Larry H. Miller Volkswagen Lakewood
8303 West Colfax Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80214
- Sales: (866) 696-3128
- Service: 866-870-8225
- Parts: 866-871-8292
Reviews
2009 Volkswagen Touareg Introduction
The Volkswagen Touareg is a luxury sport-utility with a rare blend of highway composure, refinement, and impressive off-highway capability. Touareg offers a choice of V6 or V8 gas engines and a diesel V6. It offers five-passenger seating.
The 2009 Touareg TDI features a new 3.0-liter V6 for notable advances in mileage and emissions. Replacing the previous twin-turbo 4.9-liter V10, the new turbocharged diesel V6 is legal for sale in all 50 states.
Also new for 2009 is a revised touch-screen navigation system option and a safety package that incorporates adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and a multi-function monitor. And VW is offering all scheduled maintenance free for 3 years or 36,000 miles on 2009 models. Styling changes went into effect last year with the 2008 Touareg lineup, sometimes called Touareg 2.
Like the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz ML, the Touareg eschews a third row of seats for five-passenger space in a compact package.
The new V6 diesel TDI engine is aimed more at economy than the previous, performance-oriented V10 diesel and is emissions-certified in all 50 states; in cities where the air is really bad the TDI's exhaust will be less toxic than the air going in. All Touareg models use a six-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive.
Protected by a rigid structure and full suite of airbags and electronic safety systems, the Touareg cabin is inviting, involving, and efficient. There are more thoughtful touches than you'll notice at first glance, yet the learning curve is quick, the controls not daunting, and comfort remains high even after hours on the road, or off it.
Touareg is a genuinely capable four-wheel-drive vehicle. It takes to trails like you wouldn't believe. Its combination of clearance angles, gearing, fording depth and suspension travel compares to that of the Land Rover LR3, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Hummer H2, and Lexus GX470, none of which offer a 25-mpg diesel.
Back on the highway the Touareg has a Teutonic feel, with smoothness imparted by precision and not softness. It cruises effortlessly regardless of road condition, and belies its heft on winding roads. A sports car it isn't, but you could make a dynamic argument for an inclement weather Grand Touring vehicle.
If you like the Volkswagen Touareg but need a third row of seats at the expanse of some off-road capability, check out the Audi Q7; it uses a stretched version of the same basic structure.
