A high front-approach angle allows the Touareg TDI to take on serious off-road obstacles where other SUVs would not dare.
As more efficient cars take center stage these days, consumer demand for large, gas-guzzling SUVs has waned. But it hasn't disappeared; larger families still need these big people movers to get through the daily grind. For those looking for a combination of fuel-pump frugality and big hauling capacity, the diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg TDI is an attractive choice. While it is a bit small inside, the Touareg has lots of upscale amenities and is quite fuel efficient.
Model Lineup
Maintaining the same basic 5-door midsize SUV shape from the updated 2008 Touareg 2, the 2009 Touareg V6 TDI slots into the lineup directly parallel to its gasoline-powered V6 counterpart. Being a luxury SUV, standard equipment is plentiful and includes features like leather seats, a 10-speaker sound system with multifunctional display, a power rear liftgate, a power driver's seat and a power sunroof.
Watch Video: 2009 Volkswagen Touareg
If the standard amenities won't suffice, Volkswagen offers three option packages: the Lux package includes several of the V8 FSI's standard features, such as cricket leather seating, bi-xenon headlights, walnut wood trim and dual power front seats; the Technology package adds navigation, an upgraded sound system and a rearview camera; the Technology Plus package adds keyless entry/ignition and the top-line Dynaudio 640-watt sound system.
For those who intend to explore the Touareg's notable off-road credentials, or just fantasize about doing so, there is still the optional 4-corner air suspension package (until 2010), which can adjust ride height to a maximum of 11.8 inches.
Reviews
Under the Hood
The new-generation V6 TDI ushers in an era of practicality, replacing the not so economically viable 4.9-liter V10 diesel unit. The turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 Clean Diesel offers up a modest 221 horsepower but a whopping 407 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the workhorse Ford F-150 produces 390 lb-ft of torque from its largest V8. The standard 6-speed automatic transmission and 4X Motion 4-wheel-drive system with adaptive torque distribution ensure that every last bit of power will make it to the ground, regardless of the terrain.
The Touareg TDI gets an EPA rated 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway, allowing a highway range of more than 600 miles with the 26.4-gallon fuel tank. Actual testing suggests these numbers may be conservative for the highly efficient clean-diesel engine.
"Clean diesel" isn't just a marketing slogan. The new Touareg TDI qualifies as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) — a title to which very few SUVs can lay claim (a ULEV is 50 percent cleaner than the average new model year vehicle). Like many modern diesel systems, Volkswagen's TDI technology uses a fluid called AdBlue, a synthetically produced aqueous solution of urea that is continuously sprayed into a special catalytic converter to dramatically reduce the vehicle's emissions. A 4.5-gallon AdBlue tank is neatly tucked under the spare tire, and is refilled by the dealer about every 10,000 miles.
Finally, to reduce noise and vibration generally associated with old diesels, Volkswagen has added selective ribbing on the engine block. While a tinge louder than its gasoline counterpart, most people won't hear the difference.
