Overview & Reviews

As the popularity of SUVs has grown, it seems that much of the original rugged off-road personality these models were known for has been bred out of the segment in favor of on-pavement comfort and drivability. Among luxury SUVs, that shift seems even more evident. The original Volkswagen Touareg was one of the sport-utilities that clung to those off-road roots, but the next generation made the shift toward the everyday.

It's hard to argue with the results, though. The first-generation Touareg was a capable model known for its high-class interior, off-road ability and respectable towing capacity. But it was also very heavy and had subpar fuel economy. The newer Touareg lacks those more serious off-road chops but is otherwise a superior vehicle that's more in line with what consumers want from a modern and luxurious SUV.

Current Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg is a five-passenger midsize SUV that's available in six main trim levels: Sport, Lux, X Special Edition, R-Line, Executive and Hybrid. All but the Hybrid and X Special Edition can be had with either gasoline V6 ("VR6") or turbodiesel ("TDI") V6 power.

The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 280 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, while the turbodiesel V6 TDI generates 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid variant features a supercharged, direct-injection 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor that combine to produce 380 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are standard on all models.

Even the base Sport trim comes with bi-xenon headlights, a power tailgate, dual-zone automatic climate control and heated power front seats. A navigation system package with keyless entry and ignition, a rearview camera and a hands-free power liftgate is optional. Stepping up to the Lux trim gets you all that, plus a panoramic sunroof and leather upholstery. Celebrating this model's 10th anniversary, the X Special Edition is essentially a Lux with the TDI engine, exclusive paint, unique wheels and upgraded leather upholstery. The R-Line loses the hands-free liftgate, but otherwise is a Lux with 20-inch wheels, a sport body kit and a sport-tuned suspension. In addition to the Lux features, the Executive features a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, a top-view parking camera and a premium sound system. Opting for the Hybrid adds a power-adjustable steering column and additional front seat functions.

In our reviews, we've found that the Volkswagen Touareg is a well-designed crossover SUV that offers commendable driving dynamics. The Touareg's base V6 is a solid pick, but we've found the more fuel-efficient TDI diesel more to our liking and well worth the added premium. On the other hand, the Hybrid model boasts the type of power and performance of a V8 engine, but its less-than-frugal fuel economy may fall short of some expectations. In essence, it consumes about as much as a V6 engine would. A major highlight for any Touareg is the cabin, which scores points for its upscale design and high-quality materials.

Used Volkswagen Touareg Models
The Volkswagen Touareg was fully redesigned for 2011 with a new focus on on-road driving dynamics and fuel efficiency. In addition to its somewhat sleeker styling, this Touareg differs from the previous one by going without a dual-range transfer case. Although that change reduced its all-out off-road capabilities, VW realized that most upscale SUV drivers likely spend most, if not all, of their time on pavement and would benefit much more from a 400-pound weight reduction and the resulting increases in fuel efficiency and on-road handling dynamics. This second-generation Touareg also provides more comfort for those in back via added legroom and a reclining seatback.

For 2013, the TDI engine's horsepower was increased from 225 to 240. The celebratory X Special Edition and sporty R-Line trims didn't debut until 2014.

The first-generation VW Touareg debuted in 2004 and lasted through 2010. Initially, it came equipped with either a 220-hp 3.2-liter V6 or a 310-hp 4.2-liter V8. Many owners considered this V6 to be underpowered, so going with the V8, especially now that depreciation has set in, probably isn't a bad idea. VW also sold a few range-topping Touareg V10 TDI models that first year -- the TDI had a diesel-fueled turbocharged V10 displacing 5.0 liters. It was rated at 310 hp and a stout 553 lb-ft of torque. Every engine was connected to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The V10 was dropped for 2005, while the original V6 received 20 more hp. Changes for '06 included upgrading the optional CD-based navigation system to DVDs and adding an available rearview camera, an auxiliary multimedia MP3 connector and a 115-volt power outlet (in place of the previous 12-volt source) in the rear cargo area. The V10 engine also made its return to the U.S. market very late into the 2006 calendar year.

Some notable engine changes occurred for '07. For that year Volkswagen brought out a new 3.6-liter V6 engine that produced 276 hp, while the Touareg's 4.2-liter V8 was given a boost to 350 hp.

In 2008, the Touareg was renamed the Touareg 2 and received a slight refresh (not a full redesign), but VW dropped the "2" two years later to once again make it just the VW Touareg. Changes included updated styling and revised feature content. This was also the last year for the big V10; it was replaced for '09 with the V6 TDI, which made 221 hp and a still robust 407 lb-ft of torque). The V8 was also discontinued at the end of the 2009 model year.

Of the few demerits attributed to the first-generation Volkswagen Touareg, mediocre backseat and cargo space were the most prominent. The lack of a third-row seat and the standard suspension's stiff ride also managed to dull the Touareg's shine, though an optional (and pricey) air suspension fixed the ride quality issues. Overall, the Touareg proved to be an excellent road tripper, with a luxuriously quiet cabin on the highway and smooth-shifting transmission.

