The Volkswagen Group has a rather impressive arsenal of SUVs within their respective brand such as Audi and Porsche, and more recently, in the uber luxury echelons such as the Bentley Bentayga and on the high performance side, the new Lamborghini Urus to that line up.
The looks
Imposing, muscular, head-turning and jaw dropping are just some of the words one could use to describe the new Touareg. In actual fact, many a new Volkswagen models are becoming pleasing to look at, the new Arteon and Tiguan being prime examples.
The Touareg features a large front grille finished in chrome and a chunky front bumper flanked by new, slim LED headlights. The car is large and from the side it features pronounced rear wheel arches and a silhouette very similar to that of the Bentayga. The rear is also attractive with slim, horizontal taillights and trapezoidal tailpipes at the lower need of the sculptures bumper.
Opt for the optional R-Line styling pack, and you get more aggressive bumpers, bespoke side sills, a roof spoiler and up to 21-inch alloy wheels.
Welcome to the new age
Getting into the Touareg, my attention was instantly drawn to the (optional0 infotainment system Volkswagen calls the Innovision Cockpit. Essentially this consists of blending together the 12-inch Active Info Display instrument cluster with the Discover Pro infotainment system under a single pane of glass, making a total of 27-inches of screens.
The rest of the interior is also impressive with a mix of upmarket leather and quality plastics. A large standard panoramic roof, measuring1 270mm long and 825mm wide, and a new Heads-Up Display system, the largest fitted to any production Volkswagen, adds to the roominess of the interior, with a further boon being the 697-litres of boot space, which can be enlarged to 810-litres with the rear seats folded down.
With the large infotainment display handling all the navigation, media and climate functions, the rest of the facia remains uncluttered. Two rotary dials found on the centre console allows for adjustment of the driving mode, which includes Comfort, Sport and Off-Road. The other dial operates the new four-corner air suspension height functions.
Not just a pretty face
The Touareg is also practical in that the electric rear tailgate is now a standard fitting. It also comes fitted with an array of driver assistance systems such as Lane Keeping Assist, NighTrailer Assist, Park Assist, Front and Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, Semi-autonomous driving up to 60km/h, Dynamic Road Sign Display, Matrix iQ adaptive LED headlights and Adaptive Cruise Control.
An option is the Night Vision system with a thermal imaging camera, as well as a new all-wheel steering system that activates at speeds below 37 km/h.
What’s it like to drive?
Based on the MLB Evo platform that also underpins the Audi Q7, Bentayga, Urus and the Porsche Cayenne, the Touareg ticks the scales at 106kg less than before, which makes for rapid performance when you factor in the power station underneath the bonnet.
Carried over from the Q7, the 3.0-litre TDI V6 has been re-tuned to produce 190kW/600Nm, which delivers its punch from low down. Hooked to a smooth shifting eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox, the Touareg proved to be a relaxing cruise on-road and offered a very compliant ride when you engaged Off-Road mode. During the launch route, we average a very respectable 9.8-litres/100km in varying driving conditions.
The people’s Bentayga
From what I experienced during my short time with the new Touareg, it really rates as being hart to fault at this end of the market. It’s a superb package that offers a long list of standard features, a proven powerplant and a badge that holds its value here in South Africa.
There is however a price to pay for all this tech wizardry and luxury, in that the entry-level Luxury retails for R999 800, while the top-spec Executive will set you back R1 088 200. Compared to its sibling using the same platform though, the Touareg comes across as a bargain that without being compromised.
