The Volkswagen Touareg was known for possessing the perfect blend of performance and luxury. Its off-road capabilities showed off its exceptional power while still projecting the German brand’s signature touch of elegance. It was a vehicle that equipped its owners with safety, comfort, and a high-quality ride through any type of terrain and weather condition. At the time of its production, the Touareg was Volkswagen Philippines’ most expensive nameplate in the country mainly because of its technological advancements including a Park Distance Control, Rear Assist, and ABS. It was powered by a 3.0L V6 Common Rail TDI engine complemented by a 4MOTION Permanent AWD system and Air Suspension, making each drive smooth and steady.
Launch
The Volkswagen Touareg was first introduced worldwide in 2002. It made its debut to the local market at the Philippines International Motor Show 2014 (CAMPI 2014) and formally launched the SUV’s base variant. A couple of years after, the Sport Edition arrived in the Philippines which was sold until the nameplate’s discontinuation.
Exterior
The Volkswagen Touareg had a sporty yet elegant look which made it one of the German brand’s most upscale vehicles sold in the Philippines. Its strong, athletic presence was complemented by the signature Volkswagen design philosophy of simplicity and sophistication. Among the most notable revisions made on the final generation of the SUV was the bumpers that instantly gave the Touareg a new look.
The dominant front fascia was elevated by the grille and lower air intakes accentuated in chrome. Its lighting system comes in HID headlamps and fog lamps for both the front and rear. Adding to its sporty design and function is a roof rack and a set of 20-inch alloys with Pirelli P Zero tires.
Interior
Inside, the Touareg kept Volkswagen’s trademark upscale styling and ambiance. The spacious interior came with well-cushioned leather seats paired with hard plastics on the dashboard. Everything was made everything easy to reach in its driver-oriented cockpit with a clean horizontal layout and crisp controls. The intuitive center console and the digital instrument panel not only added to the cabin’s luxe aesthetic, but to the driver’s convenience as well.
Its most distinguished feature was the trunk space. The rear seats could be folded 60/40 which made its initial 580 liters cargo space expandable to 1,642 liters when the rear seats are down.
Technology & Safety Features
The Volkswagen Touareg was equipped with a basic stereo system with a 6 CD slot. It was also capable of connecting MP3 devices through Aux and USB ports. Audio came out of an 8-speaker sound system.
In terms of safety, the German SUV came with technologically advanced features for its time. Among its most remarkable features were the 8-Channel Park Distance Control, Rear Assist rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering, Anti-Lock Brakes, Traction and Stability Control, cruise control, and 9 airbags.
As an added innovative feature, it had knobs on each side of the driving profile selection for the on-road and off-road switch and the adaptive air suspension control.
Platform & Chassis
The 5-seater SUV was compact enough to weave through traffic yet large enough to conquer various terrains. Its Air Suspension system made sure of a smooth ride even on rough roads. In front and at the rear were Independent, Double Wishbone, Air Suspension with Selectable Dampers. Stopping power came from Vented Disc in front and Solid Disc for the rear.
Engine & Drivetrain
The Volkswagen Touareg SE was powered by a 3.0L V6 Common Rail Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine that produced 245 hp and 550 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Its All-Wheel Drive delivered power to all wheels, which gave optimum traction on different surfaces even on hostile weather conditions.