There isn't much that Volkswagen overlooked or under-designed after sharpening their pencils, or should I say
booting-up their CAD software and blueprinting the Touareg. This is an amazing vehicle, especially when the V10 TDI is tucked beneath its hood. The Touareg's off-road performance ability is outstanding, its level of safety and driver aids as comprehensive as I have ever seen, and its comfort and quality levels unsurpassed in an SUV, less the $100,000+ Range Rover. Creature comforts are nearly limitless and the aesthetic pleasures just as impressive. Road and wind noise once underway is extremely well muted, as is the big diesel churning under the hood. And if not, cranking the tunes through the magnificent sounding premium audio system will drown out any undesirable auditory intrusion that the V10 may generate.
The Touareg TDI has everything I could ever want in an SUV, except price. Yes, the adage "you get what you pay for" holds true, and for a Touareg you pay the Volkswagen company a heck of a lot in order to get a heck of a lot. A V10 TDI fortified "Knight of the Desert" begins at the princely sum of $85,400 and shoots up to $97,970 when fully loaded. Sure, you pay big bucks over the regular price of a Touareg for the "TDI" nameplate, however, on the sensible side the diesel V10 delivers much better fuel economy than the gasoline fired V8, along with considerably more torque. So from a fuel-expense to power-output ratio, more is less with the diesel - more or less that is. May the wondrous, diesel Knights of the Desert run strong and free.
Specifications (V10-TDI):
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| Yes, the adage "you get what you pay for" holds true, but it's still tough to get over the nearly $100,000 fully-loaded sticker price on a Volkswagen. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The Touareg TDI has everything I could ever want in an SUV, except price. Yes, the adage "you get what you pay for" holds true, and for a Touareg you pay the Volkswagen company a heck of a lot in order to get a heck of a lot. A V10 TDI fortified "Knight of the Desert" begins at the princely sum of $85,400 and shoots up to $97,970 when fully loaded. Sure, you pay big bucks over the regular price of a Touareg for the "TDI" nameplate, however, on the sensible side the diesel V10 delivers much better fuel economy than the gasoline fired V8, along with considerably more torque. So from a fuel-expense to power-output ratio, more is less with the diesel - more or less that is. May the wondrous, diesel Knights of the Desert run strong and free.
Specifications (V10-TDI):
- Price Range (MSRP): $85,400 - $97,970
- Body Type: 4-door SUV
- Layout: front engine, 4WD
- Engine: 310 hp, 553 lb-ft of torque, 4.9-L direct injection turbodiesel
- Transmission: 6-spd auto with manual mode
- Acceleration (0 - 100 km/h): 7.5 seconds
- Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
- Curb Weight: 2,642 kg (5,825 lbs)
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Cargo Volume (max): 2,010 L (71 cu ft)
- Towing Capacity: 3,500 kg (7,700 lbs)
- Ground Clearance (min - max): 162 - 300 mm (6.37 - 11.8 in)
- Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 13.8 / 10.2 L/100 km
- Warranty (mo/km): 48/80,000 comprehensive - 60/100,000 powertrain
- Direct Competitors: Infiniti QX56, Land Rover LR3, Lexus GX 470 / LX 470, Mercedes-Benz G500, Nissan Armada, Range Rover, Volvo XC90 V8
- Web Site: www.vw.ca
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