Volkswagen Touareg

The Touareg's 2011 redesign made it much better, an agile, solid, well-finished SUV with comfortable seats and a plush interior. The V6 turbodiesel, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, pulls strongly and is relatively refined. Some low-speed transmission shifts could be smoother. The low-speed ride is overly firm. Access is easy and towing capacity is generous. The V8 engine has been dropped in favor of a hybrid model, and the base 3.6-liter engine is carried over. The redesigned SUV weighs less than the original Touareg but has lost its low-range, off-road gearing. Changes for 2016 included vented seats for the V6 Lux versions, a power-adjustable steering column, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist for the V6 Executive model. The Hybrid and TDI versions were discontinued. The Touareg was dropped after the 2017 model year.

The Touareg is a luxury SUV co-developed with the Porsche Cayenne. Unlike most car-derived SUVs the first-generation Touareg was an impressive off-roader. On regular roads the ride is compliant, though a bit jiggly at low speeds. The interior is very quiet. Handling is responsive, with sharp steering. The cargo area is slightly smaller than the Passat wagon's and many controls are overly complicated. The 3.2-liter V6 gulps premium fuel and struggles to move the Touareg's 5,200-pounds, so acceleration feels lethargic. For 2005, the V6 gained 20 more horsepower, and a 3.6-liter unit replaced it in 2007.