Second HandSense: Volkswagen TouaregIt took some time for Volkswagen to catch up with the demand for four-wheel-drives aimed at suburban drivers. However, when it did launch its Touareg, it did so with some aplomb, developing the car jointly with Porsche.
This leads one back to the central question about driving something like this. Who needs a car that weighs 2.7 tonnes and has very impressive off-road capabilities, when the car is destined to spend most of its life on even and well-maintained roads?
Well, quite a few people apparently. For the Touareg, named after a nomadic Saharan tribe, fits the bill for lots of drivers on the school run who consider it safer than an ordinary car or MPV.
The Porsche involvement shines through when it comes to driveability, off-roading and finish. When the car was originally reviewed here, the question was asked about who would want to spend over €60,000 on a Volkswagen, and the review suggested that the quality just might merit the expenditure.
The Touareg feels like a quality vehicle. It rises way above the standard for VW volume cars and has lots of comfort, stylish extras and great finish. Driving it is a solid experience and there is plenty of reassurance in terms of ride and handling.
There is a choice of engines but the petrol options start with a 3.2-litre, so you can probably forget that straight away.
The best option is the 2.5-litre diesel, which is reasonably economical and still has plenty of power and flexibility.
It is a good road car, which many four-wheel-drives are not. It has excellent cruising qualities but when you take it off-road you will discover it is no slouch. It will take the rough with the smooth, with good ground clearance and great traction.
The design is a little squat and square, but it works. One problem, however, is rear visibility which can be a big problem. It is as well that the car is fitted with parking sensors as standard. The boot is good and interior space generally is too, but if you opt for leather seats then some space will disappear in accommodating them.
The Touareg is as reliable as one would expect a VW to be these days, and recalls have affected only small numbers of cars. The EuroNCAP crash test rating is a five-star one, with the body shell being described as "immensely strong" with a stable passenger cell for all occupants.
The car does not come cheap. A 2005 model with the 2.5-litre TDi engine and 69,000km is on offer for €48,500. It has leather seats, dual climate control, traction control, multiple airbags, CD player and lots of other extras. A 3-litre diesel model of the same vintage costs about €36,000 with slightly higher mileage.
FOR:Comfort, performance, space, off-road ability
AGAINST: Engine sizes. Weight, limited rear view