First Drives, Green Reviews, Volkswagen

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI

May 4, 2009

And while it was more of a quibble than a complaint, the Canadian version has retained a safety system developed for the stick-shift-heavy European market: you must depress the brake pedal before the engine will start. I can understand a shift interlock, which prevents putting the vehicle into Drive from Park without the brake, and owners will no doubt quickly become accustomed to the system, but it got very tiresome turning the key without result, and then remembering that I needed my foot involved, as well.

2009 Volkswagen Touareg TDI. Click image to enlarge

I do like that it starts with a key – a pushbutton ignition is found only on the Execline – as I’ve never felt it much of a hardship to twist the ignition, especially versus wondering if you really have the key in your pocket as you drive away, or if you left it in the house when you ran back inside for that last item. I also like several other things about the Touareg’s interior: big, chunky dials for the climate control temperature, at just the right spot so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road to grab them; exceptional fit-and-finish; the gorgeous two-tone black and saddle brown of the Highline I drove in the afternoon; big, power-folding mirrors; clean, uncluttered and attractive instrument cluster; very comfortable seats; and a well-executed design throughout.

If there is going to be much of an issue with the diesel Touareg, it’s probably going to be in the price. Volkswagen says it’s the “most affordable clean diesel SUV in Canada,” but that’s relative. It is less than the diesel versions of the Audi Q7 ($57,700), Mercedes-Benz ML320 ($58,900) and GL320 ($69,000) and BMW X5 xDrive35d ($62,200), but that doesn’t mean it’s inexpensive, especially since its list of features would probably mean that buyers would more likely compare the $57,975 Comfortline to those other models.

The two sister brands (Volkswagen and Audi) have done their homework, though, so that buyers must make sacrifices: the Touareg Comfortline includes park sensors, backup camera, Homelink and sunroof (optional on base Q7), plus bi-xenon headlamps (unavailable on the base Q7), and navigation can only be added to the upper-line Q7 Premium, while it’s optional on all Touareg trim lines. Even so, when you’re up around the $60,000 mark, I’m guessing that many buyers would be inclined to take the more prestigious Audi nameplate over the more everyday Volkswagen badge, even in spite of those missing items.

Still, I don’t think Volkswagen is ever counting on Touareg being a huge percentage of overall sales. And while Canadian diesel owners are a relatively lonely lot, especially when compared to European markets, they tend to be fiercely loyal to their fuel, to the point that a $4,000 premium that scares off more conservative buyers may simply be considered the price of membership. I’m guessing that unless the economy takes an earth-shattering dive, those initial 200 diesel Touaregs should find their way into new driveways fairly quickly. This is a truly fine engine that certainly deserves to be successful.

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