Review Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI 286 hp Atmosphere
November 23, 2018
Text and photos: Elco van der meer
“Help! I may be a considerable amount smash on a big SUV, but crashes in the choice”. It sounds like a realistic problem, because in the segment ever by cars like the BMW X5 was mined is now a busy schedule. Alone, the Volkswagen Group, the Bentley Bentayga, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7 and Audi Q8. The redemption comes from an unexpected angle, because during the testweek out to the less noble Volkswagen Touareg itself as a possible solution of this problem…
Volkswagen introduces the new Touareg with a silent drum, which you even fail to notice can be that there is a new. Still earns it attention, because on certain points he is pretty progressive and is clearly the top model from Volkswagen. In the area of drivelines is the car just not progressive, because he is only available with six-cylinder TDI diesels. A benzineversie or a (plug-in) hybrid is not yet on the order, though last in the long term is expected.
ViewWhere a Volkswagen is usually striking, is unobtrusive, is the Touareg just quite in your face. The chrome grille is so large that even the headlights it will be swallowed up. Not everyone in my environment the pompous grille to appreciate, but the Touareg excites and provokes, such as an SUV that can do that. The rest of the design is, in comparison with the nose, remarkably civilized. And in profile looks like the Touareg suspiciously like the Bentley Bentayga while the back again almost anonymous drawn.
The inside looks of the Touareg very clean, but that doesn ’t interior does not per se inconspicuous. On the contrary, it is dominated by two large – optional – displays in which the central touch screen the most eye-catching. It opens up all the vital functions of the car, including the panel for climate control. Because of the large screen is low mounted louvers turn, I quickly close them to deliver me rather cold hands than have a cool head.
SitThe Touareg is equipped with excellent seats, that you in many ways can be adjusted. Even the extent to which the stoelwangen you embrace is adjustable via the central screen, just as the extendable chair seat. It is, first search a bit, but if you have found these features to be excellent.
Not every large SUV is in the rear as spacious as the exterior suggests, but the Touareg has rear seats really have a lot to offer. Only the footwell would be something rianter may be, have the front seat occupants there, with the setting of the height have any influence on. The trunk has a capacity of 810 litres with folded rear seats even rises up to 1,800 litres – almost two cubic metres.
OperateThe eye catcher is the new operating concept by 15-inch large touch screen. It’s called Innovision Cockpit and has an additional cost of 3.395 euro in combination with a digital instruments. It is a mountain of money, but generating the interior of the Touareg, and therefore is actually a must have. Both screens are razor-sharp, crystal-clear and the system behind it works really fast. This is such as an infotainment system is supposed to work. A large cloth purchase is recommended, because the screen captures more than glances.
The information on the central screen is clear and uncluttered, when you are with your hand in the vicinity of the display screen, additional buttons are displayed and possibilities. So temperature can be directly set, and the other climate settings, there is a large, blue button that is always in the picture. The touch screen leads, in practice, a lot less than I had expected and actually works just as good as a classic climate control panel.
A point of criticism concerns the brightness of the two monitors. In principle, the automatic alignment is good, but in some cases – for example, at dusk or after the exit of a tunnel, or continue the displays, long dark, especially if you have a pair of sunglasses wearing. The time-honored scroll wheel to adjust the brightness to set is unfortunately reduced and replaced with a deeply hidden menu option. Just as quickly, the brightness adjust is not there anymore and because the screens played such a great role play feel this as a loss.
DriveThe Volkswagen Touareg is a very impressive car to drive. He is not only extremely comfortable and quiet on the highway, even on less beautiful asphalt or pavers keeps the comfort level is very high. The surprise is that the carriage barely heels if you’ll submit, and that the big SUV is actually very agile, almost sporty feel. The comfort is mainly on account of the air suspension, the dynamic feeling by the steering rear axle. Together, they form an option package to the value of 2.764 euro.
The Volkswagen Touareg is a very impressive car to drive.
The Touareg is available only with the 3.0 V6 diesels in combination with a achttrapsautomaat. No less than 286 hp delivers the most powerful performance in the testauto, the torque of 600 Nm is even more impressive. Still feels like the driveline is not under all circumstances as adequately as the figures suggest. Especially when pulling away from standstill, there is a clear delay, also if you stop/start system turns off. Only after more than 2 seconds in a doubt has the action that you really want and is the true power unleashed. The machine is able to imperceptibly switch, but this does not always. Every now and then schakelschokjes just a bit too emphatically to be observed.
The smooth-running, fine-sounding six-cylinder engine makes this Touareg a really fast car. If the block once on steam catapults, he the giant with a rotgang in the direction of horizon. A sprint from 0 to 100 km/h should, after firmly optoeren while the brake is pressed, after that 6.1 seconds is quick and easy, and the acceleration stops only at 235 km/h. That are GTI-values, but a GTI, you do not have to 3,500 kg draw such as the Touareg. The testverbruik of 1 to 13 is given this performance quite nicely, and there will be enough users that, in practice, 1 to 15 drop.
Of interest are the autonomous driving functions that the Touareg pioneering in the Volkswagen range. Familiar things such as adaptive cruise control and active lane assistant has been extended with a bochtenassistent and a snelheidsassistent. The former slows down the car when cornering or roundabouts looming – on the basis of map data and the second combines that data with read road signs to the speed limit automatically.
In practice, you can long stretches with bends and roundabouts to travel without the pedals to touch and also the steering wheel, you can feel free to loosely hold it. The stuurassistent does a good job while the held-cornering, often a bit conservative. The system the speed is automatically bijregelt is mistaken regularly in the actual speed, especially on the Dutch highway with his bordenwirwar to a restless driving leads. This function I have on the long term, but they are disabled.
PayWith a starting price of 79.780 euro is the Volkswagen Touareg the best SUV in its class and makes this his brand is still somewhat honor. For this testauto is no longer on. With ‘the whole book’ and cost 119.312, making the price advantage compared to the competition evaporates. It should, however, be said that you lack nothing and more is also not possible.
ConclusionThe new Touareg has been Volkswagens flagship and you notice that at all. A new operating concept and the far-reaching autonomous rijhulpen are in theory impressive and also in the practice, they know to convince. The engine is very powerful, and quite economical, but the entire powertrain can have some refinement. Generally performs the Touareg more than convincing. It is a silent reiswagen with unprecedented onderstelcomfort, while he was in turns surprised with an excellent handling and a nimble steering.
If you so choose for one of the many SUVS of the Volkswagen Group, then the Touareg may be the best choice you can make. If you use it wisely dressed save you tens of thousands of euros compared to the competition and you can drive there just as regal.