. In profile, it even resembles an increased passato option. But ANFAS is a completely different matter. With all the obvious simplicity of the design, the Tuareg has its own person who distinguishes it from the general Volkswagen series. Nevertheless, his appearance is very conservative, even despite the playful turn signals in the ears of the rearview mirrors. Fashion requirements clearly lost to a common desire to make a solid car.
 
 
Yes, Tuareg is much more active than Lexus, draws attention to passers -by and carriers. But this is not surprising: we have not yet seen such a large Volkswagen. Just look at a huge emblem the size of a dining plate.
 
 
Not all the gold that shines
You can endlessly argue about style and design, but one cannot fail to note the magnificent quality of the body assembly. Small small gaps, excellent coincidence of planes even in the most difficult places, perfect coloring. However, inside the difference between Volkswagen and Lexus is much more noticeable than outside.
 
Tuareg dashboard is a worthy example of the high-tech style. With all the external standard, it is difficult to confuse it with another. But even despite the anti -glazing glass, the readings of the devices are difficult to read in bright light. Light gray control handles of the audio system and climate installation, impeccable in appearance, are not too pleasant, leaving the feeling of a cheap Chinese radio. The buttons that open the box between the front seats are tight and jam. And even a gorgeon in shape and style, a gearbox selector to the touch is hard and plastic. Maybe this is acceptable for a middle -class car, but Tuareg is difficult to attribute to it.
 
With its small advantage in dimensions and, especially, the height of Volkswagen can be expected to be a more spacious salon. However, in fact, the whole advantage of 20 mm is width for the rear passengers. The result of the absence of a sliding hatch in the roof over the driver’s head in Tuareg.
 
The main trump card of Lexus is attention to the little things. Holders, the gearbox selector fully corresponds to the car. Even the smallest button on the console leaves the impression of an impeccably working mechanism, and any click of the switch leaves no doubt that it used some special materials. In fact, the console is very modest, and the possibility of an on -board computer is not a couple of Volkswagen. But it is impossible to find fault with devices hidden in deep wells, they are perfectly visible in any light. And the individual adjustment of the rear seats? And a sliding box under the front seats? No, Lexus deservedly receives the highest score for the interior.
 
 
Extra three centners
Six cylinders, three liters of volume, more than 200 horses of any of the engines could perfectly manifest themselves under the hood of a business class sedan. But in a heavy alternate, this is not so much. Especially in such a heavy one as Tuareg, the equipped mass of which exceeds 2.2 tons. Against his background, Lexus, who did not reach 1900 kg a little, seems to be a passenger car.
 
What is more important, 300 kilograms, 200 cubes or 26 horses? Alas, 300 kilograms. Neither a small advantage in the torque and power, nor a 6-speed automatic, nor a short main pair helped Volkswagen to overtake Lexus. Sometimes his lag was minimal, but he could not overtake the Japanese competitor. Of course, if there was a 4-liter eight or V10TDI turbodiesel under his hood, he would be joking with a Japanese. But in the next category there are already other rivals.
 
The difference in dynamics is not so great at 100 km/h Lexus wins a second, at 160 km/h a little more than three. On impromptu overtaking, the Tuareg is almost inferior to RX300 short transmissions and a fast reaction of a 6-speed machine. In general, the speed capabilities of both are quite sufficient for quick and relaxed movement, but it is not worth talking about sports ambitions. But the brakes did not disappoint both demonstrated a slowdown above 9.3 m/s an excellent result for cars of this class.
 

The limit of comfort
After making sure that our wards accelerate to almost 200 km/h, it’s nice to check how they cope with a winding road. At first glance, in these conditions, managing Lexus is more pleasant. But only to a certain limit that we will call the limit of comfort. If you need to go really quickly, then the insufficient information of the steering wheel also crawls out, and the correct operation of the VSC course stability system. She clearly strangles the motor at the exit from the turn and at the same time delay when it is necessary to extinguish the already begun. A sharp breakdown, swift, course fluctuations come unexpectedly and can take the driver by surprise. You do not expect that a plush bear will bite you?
 
Tuareg is not going so at ease, but diligently. In the same turns that Lexus, he forces to twist the steering wheel more, earlier begins to creak with tires, causing a feeling of a large heavy car, which in essence is. With a clear overkill of speed, he is inclined to fall out of the turn, although in a critical situation it is more reliable and predictable. And the intervention of electronics is not so intrusive.
 
 
I love silently
At speeds above 150 km/h, the Lexus engine is barely audible, and aerodynamic noises are surprisingly small. And even the tires, it seems, do not concern the roadway. The comfort of the suspension is impressive. It is as if it were specially created for our roads cracks, chips, small potholes disappear as if by a wave of a magic wand. At moderate speeds, the atmosphere of the conservatory in the cabin can only be violated by Mark Levinson.
 
Tuareg with a regular suspension is rude. Although his springs have a worthy margin of strength for unexpected pits and puffin. Comfort even on a broken road is quite acceptable, but competing with a silk and weapon Lexus in such a configuration is hard for him. Therefore, our advice is necessary to buy this Volkswagen with pneumatics (the same can be said about Lexus, it is hardly worth dwelling at the most modest performance R1). Such a suspension makes Tuareg just as silk, comfortable. Almost Lexus. Why almost? All the silence in the Japanese salon decided. The noise of the Tuareg engine at high speeds is pleasant in the timbre, but obsessing, and the transmission and tires do not forget to remind of their existence.
  
