Volkswagen Touareg - All you need to know

The Volkswagen Touareg has been one of the premier SUVs from the German company’s lineup in the Australian market. However, with the introduction of the entry-level model in the lineup recently, it is surely looking to take on the premium SUV segment in the domestic market, like the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3.

Post the addition of the newest variant, the Volkswagen Touareg is available in three variants - 190TDI, 190TDI Premium, and Launch Edition.

Price

The top-of-the-line trim of Volkswagen Touareg is priced at $89,990. With such a price tag, it gives a tough competition to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. However, it is slightly more affordable than the Audi SQ5.

Variant	Price
190TDI	$79,490
190TDI Premium	$85,490
Launch Edition	$89,990

Engine Specifications

The Volkswagen Touareg is available in just one engine option for all three variants. Being thrown at the premium SUV range, the power figure is apt for highway cruising, even with all the seats packed. Its engine feels extremely torque-friendly, even when you are looking for a gala launch for a top speed strip on the open roads, thanks to the abundance of torque coming at a very low rpm.

Also, the transmission setup does not feel laggy at all. The automatic shifter responds well to acceleration and crawling speeds at the same time.

Engine	3.0-litre, V6, turbo-diesel
Power	258 hp at 4,000 rpm
Torque	600 Nm at 2,250 rpm
Transmission	8-speed automatic

Exterior

The Volkswagen Touareg is a plush car and looks massive and majestic from the outside. It is around 4.9 metres long and has a width of close to 2 metres. It has a total kerb weight of 2086 kilograms.

The SUV rides on 19-inch alloy wheels on the base 190TDI variant, while higher 190TDI Premium and Launch Edition models ride on 20-inch wheels. It has a lot of defining lines on the body, thereby making a bold statement. Even the headlamp section is designed to be very intelligent, with Light Matrix LEDs. It also gets the camera feature to detect what’s happening on the road to adapt the illumination accordingly.

The Touareg also has roof bars that serve better purposes over roof rails. Air suspension feature further makes the ride quality top-notch. Have a look at Volkswagen Touareg dimensions -

Length	4878 mm
Width	1984 mm
Height	1686 mm
Kerb Weight	2086 kg
Wheels size	19/20 inches

Interior

The Volkswagen Touareg is no less than an extravaganza inside the cabin. Even the base model gets the premium Vienna leather-appointed upholstery. The front seats get the heating feature from the base model itself. However, as you go higher to the Premium and Launch Edition trims, you get even better Savona leather for added comfort.

The driver’s console is absolutely mesmerising, thanks to the dual-screen cockpit approach. The 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system is paired with the 12-inch driver’s display. To make things better, there is a 30-colour ambient lighting setup.

The comfort level is taken a notch higher with the help of 4-zone automatic climate control. This means, all the four occupants inside can customise the surrounding based on their preferences.

Safety

When it comes to the safety department, the Volkswagen Touareg is uncompromised. There are ventilated disc brakes for all the wheels, along with the addition of an anti-lock braking system and braking assistance.

Besides that, the fact that it received a 5-star at the ANCAP crash test proves how safe it is on the road.  Volkswagen Touareg specs sheet includes the following safety and assistance features:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Lane-keeping assist and adaptive guidance
• Cross-traffic alert in the front and rear
• Traffic jam assist
• Predictive pedestrian monitoring

Competitors

Is the Volkswagen Touareg better than its competitors?

The Volkswagen Touareg belongs to a premium segment that has other cars, like the BMW X3, X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and the Audi Q5. The Volkswagen Touareg has proven its worth in ways more than one, especially when it comes to the price and specifications.

To start with, the Volkswagen Touareg appears to be more practical in the space, much like the GLE does. However, the pricing is what takes the Volkswagen on a higher level. Moreover, it even gets features from the brands' subsidiaries - Porsche and Audi. Hence, the buyers get a feel of premiumness of two well-known automakers in just one.

Verdict

Hence, going by the price at which the Touareg is sold at and the features it packs in the segment, it is definitely one of the best options to go for, without a hint of doubt.

Also read: Volkswagen T-Cross 85TSI, 110TSI Australia launch by mid-2020