User Reviews:

• 

  Love the Exec!!! - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By jrike - April 20 - 8:06 pm

  This is my first VW and have owned it for two weeks now. I recently drove it 400 miles one way and was not a bit tired. No shifting or moving around in the seat because I was uncomfortable. What a dream car. Love the traffic button which advised me of an upcoming slowdown. A few tiny complaints. One, the height of the armrest is too low and the top of the door too high so had to rest my arm on my leg. Also the sunshade lets in a lot of heat. I live in Florida. And what is the CD player doing in the glovebox? So far I am getting 26.5 mpg but think that will improve with time. Another complaint is the audio. My 2007 Ford Escape was better. Otherwise, love the VW.

• 

  I love it - 2005 Volkswagen Touareg
  By numarinc - April 14 - 7:56 pm

  Luxery combined with dependability

• 

  Love it ,But - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By jak54 - April 12 - 3:33 am

  Ive owned this Touareg for about 4000 miles now. Its a great SUV as far as the the ride and handling. Im not going to complain about the terrible gas mileage. I mean someone else already mentioned this, ITS A 5500 LB SUV! What bothers me is the cheap plastic they used on in the interior! The decals on the radio presets and on the fans, etc. The supposedly buttons for a garage door opener do not work. Took it to the dealer..he said "use your own opener"...and the stereo controls...shouldnt they be on the steering wheel? Bells and whistles dont mean much if they dont work. Oh, and the VW logo in the center of the wheels, is glued on!

• 

  Finally I got a quality car. - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Leo Yudysky - March 28 - 10:06 am

  I purchased my 2004 Volkswagen Touareg V6 new, it had a few electronic bugs, no pun, but the dealer fixed them all and they didnt come back. It is an extremely high quality vehicle after being in American cars for 30 years. If youre in snow country your problems are gone. It has excellent traction and clearance. Its super quiet. The luxurious interior has real wood and metal accents. The seats are firm but have infinitely variable adjustment. I love the navigation system and cockpit design, it is like being in a jet aircraft. the sound system is the best that Ive ever had and VW does not overrate itself. The factory tires are huge and wear out quickly but they are rated 200 and extra soft for traction. The transmission is so smooth you can hardly hear it shift through its 6 speeds.

• 

  Skip the Nav - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Bob - March 26 - 1:46 am

  I have a special edition Touareg with 19" wheels, DVD Navigation and other goodies. The car is very competent in traffic, freeway, tight roads, and rough roads. Its fuel economy is not good, but we knew that when we bought it. In 3,000 miles, the only two complaints we have is that the radio or CD player comes on with the backup camera, even if it was off when the car was parked. The other problem is the navigation system is useless. Though not difficult to use it is cumbersome, slow, and usually does not have an address in the database. We still use our $500 Garmin GPS if we need navigation help.

• 

  V6 3.2L Touareg - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By Chulsoo - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought the Touareg for my wife after the birth of our first child. We were looking for a safe car which was stylish and fun to drive. We looked at the BMW X5 and the Acura MDX. The Touareg by far was the most economical, stylish and quality vehicle that we evaluated. It also was not a mammoth vehicke like the X5. The vehicle came with several standard features which were only expensive options on the BMW. Even with Navigation, the vehicle price was about 4K lower than the Acura and about 12K lower than the BMW.

• 

  Exceeded Expectations - 2013 Volkswagen Touareg
  By johndb59 - March 2 - 5:49 am

  Traded in my 11 Cayenne S. I would say the VW is 90% of the Porsche for about 60% of the price. Actually, I like the slightly simpler interior and the easier ingress/egress from the seats. Feels substantial and drives really well. Quality seems very high. Nice car to fly around without attracting a lot of attention. Excellent fuel economy and you truly cant tell its a diesel.

• 

  Won Me Over - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By medwards - February 25 - 7:06 am

  I am not an SUV person. I typically prefer small, nimble and quick cars. But when my accountant explained the tax advantage that was available, I decided to take the plunge. The Touareg has proven surprisingly capable in every situation whether on a deserted highway at high speeds or in a dry stream bed halfway up a mountain. It swallows plenty of cargo and carries four people in luxury. Ive also become a huge proponent of all-wheel drive. The Touareg seems unflappable. Any time theres the least bit of precipitation, its the vehicle that I take.

• 

  Touareg--no compromise - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By xp - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I donÂ’t think I could ever buy a vehicle without air suspension again. ItÂ’s really a no-compromise experience. Sticks to the road like nothing I have driven before. There is almost no perceptible body lean in aggressive maneuvering. No SUV handles better than this one. IÂ’m pretty impressed with the v8 overall. When I do a throttle kick- down, I get good response without a noticeable delay. Tranmission shifts harder that IÂ’d like. The controls are generally intuitive. ItÂ’s the little details that make the most difference here. The cockpit is quite amazing looking overall. Visibility is great. The rear folding seatbacks are finicky about locking back in.

• 

  what a good "egg" - 2004 Volkswagen Touareg
  By meshell - February 22 - 10:00 am

  got my treg in march and just bumped over 3,000 miles. i love driving this rig. i am not in need of tons of power, but i have to say even the v6 exceeds my expectations. i love the luxurious feel of being in my treg and love the looks and compliments i get.