Test Drive: 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6

2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6. Click image to enlarge

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Review and photos by Haney Louka

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2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2

Winnipeg, Manitoba – When it comes to automotive performance, more power is always better, right? Well, not so much these days.

As fuel prices continue their upward spiral and the price of a barrel of crude oil sits comfortably above the US$100 mark, our perspective has no option but to change. And as the sport-utility vehicle has become the poster child for conspicuous consumption, we’re starting to find that choosing one with sufficient power is a wise choice over, say, one that can blow away its competition from a stop light.

VW’s second-generation Touareg SUV, ambitiously named “Touareg 2,” is a case in point. It’s available with two engines: a 280-hp V6 or a 350-hp V8. Our collective right brains would quickly gravitate toward the 350-horse version, but our more sensible left brain knows that we would pay for that decision at the pumps to the tune of 2.2 litres for every 100 km driven in the city, according to official published fuel consumption figures.

2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6. Click image to enlarge

But when equipped with the V6 as my tester was, one finds that 280 horsepower and a broad torque curve that plateaus at 265 lb-ft are quite sufficient for this 2,332-kg people mover. Towing capacity is not affected, either, with both models capable of pulling a substantial 3,500 kg.

Packing the Touareg full of people and taking a short highway excursion showed that passing power at highway speeds is not an issue. Only if I were to make use of most of that substantial towing capacity would I seriously consider the V8. My only gripe on the highway was when trying to adjust the cruise control: a simple tap of the accelerate button made the set speed jump up by 10 km/h; wanting to go up by only two or three clicks required a press-and-hold approach. A little counter-intuitive, but simple enough after a few unexpected speed bursts.

While the six is refined, smooth, and powerful enough to impersonate a V8, its fuel consumption also does a good job of thinking it’s an eight, consuming more than 18 L/100 km during my week with it. The official consumption numbers are 15 and 10.8 L/100 km for city and highway driving respectively, but I drove the Touareg during a particularly cold week and primarily in the city. Still, it’s no less painful when filling the tank with Premium fuel which, by the way, is recommended in the Touareg. Were there eight combustion chambers under the hood, the gas pain would have been even worse.

2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6. Click image to enlarge

The word on the street is that there’s a V6 TDI diesel in the works-an engine option that may well be worth waiting for.

A first glance at the new VW Touareg reveals what appears to be a moderately restyled version of VW’s first foray into the crossover SUV segment. VW is quick to point out though, that the revised truck contains 2,300 new parts. Where they’re all hiding I’m not sure, but we nonetheless have a tastefully updated version of what was already a distinctive and classy entry in the luxury SUV market.

The new Touareg (or Touareg 2 as VW is calling it) went on sale last June, but it has already experienced a drop in retail price like most new vehicles for sale in Canada. The starting price is now $44,975, or $5,000 cheaper than when it hit the market.

2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6. Click image to enlarge

Included in that price are the V6 (with the same output as last year, but up 40 horses from the year before), six-speed automatic transmission, and “4Motion” permanent all-wheel drive. Under normal conditions power is distributed 50/50 front-to-rear. That split can go entirely to the front or rear axle as required by driving conditions, making this a very usable all-wheel-drive system. There are too many systems out there that operate in front-drive most of the time and transmit power rearward only after slippage has occurred. Also standard is a low-range transfer case and locking differential.

That price-tag also includes heated front seats, ten-speaker audio, 17-inch wheels, leatherette seat upholstery, and stability control with rollover protection. Our tester also had the $2,400 sport package (silver roof rails and 19-inch wheels) and the – gulp – $8,100 Highline package which includes, among other goodies, swiveling bi-xenon headlights; dual-zone climate control; park assist; 11-speaker, 300-watt audio; rain-sensing wipers; walnut trim; 115-V power outlet; and “Cricket” leather seat trim.

Including a Destination charge, my tester carried a price-tag of $57,025. Add options like air suspension and navigation and that number looks more like $66K.

2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V6. Click image to enlarge

Volkswagen has a well-earned reputation for producing some of the best interiors in the biz, and this one’s restrained use of brushed metallic accents and real wood trim offsets the simple gauge cluster and otherwise stark Teutonic design.

Of note is how easy the large buttons and knobs are to operate with gloves on without having the entire dash looking like it was designed for the visually impaired. And the modest (for this crowd) cargo area is as nicely finished as the passenger cabin. Kudos.

There are a couple of details I wish had been worked out a little better, though, like the four-spoke steering wheel that pushes the driver’s hands higher than normal and leaves the turn signal and wiper stalks too low for easy access. Or the overhead console display that is too far back for front-seat passengers to make use of it.

But as far as how well the Vee-Dub goes about its business in the day-to-day grind, it’s hard to fault. Effective climate control and seat heaters and a wonderful sounding audio system made the Touareg a pleasure to get into and drive.