Proper level
Both cars have an excellent arsenal of safety tools, starting with front and lateral airbags, ending with side pillows for the head and even knees of the driver (RX300). Both cars have not yet passed an independent examination, but it must be assumed that thanks to the remarkable arsenal of security funds and a durable body, they will show excellent results. However, let's not forget that high jeeps, according to experts, nevertheless subject their feet to their riders increased risk in comparison with ordinary cars.
 
Theoretical advantages
The scarlet setting sun paints a tangerine tint heated by a day the golden sand of the beach. The splash of the azure waves caresses the hearing exhausted by the eternal rumble of the metropolis. A light breeze casts out a midday heat and evokes the evening coolness of what is missing in this picture? Shovels! And also a good cable and a tractor. But they are already going
 
Yes, damn it, we again stepped on the same rake, planting the car in loose sand. We measured the corners of the entrance and the congress, the road clearance, the moves of the suspension, but did not take into account one. A full -wheel drive car with a flat bottom passes perfectly along the sand, while the rut is shallow, but barely touching the belly, sits tight. And if there is no good shovel at hand, then you have to take the exam for the position of a large sandy mole
 
Yes, for all measurements, Volkswagen is ahead. The road clearance of the 195 mm Tuareg under the plastic protection of the motor compartment (without it, the clearance is 237 mm under the card), more than 220 mm under the rest of the units, it has better angles of entry and exit, more by 35 mm move of the rear suspension. Moreover, pneumatics can raise the body by another 65 mm, providing impressive 258 mm or 300 under the card without protection. But the most important trump card of Volkswagen is a full -fledged transmission with a rigid locking of the center differential and lowering the gear 2.7. In fairness, we note that with the highway tires of the Bridget-Turanz-RER30, it does not require their adhesive qualities even in the sand extremely weak. Gudir-igl-rs-a, in which Lexus was shod, look also completely toothless, but they are not rowing better than better. Climbing to a 50 percent rise, Tuareg did not require a lowering gear and defeated the mountain from a place with a huge margin, managing to accelerate to the second gear by the end of the rise.
 
Lexus-RX300 in a normal position has 170 mm from the road. The lower point is a plastic fuel tank casing. At the same time, the rest of the bottom of the car is only a little higher than 185 mm, just the Japanese call this number RX300 officially. So, even when Lexus rises on tiptoe, under it is 200 mm (or official 215 mm). In high mood, it is quite possible to ride, although not too fast. There are two reasons: firstly, about 50 km/h Lexus automatically falls, and secondly, in this state the suspension lacks the end of the end and the knock of limiters is clearly heard on the potholes in the cabin. Lexus in the deep sand of Lexus is enough for the limit, heavy soil or deep snow is not his specialty for long and boil the box.
 
We waited a tractor because we could not get a manually a car. Summing up the contest in cross -country ability, we will recall once again with the tires. Want to feel confident on soil roads take care of the corresponding tires. In the test configuration, the obvious advantages of the Tuareg in road lumen, the angles of entry and the congress, the traction indicators and the possibilities of the transmission did not work precisely because of the tires, although in general the cross-country ability of both cars corresponds to the best representatives of the Partepers.
 
The difference is one and a half percent
It is clear that both cars are not cheap. The price of RX300 from $ 54 900 (equipment R1) to $ 63,400 (R3), which visited our test. The intermediate option (R2 equipment) costs $ 59,900 and differs from the base with air suspension, 18-inch wheels, a leather multifunctional steering wheel and an electric drive of the rear door. So you will not have to think about the choice especially.
 
Tuareg prices with such a motor and automatic transmission start from 44,460 euros. If you finish the Volkswagen to the level of Lexus, then its price will be 56,470 euros or $ 64,376 by $ 1000 or 1.5 percent more expensive than the Japanese.
 
For 40,280 euros, you can buy a base diesel tuareg (2.5TDI, mechanical gearbox). For 72,280 euros V10TDI turbodiesel. The eight -cylinder tuareg begins with 61,310 euros. However, do not think that you will be able to limit yourself to the base. After all, even the right to hang a full -fledged spare wheel costs 1100 euros. The standard relies in a small -sized reserve with it can only be drawn on asphalt.
 
The Volkswagen approach Impones you can choose everything you like. Even the hatch in the roof can be ordinary or with a solar battery. And tires to choose from. Not only in size 17, 18, 19 inches, but also 65, 60, 55 and 45 profiles (respectively, with a width of 235 to 275 mm), and even according to the brand and type of tread. Do not want the toothless Bridgeto-Rer30, take the pyrell-scorpion-a/t. The chosen Lexus can only dream of such a variety.
    
We decided:
If you meticulously calculate the points, it turns out that the average rating of the RX300 is 4.3, and the result of the Tuareg for one tenth worse. A little more dynamic and comfortable, Lexus lost to controllability and cross -country ability. And everything decided the advantage of the Japanese machine as an assembly and interior decoration into a single score. So both cars deserved grades. Only in order to use the advantages of one and another machine in full, in our opinion, the Tuareg needs to be bought with a gasoline eight. True, in this case, the price of a car will increase to about $ 75 thousand, which goes far beyond the price frame of the RX300.
 
For Lexus, on the contrary, we allow ourselves to recommend the R2 set for $ 59,900, which most fully reflects the advantages of the car in terms of comfort. It is distinguished by a more modest audio system from the top version, the absence of a hatch in the roof, relings on it and turning headlights.
 
In conclusion, once again about the tire tires, if you intend to at least occasionally leave asphalt. Take their choice with special attention, otherwise you will simply not be able to use its off -road advantages. Our recommendation: Pirelli-scorpion-a/t for episodic trips to the nature and Pirelli-Pi-Rosso-N0 or Yokogama-X816 on 19-inch wheels for pure asphalt.
 
     
Anatoly Fomin, photo of Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [09/03]