Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £43,735
Tax Band: J
Insurance Group: 40
MPG: 39.2
CO2: 189
0-62 Mph: 7.6 secs
BHP: 242 BHP
Range: 733 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4.25/5
This large four-wheel drive can seat five in comfort and has a practical amount of space. It’s a great drive as well and the suspension setup is just right between comfort and handling. If you are in the market for a 4x4 that has great looks, a refined cabin, a strong engine and reasonable running costs then the Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr could be the car for you.

PROS:  The Touareg is a competent all-rounder with a powerful and refined engine. It has smart looks and a comfortable cabin with plenty of space for five.

CONS:  For the money the interior doesn’t feel as special as it should. Depreciation is likely to be quite high.

Behind the Wheel

On the road, this Volkswagen Touareg’s ride is suitably cosseting with body roll kept in check through corners. The 8 speed gearbox is smooth most of the time and the steering is accurate and feels nicely weighted too. There’s very little in the way of wind noise and the engine is nice and quiet at cruising speeds, which makes for refined motorway travel. There is a little tyre rumble over rougher surfaces, but overall the Touareg is an enjoyable car to drive. Its off-road abilities are best described as adequate and if off-roading is an important requirement, then the Escape model would a good choice because it comes with 4MOTION, Volkswagen’s advanced four-wheel-drive as well as greater under-body protection.

The driver’s seat and the steering can be adjusted for so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The dashboard is laid out intuitively with straight forward instruments and is made from quality materials, although many of the fixtures are shared with cheaper models from the brand, which makes the cabin feel less special. All round visibility is good thanks to the high driving position.

The 3.0 litre V6 cylinder turbo diesel engine produces maximum figures of 242 bhp at 4000 rpm and 405 lb-ft at 2000 rpm, which is plenty to make this Touareg feel adequately muscular. A 0-62 mph time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph are respectable figures and show that for its size, this Touareg is no slouch.

Looks & Equipment

The Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr is a well-proportioned 4x4 with handsome lines and finely sculpted bodywork. Inside, you get climate control, electric windows front and rear, electric door mirrors, rear parking sensors, leather seats, cruise control, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, Satnav and a CD player as standard. It also comes with alloy wheels, front fog lights, remote central locking and immobiliser and alarm.

Among the available options is metallic paint at £700.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

This Volkswagen Touareg comes with many safety features including seven airbags, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Isofix child seat mountings and stability control.

Volkswagens have above average reliability and this car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty.

There is enough space in the cabin for five adults to travel comfortably and boot space is generous. With the rear seats in use there is 580 litres of capacity and with them folded down (which doesn’t quite create a completely flat surface) it opens up a very handy 1642 litres of load space. They also slide backwards and forwards to offer differing load spaces.

Value for Money

The Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr represents good value at £41,770 and it comes with a good level of kit. It has a spacious cabin and although it’s let down slightly by some cheap fixtures, it is a comfortable place to be. It’s a decent ride and has the benefit of four-wheel-drive for cross-country motoring or coping with winter weather. It’s also reasonably frugal and so buyers will enjoy relatively low running costs. A combined cycle of 39.2 mpg is a respectable figure in this sector alhtough a CO2 emissions figure of 189 g/km is quite high.

Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr Car Review - by 
All Volkswagen Touareg Reviews
Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI (204ps) 5dr - March 2012
The Touareg is an attractive 4x4 that has plenty of equipment included as standard, and it also has a good level of safety equipment. The car does drive very well and the 3.0 litre engine has plen...
Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr - March 2012
This large four-wheel drive can seat five in comfort and has a practical amount of space. It’s a great drive as well and the suspension setup is just right between comfort and handling. If you are ...
Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr - March 2012
If you are in the market for a 4x4 that has great looks, a plush cabin, a muscular engine and competitive running costs then the Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr will be a good choice. Th...
Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 4.2 V8 TDI 5dr - February 2012
Volkswagem introduced the four wheel drive Touareg in 2002. Now Volkswagen has decided to revamp and re-release the 4x4. Despite looking very similar to the original this new Touareg is significant...
Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid 3.0 V6 TSI 5dr - February 2012
The sporty 4x4 market is packed full of some big names and impressive models. The BMW X5, and the Porsche Cayenne are likely to provide stiff competition and since Volkswagen just does not have a h...
Comments
Large 4x4 Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Large 4x4 cars that you can then compare to the Volkswagen Touareg. Here are some popular Volkswagen Touareg alternatives:

NEW RELEASE
Jeep Avenger revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
Ferrari Purosangue revealed
NEW RELEASE
Ford Mustang revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
New BMW M2 has been revealed
NEW RELEASE
Electric SUV coming soon
NEW RELEASE
Popular hatchback gets an update