Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI (2012) long-term test review
By the CAR road test teamLong Term Tests
CAR's Georg Kacher and his VW Touareg
On a recent trip to Germany to shoot an upcoming feature in CAR Magazine, I discovered that our man-mountain European ed, Georg Kacher, also has a Touareg, but hadn’t bothered to tell anyone. Truth is, he’s an incredible news hound and the world’s worst photographer, so often keeps his wheels secret in case we ask him to deliver some pictures.
Anyway, while I opted for the pokier of the two 3.0 TDI diesels, Georg, who lives life on the limiter-pounding Germany’s autobahns, went for the V8 TDI instead. Mine pumps out 245bhp and a healthy 405lb ft of torque; his develops 335bhp and an half-shaft torturing 590lb ft.
Little wonder it gets to 62mph in 5.8sec, nearly 2sec quicker than our V6. I was impressed by the V8’s extra refinement too, but looking at the specs when I got back to the UK, I remembered why I gave it a miss: it’s £15,285 more expensive and a 25% juicier to run, according to Volkswagen's official figures.
Sampling Georg’s car reinforced a couple of thoughts, though. First, that the posher all-electric seats on Georg’s car (and available as an option on the V6) are probably worth the expense for the extra lumbar support alone. And second, that the air springs are a must-have. But whatever the spec, we’re both in agreement that the Touareg is a real unsung hero among big SUVs.
By Chris Chilton
CAR's Georg Kacher and his VW Touareg
On a recent trip to Germany to shoot an upcoming feature in CAR Magazine, I discovered that our man-mountain European ed, Georg Kacher, also has a Touareg, but hadn’t bothered to tell anyone. Truth is, he’s an incredible news hound and the world’s worst photographer, so often keeps his wheels secret in case we ask him to deliver some pictures.
Anyway, while I opted for the pokier of the two 3.0 TDI diesels, Georg, who lives life on the limiter-pounding Germany’s autobahns, went for the V8 TDI instead. Mine pumps out 245bhp and a healthy 405lb ft of torque; his develops 335bhp and an half-shaft torturing 590lb ft.
Little wonder it gets to 62mph in 5.8sec, nearly 2sec quicker than our V6. I was impressed by the V8’s extra refinement too, but looking at the specs when I got back to the UK, I remembered why I gave it a miss: it’s £15,285 more expensive and a 25% juicier to run, according to Volkswagen's official figures.
Sampling Georg’s car reinforced a couple of thoughts, though. First, that the posher all-electric seats on Georg’s car (and available as an option on the V6) are probably worth the expense for the extra lumbar support alone. And second, that the air springs are a must-have. But whatever the spec, we’re both in agreement that the Touareg is a real unsung hero among big SUVs.
By Chris Chilton
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Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI
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