Volkswagen has entered the sport-utility vehicle market with its brawny new
Touareg. If the idea of a Volkswagen truck comes as a shock, what about the
concept of at $50,000 vehicle wearing the VW badge? But that¹s what a fully
optioned Touareg could run.

Currently I see the SUV market going in two directions. The first is the
rapidly growing category of car-based vehicles meant to do everything,
except face tough off road challenges. Included in this pack are the Lexus
RX330, Acura MDX and the Nissan Murano. The other segment is the traditional truck-based vehicles, such as the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, designed and built to face rugged off-road expeditions and haul a pretty good-sized trailer. Volkswagen is setting out to meet these big boys on the SUV road with a tough and technically sophisticated vehicle to go
beyond the trail end.

The Touareg demands that the potential owner answer one question: What is
the intended purpose of the vehicle? If the answer is to haul kids to the
soccer field then the new VW is not the answer. The Touareg has a ton of
special equipment that would be wasted by an owner whose idea of adventure
is a ski trip, particularly with a base price of over $40,000 for the robust
V-8 model. With the Touareg¹s heft, nobody should even consider the base V-6
engine. The base price for the V-8 model delivers all of the luxury and
comfort that one could desire in a high-end SUV. The really worthwhile
options on the Touareg are related to developing superior off-road ability.

Since the Touareg is designed to contend with the likes of the Jeep Grand
Cherokee in an off-road contest of athletic ability, we will focus on the
components of the new VW that optimize this experience. First off, the body
structure is designed to provide a stable platform that will resist high
levels of bending and twisting forces, just what the owner will encounter
when coursing over large rocks or deep runts where one wheel may be
suspended in thin air.

Key to the Touareg¹s off-road capabilities is its continuous all-wheel drive
system. With the optional locking rear differential, it can channel 100
percent of vehicle power to the wheel that offers the best traction, which
should pull the vehicle out of almost any mess imaginable, on- or off-road.

Next, VW has outfitted the Touareg with an optional air suspension system
that has advantages for a range of conditions. The system not only sets the
stiffness of the suspension components to accommodate either a soft or
sporty firm ride, but can also control vehicle height‹that is the distance
between the ground and the underside of the vehicle. This allows the Touareg
to hunker down close to the ground to improve aerodynamics at cruising
speed, but also raises the body to effectively step over protruding rocks
and tree limbs off-road. In its raised position, the new suspension
effectively increases the approach and departure angle, or its ability to
conquer abrupt changes in terrain‹steep mounds, depressions, etc.

Going uphill on very demanding terrain is also made more manageable by the
Hill Climb Assist function that locks the gearbox to prevents the vehicle
from rolling back on a steep incline when the driver has come to a stop. As
anyone with off-road experience can attest, going down a very steep grade
can be more frightening that going uphill. To improve downhill control, VW
has introduced another piece of technology, the Hill Descent Control, which
automatically reduces torque to slow the vehicle and enhance engine control
at speeds of less than 15 mph on a decline of 20 percent or more. If
conditions warrant, the system also can automatically apply the brakes to
slow descent allowing the driver to concentrate on steering the vehicle.

Safety should be a major consideration in an SUV and the new Touareg hits
the right check boxes. Standard safety equipment includes front and
side-impact air bags for driver and front-seat passenger as well as side
curtain airbags, which protect all outside seat occupants. But perhaps more
importantly, the Touareg is equipped with electronic safety enhancements
meant to keep the car on the road going in the intended direction. Such
features include an advanced yaw control system that can direct power to a
wheel with traction when the Touareg begins to skid going around a slippery
corner. 

As for its on-road manners, the Touareg is at the head of its class. V-8
thrust fed through a six-speed automatic transmission offers vigorous power
delivery. Given the Touareg¹s heft, the optional air suspension delivers
responsive handling and a supple ride quality.
 

 
Vehicle: VW Touareg

Price as tested: $46,965

Engine:

         Type: 4.2-liter V-8

         Horsepower: 310 @ 6,200 rpm

         Torque: 302-ft. lbs. @ 3,000 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 14 mpg

         Highway 18 - mpg

Curb Weight: 5,300 lbs.