Porsche underpinnings, exemplary quality. We drive the Touareg, VW’s first SUV.

Not content with attacking the super luxury saloon segment with the Phaeton, VW has taken a crack at the premium SUV class as well with its Touareg. The SUV, now officially available through a sole dealer, Kashyap motors in Delhi, was jointly developed with the Porsche Cayenne. However, the VW has its own distinctive look. In fact, the Touareg is better-looking than the Cayenne, and that in itself, is a good starting point.
Touaregs come sans a spare tyre (run-flats are now in vogue), but India-bound Touaregs will come with the spare wheel-mounted option on the tail gate.
Fit and finish of the interiors is exemplary, something we have come to expect of the brand. The dashboard layout is neat and the large rotary controls for the air-con look good. The downside, though, is fiddly buttons for the stereo and ventilation modes. The driver’s seat offers high levels of comfort, whilst the seating position is quite low and car-like. All the seats are superbly comfortable, but legroom in the middle row is tight and there’s no third row of seats, so passenger space is a bit of a premium for a near half-a-crore SUV. On the brighter side, equipment levels are very high. There’s a four-page options list to choose from and it includes all kinds of gizmos, from air suspension (worth the extra Rs. 2.8 lakh) to a tyre pressure control system.

There are several options available, from the monstrous 313bhp 5-litre V10 turbo-diesel, a 3.2-litre V6 petrol to the 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel, the latter being the most practical option for India, and the one I drove. This V6 diesel is a pretty high-tech engine with variable-vane turbocharging and four valves per cylinder, but what’s interesting is that it rejects VW’s acclaimed pump duse form of injection and uses a common-rail system with piezo injectors for fine and precise fuel delivery.
It’s an extremely refined engine and though there’s a distinct hum, you don’t get the characteristic diesel clatter. The engine isn’t as responsive as the diesel BMW X5, but for an automatic SUV shifting about 2300kg, it’s very quick. There’s never a shortage of grunt and in the short drive I had, over a broken bund somewhere in the fields of Uttar Pradesh, the Touareg simply flew. The SUV’s six speed auto ‘box shifts cleanly, but there tends to be a pause after shifting.
The steering is light and lacks feel at all speeds. And when driven in anger on bad surfaces, it’s not a patch on the X5. India-bound Touaregs come with 255/55 R18 tyres, which give good grip but the ride is quite unsettled on bad surfaces.
It crashes through potholes and you can feel a shudder through the seats, which sets of the odd rattle from the trim. Taller-profiled 17-inchers, with better sidewall cushioning, would have been a more practical.
The Touareg is equipped to conquer the Thar desert, but few will really test the SUV’s cross-country skills. It’s pretty good as an everyday car but won’t offer the same comfort as a comparably-priced luxury saloon. Buy this one for image and a feeling of superiority such SUVs bring. And priced at Rs 45 lakh, it’s not bad for the big ego trip that it gives.

FACTFILE
Price Rs 45 lakh (plus options)
Top speed 201kph(claimed)
Power 224bhp@4000rpm
Torque 50.98kgm@1750rpm

Length 4754mm
Width 1928mm
Height 1726mm
W’base 2855mm
Weight 2312kg
Fuel tank 100 litres

Engine 6 cyls in vee, 2967cc, TDi
Installation Front, longitudinal
Compression ratio 17:1
Specific output 67.75bhp/litre Bore/stroke 83/91.4mm
Gearbox type 6-speed, automatic

Front suspension Independent double wishbone with steel springs and anti-roll bar
Rear suspension Independent double wishbone with steel springs and anti-roll bar
Front brakes Ventilated 330mm discs
Rear brakes Solid 330mm discs
Wheel 7.5J x 18
Tyre 255/55 R18


First Verdict
Capable, well-equipped and it comes with image-enhancing appeal.