Test drive Volkswagen Touareg 2007 - 2010 SUV

I did everything right

Prices for the new Volkswagen Touareg start from $ 54 thousand. What appeared new in a well -known SUV and is it worth that kind of money?
Contrary to the opinion of some representatives of the Volkswagen automobile media, he remained a folk car. I say so because until recently I was skeptical of a change in the price policy of Volkswagen, but today it becomes clear that Bernd Pishtsrider was absolutely right. Wolfsburg in time noted the growth of income, and at the same time the requirements of the middle class, which did not slow down to affect the quality and price of new models. This is quite logical when you consider that VW never took money for mysticism like prestige. Here is a car that costs its money, representatives of the concern say, and millions of people know it. The only inconsistent that can cause some doubts about the policy of Wolfsburg is associated with the geographical finding of the target audience. Our understanding of an affordable folk car hardly fits in Renault Logan, while the European middle class can afford almost any VW. Almost, because by European standards Phaeton and Touareg is already excess. At least one of them clearly goes beyond the middle, relying more on the concept of redundancy. And second? In the second, which, in fact, the first SUV in the history of the brand, few believed. In Europe, universals of increased cross-country ability are not particularly popular, and in the eyes of Americans a German car must certainly be a premium. These are embarrassing factors for VW, which delegated the successful Audi premium segment, and he himself remained in the field of still available cars. But today it can be argued that this did not prevent the company from creating one of the best SUV current time.
 
So, we have before us the pride of Wolfsburg engineers, a car that can do everything. At first, this seems implausible, but a detailed study of Touareg talents puts everything in its place. Scientific and technological progress made it possible for which ten years ago we had to fork out two cars. The SUV and the passenger car are as dissimilar as in demand. The first is able to ride the mud, and the second rush to the autobahns. Combine one with the other is about the same as making the Terminator Governor of California. It is weak in this, but we have a living example.
 
Look at this new Touareg. Outwardly, from the one that has already become familiar on the roads, it is distinguished only by a few details. I'm talking about facelift, which gave Touareg the desired identity. Plastic plumage and optics have changed. The head headlights have become more expressive, and the rear are working on LEDs. However, the most vivid visual difference between the restyled Touareg grille of the radiator. It is made in a new style, where the amount of chromium and size play a decisive role.
 
The Touareg salon is even less. The information display, located in the center of the dashboard, has become larger and more colorful. The navigation system will now work not only in Europe, but also in Russia. It is useless to look for other changes from the place of the driver for this, you need to get out of the car and open the trunk. It may turn out to be (if you have not forgotten to pay for this option when ordering a car) a luggage attachment system similar to that used in the Audi Q7. The Audi updated Touareg also got the Side Scan system. The radars monitor cars hiding in blind areas, and in case of danger, warning lights flash in the side mirrors. The rest of the Touareg remained the same: an informative instrument panel, verified ergonomics, the decent quality of the finishing panels except in the top -end configuration of Touareg began to be equipped with the same chairs as the representative of the Phaeton sedan.
 
Is Volkswagen limited to cosmetics for a car who is fighting for a client in a segment, where there are more and more players every year? Of course not. The main news inside. Touareg received three new engines at once. Instead of the previous 3.2 V6 (247 hp) now there will be a more powerful 3.6 FSI (280 hp). Those who are 8.6 s to hundreds will seem small, the 350-horsepower V8 4.2 FSI from the Audi Q7 is addressed. With him, Touareg is gaining the first hundred for 7.5 s. And the most popular, according to the Russian representative office of Volkswagen, will be Touareg with a new diesel 3.0 V6 TDI, which is installed on the Audi A4, A6, A8 and Q7. It was such a car that we took for a test.
 
For most owners, the off -road potential of Touareg remains only a reason for pride: they say, a car can do a lot, but a two -stage hand -up box and blocking of an interdose differential for driving in Moscow will not be useful. But three -level air suspension will have to be in place. Choose one of three modes and enjoy driving in accordance with your expectations. If you want softness and comfort, turn the wheel to the Comfort position, you want a sports discovery choose Sport. In any case, Touareg will give pleasure from driving. And the motor? Perhaps 3.0 TDI is exactly what Touareg was not enough before. It has enough enthusiasm (225 hp and 500 nm) so that the dynamics evokes pleasant emotions, and fuel consumption can become a decisive factor in favor of the choice of diesel. Fast and economical just that you wanted to see Touareg, isn't it? Another plus low noise and the absence of any noticeable vibrations. Previously, diesel engines have created discomfort, now you enjoy them. The machine also works decently. Sometimes it does not seem very quick, but transfer the selector to Sport position, and the box will work faster.
 
Is this new Touareg too good? It is unlikely, but it has become better, and now it is even more difficult to find the reason to abandon one of the best cars in its class.
Technical characteristics Touareg V6 TDI
Dimensions, mm 4754x1928x1726
Base, mm 2855
Equipped mass, kg 2231
Diesel V6 engine type with turbocharged
Working volume, cubic meter. cm 2967
Max. Power, L.S./rpm 225/4000
Max. moment, nm/rpm 500/1750
The transmission is automatic 6-band
The drive is complete
Max. Speed, km/h 212
Tires 235/65 R17
Acceleration time 0-100 km, with 9.2
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km 10.7
Tank volume, l 100
    
VW Touareg V6 TDI Land Rover Discovery TD6 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
Max. Power, L.S. 225 190 212
Max. moment, nm 500 445 510
Max. speed, km/h 212 180 190
Acceleration time
0100 km/h, from 9.2 11.5 9.0
Economy,
l/100 km 10.7 9.4 10.2
Safety
Euroncap no data no data
Price, dollars USA 64000 53900 59000
Stanislav Goncharenko
Photo by the author
 
 
 
 

 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine