The base Touareg’s 16/23 mpg city/highway rating is in the middle of the class. If you’re considering the Touareg Hybrid, it’s also worth it to look at the RX 450h hybrid. Its 32/28 fuel economy rating is the best in its class, and the RX starts at about $8,000 less than the Touareg Hybrid.
Details: VW Touareg
As part of its redesign, the Touareg has lost its permanent four-wheel drive system. The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg comes in three trims: the base VR6 FSI, the diesel-powered TDI, and the all-new Hybrid. If you prefer the old Touareg, don’t despair.
The Touareg's powerful base engine, standard high-tech features and comfortable ride endeared it to me.
Performance
I can't say enough about the V-6 engine powering the base Touareg. There's a turbocharged diesel TDI model — somewhat more expensive, at $47,950 — and a Touareg Hybrid, which is much more expensive at $60,565, though that price includes a host of options. I tested the gas Touareg and the hybrid, and there's no question I'd choose the standard V-6, no matter the size of my bank account.
Rest assured, no Lexus RX, Lincoln MKX, Acura MDX or Mercedes ML350 driver will be able to scoff at a new Touareg owner at a cocktail party. The Touareg is even better-controlled. It comes with 18-inch wheels, while the hybrid has 19-inch wheels standard. All-wheel drive is also standard, and during a severe snowstorm the Touareg performed exceptionally well. Thankfully, VW has figured out most car buyers spend their time on road, not off.
Touareg Hybrid
The Touareg Hybrid uses a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 — borrowed from the Audi S4 — teamed with an electric motor and the same eight-speed transmission as the regular Touareg. It's rated 20/24 mpg city/highway and 21 mpg combined.
During other times, I drove the hybrid like I would any other car — meaning not at peak efficiency. Most important is the standard navigation system. Acura's $42,580 MDX charges an additional $3,675 for a navigation package. However, Acura makes a moonroof and leather seating standard. Adding those options to the Touareg costs $3,895, as part of a Lux option package. The navigation screen in the base model — VW uses a different nav system for the hybrid and uplevel trims — is crisp and clear, with easy-to-read traffic patterns. The Touareg's iPod integration, also standard, isn't perfect. This single-screen approach works better, though, switching among music, navigation, car and phone information with a single set of buttons on the steering wheel. The Touareg's center screen is very crisp and clear, and the audio section there did display artist names from my iPod.
The navigation system on the hybrid model I tested was slightly different; the screen between the gauges only had options to display audio, phone and car information, not navigation cues.
If I were shopping for the Touareg, I'd probably end up with a base model just like my tester, with its $44,450 price tag and no options.
The hybrid comes loaded with those options for its $60,565 price tag. Safety
The 2011 Touareg earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The federal government has not crash-tested the Touareg.
Touareg in the Market
It's often hard to judge how a vehicle like the Touareg will be received. I just wonder if buyers will be savvy enough to give the Touareg a fair shake given its perceived high price.