The Volkswagen Touareg continues to show its own brand of toughness with its facelift

SINGAPORE — Compared to the luxury ‘big guns’ like the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, the Volkswagen Touareg has always been the lower-key brother in the German trio. All three were, after all, related by bones, since they shared the same platform.  

The second-generation Touareg, which debuted in 2010, became (along with the Phaeton limo) one of VW’s flagship products with lots of space, refinement and capability.

While the new Audi Q7 takes a different route (see the review this issue) the Touareg gets a facelift.

On the front is a more chiseled fascia with squintier headlights and grille, and added chrome strips on the front and back. In other words, yes this is a mild facelift, but it does add a little volume to the imposing Touareg’s already considerable road presence.

At the front, the main differences are larger trapezoidal-shaped bi-xenon headlamps (now standard across the line-up) positioned to insinuate a line extending to the new grille, which now wears a quartet of transverse chrome fins. For fans of the new Scirocco R, you will notice hints of the hot hatch in the lower fascia of the Touareg’s front end and if you wish to take that even further, there’s also an optional R-Line pack too.

Under the hood lies the same 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel with 245 horsepower and a hefty 550Nm of peak torque. That spells a 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 220km/h.

Being a diesel, it’s superbly efficient too, with the official figure quoted at 7.2L/100km. It’s certainly our pick of the range, as the alternative is the 3.6-litre petrol version, with 280 horsepower and 360Nm of peak torque.

It goes from 0 to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds (on paper, the 3.6-litre is one second faster than the diesel) with an estimated top speed of 228km/h. Fuel consumption 10.9L/100km/h, and it, says the rest of the CarBuyer Team, simply doesn’t have the effortless shove of the diesel unit.

For a few extra thousand dollars, you can opt for the added air suspension package for better handling, ride and maybe off-road ability. The optional air suspension package (standard on the international V8 TDI model, which isn’t on sale here) automatically raises or lowers the vehicle depending on road conditions (bumpy or smooth) and the speed at which you’re driving. It can be activated manually as well.

Our test unit didn’t have the system installed, but VW says the facelift also encompasses an updated steel-spring suspension for agile steering and extra comfort. Whatever the case, the Touareg delivered a plush ride with rather direct handling for such a large SUV.

Being in a Touareg feels like you’re being hoisted up and above the other cars, making it impossible not to look down on all the other conventional sedans. You literally look down to the roof of the car in front of you and not its bumper. The higher centre of gravity that comes with being so high may feel unnatural to some, especially those who are used to being at eye-level with the traffic.

The cabin is exceptionally quiet. You can’t even hear the purring of the diesel engine unless you roll down the windows. For the Touareg, the sky’s the limit when it comes to the sunroof — it is fitted with a 12.7 square foot glass panel that tilts and slides.

We started to think about the type of people who would buy an SUV. A family with kids. A couple, with a Great Dane. A family with a couple of kids, and a Great Dane, going on grocery trips together and stocking up on a week’s supply of food. Totally doable with the Touareg.

There is a lot of space at back, although the centre seat serves more like a perch instead of a proper seat, and there is no seven-seater option with this model. With the rear seats folded down boot capacity goes up to 1642-litres, at minimum it’s 580-litres — which could probably fit four to five golf bags easily. There is also a button located on the driver’s side door that automatically opens (and closes) the boot for you, a varying heights.  

Acceleration is punchy, but because it’s a large vehicle, you will have to work a little harder when slowing down. The slick eight-speed automatic transmission is the same as before – the shifts are crisp and clean, there is hardly any lag in the torque converter, and it’s always in the right gear.

Once available only in the Golf, the new generation Touareg also gets the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which is a clever combination of airbag sensors and brake controls. In the event of a collision, your car’s auto-braking system is activated. It will only deactivate when the speed of the vehicle slows down to about 10km per hour. This will stop your vehicle from rolling towards another collision.

As mentioned, the more upscale R-Line model costs $321,800, and comes with goodies like four-corner air suspension with shock absorption, heated front seats with lumbar support as well as active climate control, plus a 360-degree panoramic camera to help with low-speed maneuvering. You also get an R-Line bodykit along with 20-inch wheels.

The new Volkswagen Touareg hasn’t strayed far in terms of stylistic language. We figure it’s a car for the strong and silent type who aren’t too concerned with badge envy. Whether you’re in the market for an SUV or a fine luxury car, the Touareg wears both hats very comfortably and happens to be one of Volkswagen’s best-selling models in Europe and North America. And though they may not be considered segment leaders here in Singapore, owning a car that drives just as well as a Porsche Cayenne at a few thousands less is worth a look.

NEED TO KNOW
ENGINE 2,967cc, 24V, V6, turbodiesel
MAX POWER 245bhp at 4400rpm
MAX TORQUE 550Nm at 2750rpm
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic
TOP SPEED 220km/h
0-100 KM/H 7.6 seconds
FUEL EFFICIENCY 7.2L/100km
CO2 189g/km
PRICE $292,300 with COE

AVAILABILITY Now