Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen I had never had an off-road vehicle properly speaking, a model capable of traversing the lands of half the world like other brands did. For this reason, it launched the Volkswagen Touareg in 2002. Since its launch it has become a very recognizable model, and today it has rightfully earned being recognized as one of the most important figures in the segment.

After reaching a remarkable level of sales throughout the world, the second generation of the Touareg arrived in the world in 2010. Unfortunately, the impact and the units sold failed to match those of the first generation to such an extent that Volkswagen considered the possibility of the complete cessation of production. The blow was important in vital markets for this segment, such as the United States and China.

But in 2018 they released a new iteration, the third. This last generation that accompanies us today makes it clear that the German SUV has moved away from the fields to become a more road model. By the way, its name, Touareg, pays homage to the nomadic tribe that resides in the Sahara desert.

Technical characteristics of the Volkswagen Touareg

When developing the Volkswagen Touareg, the VAG Group carried out teamwork. The development was shared with Porsche y Audi, which in turn brought to light their respective products; the Listen Q7 and Porsche Cayenne. All three use the same platform, the MLB architecture, which in turn is the same used by the higher-end brothers: the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Governance.

In the particular case of the Touareg, we are talking about dimensions that take us to the D-SUV segment, making it clear that it is the flagship of the company's SUV range, above the Volkswagen Tiguan. That translates to 4,88 meters long, 1,98 meters wide and 1,72 meters high. To these dimensions must be added a wheelbase of 2,9 meters and a minimum weight of 2.070 kilograms.

In terms of cargo capacity, despite the Touareg's generous size, it cannot have three rows of seats. Its trunk cubic a minimum volume of 810 liters, expandable to 1.800 liters when the second row of seats is folded down completely. These capacities are drastically reduced to 655 liters in plug-in hybrid units, since part of the electrical assembly is located under the boot floor.

Mechanical range and gearboxes of the Volkswagen Touareg

Over time, the Volkswagen Touareg has been gaining maturity, moving away from the mud to become an SUV more for the road than for the field. mechanically speaking the current range is made up of a gasoline, two diesel versions and two plug-in hybrid units. Naturally, all units are associated with an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox and a typical Volkswagen 4MOTION all-wheel drive scheme.

The range starts with the V6 3.0 TDI. A block of six cylinders in vee and three liters that is capable of developing two different powers, 231 horsepower in the most accessible version and 286 horsepower in the most lavish of all. For performance, and as a novelty from 2023, the Touareg V6 TSI with 340 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque is introduced.

The most powerful units employ a plug-in hybrid scheme. All versions present the same main schematic. Three-liter V6 petrol engine, front electric motor and lithium-ion battery with 14,3 kWh useful capacity. The least powerful version develops a maximum of 381 horsepower, while the more equipped unit releases power up to 462 horsepower. All Touareg PHEVs are certified with the DGT ZERO label thanks to their 100% electric range of up to 51 kilometers.

Equipment of the Volkswagen Touareg

The Touareg is the flagship of the house, and for this reason it has for itself the latest equipment advances of the brand. An atmosphere of great quality is created in its interior thanks to the extensive use of noble materials such as leather.. Despite this, it fails to reach the level of premium cut models. All occupants enjoy a high sense of comfort, thanks in part to the generous interior space available.

The range of equipment Volkswagen Touareg for the Spanish market it is structured around three versions. From lowest to highest endowment we find the endings: Elegance and R-Line, plus the specific R version. These versions, in addition to modifying the degree of equipment and technology, also modify the external appearance of the vehicle, going from a more sober finish to a more sporty one.

As far as equipment is concerned, the Touareg presents very strong elements. Among the long list of available systems, it is worth highlighting the presence of: LED matrix headlights, Head-Up Display, four-zone climate control, air suspension, digital instrument panel, multimedia system with touch screen up to 15 inches, panoramic sunroof, directional rear axle, connectivity for mobile devices, voice control and a wide range of driving assistants and safety aids.

The Volkswagen Touareg on video

The Volkswagen Touareg according to Euro NCAP

How could it be otherwise, in 2018 the Volkswagen Touareg was subjected to the harsh tests of Euro NCAP with the intention of assessing its safety index. After the tests it was certified as a five-star safety car, the highest possible score. The best values ​​were obtained in protection of adult and child passengers and in operation of driving assistants with ratings of 89, 86 and 81 out of 100 respectively. The lowest grade is obtained in pedestrian protection, where due to its high nose it only shows a value of 72 out of 100. These ratings are still valid after the 2023 update as no changes were made to the structure of the car.

The Volkswagen Touareg of Km 0 and second hand

Over the years the Volkswagen Touareg has become one of the benchmarks in the segment. Its capabilities as an off-roader, and its constant evolution, have earned it to reap good sales figures, although without a doubt the most popular of all has been the first. Secondary sales channels have many units available, thanks to all of them we can understand that the average depreciation of the German SUV stands at 30,5 percent.

If we take a look at the used or second-hand channel, we see a large number of units for sale. A commercial offer where the cheapest units date from the first generation, years 2003 and 2004, with a starting price of around 1.500 euros for units with more than 250 thousand kilometers accumulated. Currently it is not a very sold model, and therefore the offer available in the Km 0 channel is practically non-existent.

Volkswagen Touareg rivals

The Volkswagen Touareg militates in the segment of large all-terrain premium or almost premium cut. This part of the market is one of the fastest growing due to the number of rivals and profitability. For both reasons, the competition in it is one of the highest in the market. Among the rivals against which the Touareg has to fight is his cousin, the Listen Q7. In addition, we must add other opponents such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Land Rover Discovery y Range Rover Velar. Among all of them, the one from Wolfsburg is one of the cheapest, but on the other hand it cannot match the qualities of premium cut models.

Highlight

• High technological endowment
• rolling comfort
• Habitability and trunk capacity

To improve

• Loss of off-road capabilities
• Mechanical range (starting) limited in power
• High weight

Volkswagen Touareg prices

When checking out, we must recognize the considerable price increase that the Touareg has suffered in recent years. The jump to its third generation brings it closer to the premium market. Such is so the starting price of the Volkswagen Touareg is 77.020 euros, without offers or promotions. This value corresponds to a unit with Elegance finish and 6-liter V3 TDI mechanics with 231 horsepower. The most expensive unit in the family at the moment is the 462-horsepower Touareg R eHybrid plug-in hybrid. Its price starts at 94.900 euros, without offers or promotions.

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