Volkswagen Touareg SE 3.0 V6 TDI (204ps) 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Any large 4x4 like the Touareg has to strike a good balance if it is to be successful, and although the suspension is a little hard, it does keep the body movement under control. The steering is swift to respond to the turn of the wheel, and on the whole the Touareg performs well on the road with this engine. The driving position is good with an adjustable steering wheel and seat for comfort, while the high stance of the car means that forward visibility and rear visibility are both very good.

Engine performance from this entry level model is still very good, with the 3.0 litre diesel unit able to deliver acceleration from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds. The top speed of 126mph is ample for motorway driving, and the cabin is generally quiet and refined although there is a little road noise kicked up from the tyres at speed.

There is no disguising the fact that the Touareg is a big car, but with the bold grille and headlight combination it is still an attractive front end. The black roof bars are features that have been lifted from the Land Rover Discovery among other cars, and the huge tail light clusters do make for an interesting back end, with narrow lights on the bottom of the bumper too. Inside the cabin is classy and attractive, with a dashboard that is easy to read and the centre console has chunky controls that are easy to use.

The inclusion of satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity is very good, and the large alloy wheels do help the look of the car. Cruise control and climate control make this car a very comfortable and civilized car to drive on long journeys, while the heated seats and power folding mirrors really are very good features too.

There is no doubt that the Touareg is a very practical vehicle and has plenty of space in the front and the back of the car, with four people comfortably accommodated. The middle seat in the rear does have restricted space because of the large transmission tunnel down the middle of the car. The boot is cavernous and the load space can be increased further by folding the rear seats forward, and the wide door gives good access to the boot space too. Reliability is one of the main attractions for many people who are considering buying a Volkswagen, and the Touareg has a good reputation in this regard.

The safety equipment included with the Touareg is very good too, with seven airbags to look after occupants in an accident. Plenty of driver aids help to keep the car stable and under control, and these features have helped the car to achieve five stars in the Euro NCAP safety test.

With a list price of £40,155, the Touareg isn’t a cheap car to buy, but when it is compared with the prices of some rivals it is fairly competitive.

The running costs for the Touareg aren’t too bad for such a big car, with the 3.0 litre diesel engine able to deliver an average 40.4mpg. The insurance group is quite high meaning that premiums will be quite expensive, but the practicality and desirability won’t help the Touareg to avoid suffering from depreciation. The car comes with a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty, and a one year policy for roadside breakdown assistance.