3rd place : Volkswagen Touareg
There are those who like Volkswagen and those who don't. But our testers (not all big fans of the German brand) unanimously admitted that the Touareg was probably the test model that offered the best driving dynamics.
Truth be told, this fairly-sized SUV possesses all the road manners that helped VW find a sweet spot in the heart of driving enthusiasts. The steering is precise, accelerations are never hesitant and handling is pretty well-suited for this type of vehicle. The suspension is firm but offers a nice balance of sporty driving and enhanced passenger comfort. In short, the road behavior makes the Touareg the choice of inspired driving fans.
Its styling, however, does not receive everyone's seal of approval. The same can be said of the complex interior controls that require a long learning period. Even the seats were criticized for not being supportive enough and comfortable in all circumstances.
In terms of off-road performance, the Touareg was less than impressive. In soft sand, it had to try a second time before completing the challenge. The ground clearance is too short and the overwhelming hastiness of the electronic stability program (even when you think it's turned off) prevents the driver from keeping total control of the vehicle in hazardous trails.
All in all, this relative lack of off-road capability was not enough to sway our judges, who preferred the road dynamics of the Touareg over its adventurous nature.
"It lacks power and its suspension is sometimes a bit too stiff, but what a great vehicle on the road! In this regard, there's none better." - Pascal Bastien
There are those who like Volkswagen and those who don't. But our testers (not all big fans of the German brand) unanimously admitted that the Touareg was probably the test model that offered the best driving dynamics.
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Truth be told, this fairly-sized SUV possesses all the road manners that helped VW find a sweet spot in the heart of driving enthusiasts. The steering is precise, accelerations are never hesitant and handling is pretty well-suited for this type of vehicle. The suspension is firm but offers a nice balance of sporty driving and enhanced passenger comfort. In short, the road behavior makes the Touareg the choice of inspired driving fans.
Its styling, however, does not receive everyone's seal of approval. The same can be said of the complex interior controls that require a long learning period. Even the seats were criticized for not being supportive enough and comfortable in all circumstances.
In terms of off-road performance, the Touareg was less than impressive. In soft sand, it had to try a second time before completing the challenge. The ground clearance is too short and the overwhelming hastiness of the electronic stability program (even when you think it's turned off) prevents the driver from keeping total control of the vehicle in hazardous trails.
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All in all, this relative lack of off-road capability was not enough to sway our judges, who preferred the road dynamics of the Touareg over its adventurous nature.
"It lacks power and its suspension is sometimes a bit too stiff, but what a great vehicle on the road! In this regard, there's none better." - Pascal Bastien
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