2007 Volkswagen Touareg V6 4dr SUV AWD
— Amazing SUV in the marketplace
The Volkswagen Touareg (pronounced Tour-regg) is a midsize SUV designed to provide rugged off-road ability as well as a refined everyday driving experience. At this mission it succeeds, as very few SUVs in the Touareg’s price range can match its go-anywhere ability or luxurious five-passenger interior.
Engineered to offer the same type of on-road driving dynamics that VW drivers had come to expect, the Touareg was co-developed with Porsche and shares the same basic architecture with the Cayenne. Unfortunately for Volkswagen, the Touareg has never been a particularly strong seller in years past, but the current model should improve on that record thanks to a host of engine-related upgrades in 2007.
Current Volkswagen Touareg
Volkswagen offers three different engines for the Touareg. First up is a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. On V8 models, a 4.2-liter V8 delivers 350 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque. The range-topping Touareg V10 TDI has a diesel-fueled, turbocharged V10 displacing 5.0 liters. It’s rated at 310 hp and a stout 553 lb-ft of torque. Each engine is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The three different engines serve as the basis for the three Touareg trims, with the V6 as the base model, the V8 as the midlevel choice and finally the V10 as you move up the ladder in both price and content. The 4XMotion permanent four-wheel drive is standard and low-range gearing complements the optional height-adjustable air suspension. When combined with the optional locking differential and tough unibody structure, the Volkswagen Touareg has the ability to go places off-road that few other midsize SUVs should dare consider.
Getting to less treacherous destinations such as the mall, soccer practice or a night at the ballet are made enjoyable by the Touareg’s smooth on-road ride and a luxurious interior that includes standard and available features such as leather seats with memory, multizone climate control, navigation, premium audio entertainment and adaptive xenon headlights.
In our reviews of the Volkswagen Touareg, we’ve found that fuel economy continues to be a significant weakness. In VW’s effort to offer Range Rover levels of off-road ability and luxury at the same time, the Touareg is both heavier and thirstier than most of its segment competition, particularly the lighter-duty crossover SUVs. Only the diesel model is able to offer 20-plus mpg in real world driving. Mediocre second-row seat comfort and a lack of a third-row seat option are other Touareg shortcomings, especially since the latter feature has become very desirable in the midsize SUV segment. Unfortunately, there are no plans to offer a third row in the current generation of the Touareg.
Past Volkswagen Touareg Models
The VW Touareg, which debuted for the 2004 model year, is still in its first generation. Used SUV shoppers will want to take note that many upgrades were made to the 2007 model, so previous Touaregs are probably not as desirable.
At its debut, VW’s SUV came with either a 220-hp, 3.2-liter V6 or a 310-hp, 4.2-liter V8. Many owners consider the V6 to be underpowered, so going with the V8, especially now that depreciation has set in, probably isn’t a bad idea. A handful of V10 TDI models were also imported in ’04.
The V10 was dropped for 2005, but the V6 received 20 more hp. Changes for 2006 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 12V source) in the rear cargo area. The V10 engine also made its return to the U.S. market very late into the ’06 calendar year.
