Weekly Top 3: San Francisco And Back In A 2009 VW Touareg 2 TDI
Okay, so I didn't have a chance to do that. But I did get to know the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 TDI pretty well when I drove one to the Bay Area and back last weekend. "TDI" is VW-speak for "turbodiesel," and the '09 Touareg 2's got a great one. It's the latest lesson the Germans have given us anti-diesel Americans on why diesel's dope.
But the diesel thing isn't the only reason why I think the Touareg 2 TDI is almost the perfect SUV. In point of fact, it's just one of three.
3. It's got driver's-car steering. Yep. I was shocked too. I kept waiting for the Touareg 2 to fall a step or three behind my steering inputs, as almost every SUV on the market is wont to do, but the big VW's steering remained responsive and accurate at all speeds. Engineers love to build significant "yaw delay" (the delay between steering input and steering response) into SUVs, presumably because they don't want cell-phone-yakking soccer parents accidentally jerking the wheel at speed and somersaulting themselves into a ditch. Not so VW's engineers with the Touareg 2. They gave this thing steering that any driving enthusiast would appreciate, and that's a big reason why I consistently looked forward to driving it.
2. It's a smooth ride short of all-around excellence.
The current iteration of VW's flagship SUV may technically be called the Touareg 2
, but don't be fooled -- it's basically a refreshed version of the original Touareg that debuted back in 2004. Yet this 'ute really isn't showing its age at all, even six production years in. The only significant weakness here is ride quality -- the Touareg 2 rudely transmits all manner of bumps and ruts to its occupants. It rides like it has some kind of special off-road suspension, and I suppose it does (see lead picture), but I'm sure most buyers would rather have more compliance. Otherwise, though, this VW is remarkably close to SUV perfection: comfortable, capable, confident at high speeds, roomy, luxurious, quiet, sharp steering (see 3), smooth power and superb range (see 1)...the list goes on. I hardly ever say this about SUVs, but after my weekend with the Touareg 2 TDI, I actually want one.
1. The TDI is awesome. VW's new 50-state-legal 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 is rated at 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, which is on par with the V6-powered Mazda 6 family sedan -- except the Touareg 2 TDI is a 5,300-pound SUV that can tow 7,700 pounds. Acceleration is effortless (407 pound-feet of torque from 1,750 rpm will do that for you), and range from the roughly 26-gallon fuel tank is spectacular, yielding two near-600-mile tanks on my watch. What's more, this engine is so refined that none of my uninitiated passengers guessed it was a diesel. SUVs and turbodiesels were made for each other, and the TDI is one of the very best of its breed.
With a starting price in the low $40s, will the Touareg 2 TDI be the vehicle that finally opens Amerca's eyes to the virtues of diesel? Here's hoping so.
Josh Sadlier, Associate Editor
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- Josh Sadlier June 19, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Volkswagen, Weekly Top 3
IMO it seems that there are few vehicles that could not be improved by swapping-in a VW TDi engine. What kind of transmission did the test vehicle have?
A friend of mine bought a Touareg when they first came out (2004), and actually had to return it to the dealer and buy a different car. It turns out that the leather treatment that they used for the seats in the Touareg was so noxious that she couldn't stand to be in the car for very long. The dealer said that it was a factory treatment and that all of the Touaregs smelled like that. She ended up getting a Range Rover.
"Otherwise, though, this VW is remarkably close to SUV perfection: comfortable, capable, confident at high speeds, roomy, luxurious, quiet, sharp steering (see 3), smooth power and superb range (see 1)...the list goes on" - less the specifics, I've come to the same conclusion over the last year or so. This is one heck of a nice execution of the SUV - near perfect. I am a long time fan of diesels too, I would love this SUV with the TDI.
We had an early Touareg 4.2 in our family for a while - what a beautiful (and thirsty) beast. When the lease was ending the owner's situation had changed and they needed something different. They were very upset to have to let it go.