It is a sad indictment of the state of the local economy when the model choice for a vehicle like the new Volkswagen Touareg is cut down to two derivatives, and the latest facelifted model only justifies an announcement via news release.
I can remember when the Touareg was a halo model for the Wolfsburg brand locally, and the range consisted of numerous models, including a stomping 6.0 W12 version and a brawny 5.0 V10 TDI derivative. Now, with its latest refreshment, only the 3.0 V6 TDI remains.
This points to the ever-widening chasm in terms of purchase power in the local market, with badge snobbery motivating the haves to ignore this T-SUV in favour of a Porsche, Audi, BMW, Land Rover, or Mercedes-Benz SUV, while the have-nots don’t possess the purchase power to afford a R1.5 million plus Volkswagen.
The sad thing is that the Touareg has always been a brilliant vehicle (both the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7, and even the Lamborghini Urus, owe their existence to the Touareg) but hugely underrated … and nowadays unappreciated as it lacks the aspirational value of German (and other) luxury brands.
WHAT’S NEW?
The third generation Touareg, first revealed in 2018, has now been refreshed with a revamped bumper and front-end design emphasising the width of the upper radiator grille. Particularly striking are the new IQ.Light HD matrix headlights with three LED modules and three L-shaped LEDs for the daytime running lights.
It also has a new illuminated centre horizontal strip extending from both sides of the Volkswagen logo. The rear end’s design is now sharper, incorporating a continuous horizontal LED strip for the new IQ.Light LED taillight clusters with dynamic brake and turn signal functions and a Volkswagen logo illuminated in red.
Our R-Line test model also featured attractive new alloy wheels and a new Volkswagen logo projection via the exterior mirror housings, providing surround lighting at night. The high-quality level of the Touareg interior has also been improved, with softer touch materials used for the centre console trims.
The level of standard equipment in the interior and the standard voice control have been enhanced. There are now 30 colour ambient lighting with adjustable colour settings across three zones, now with footwell and drink holder illumination. USB-C connections with a 45-watt charging capacity (previously 15 watts) now permit significantly faster charging of electronic devices.
In addition, the Touareg comes equipped with several convenience and assistance systems, all standard. These include Travel Assist (assisted driving up to maximum speed), an area view camera (assistance with checking blind spots when parking) and Night Vision (assistance for night drives), which we found particularly useful on busy roads.
ON THE ROAD
The venerable and verified V6 diesel (the Touareg is now the only VW passenger car model besides the Tiguan with diesel power) is a gem. With 190 kW and 600 Nm of torque available between 2,250 and 3,250 rpm, the engine is smooth and powerful, making it perfect for long-distance trips. It is frugal, too, using less than 8.0 l/100 km of diesel in mixed driving conditions.
The eight-speed auto gearbox is not the smoothest in class but does the job to fluently and swiftly propel the Touareg forward, and the 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive system is a proven entity that allows the mid-sized T-SUV to go places where some body-on-frame utilities won’t.
LAST WORD
With its updated digital cockpit technology and convenience systems, pleasant and high-quality interior, and good ride characteristics, the Touareg is the most comfortable cruiser and a consummate all-rounder in the latest guise.
Compared to its flashier rivals, it is the sensible choice – and that will probably be its downfall because in this segment, the monied don’t do sensible, and the other can’t afford it and therefore buys down.
It’s a pity, really, as the Touareg deserves so much better. For those in the million Rand plus premium SUV space who are not blinded by badges, purchasing a Touareg may be the answer.
Report by FERDI DE VOS | Images © VOLKSWAGEN AG
