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First Drive: VW Touareg | SA Car Fan

VW Touareg driven in South Africa 2015 and reviewed by experts. Updated cosmetics, new lights, better equipment should offer buyers better value.

First Drive: VW Touareg

Volkswagen Touareg 2015

What is it?

An attempt to modernise the VW Touareg four years after this specific version was launched. Mostly cosmetic, the headlights and grille are slimmer with more style tightening occurring around the rear end. VW describe the new visage as an inverted V shape – can you see it? Interior knobs and dials have a superior haptic interaction with many coated in a coarse aluminium shell, suspension has been reworked and equipment reshuffled and improved to offer stronger value across the range. Currently the Touareg occupies around 4 per cent of the market – a figure VW obviously want to improve in a crowded market with X5, Cayenne and Q5 taking majority share.

What’s it like.

Anti-collision, blind spot warning, active cruise control, lane departure warning: all credible features but regular purveyors of the segment will feel Volkswagen is reacting to trends rather than innovating their own. The V6 TDi is the bulk seller with good reason but the 4.2 V8 is a stonking engine, if not an entirely relevant one. Suspension inputs don’t transform the Touareg from the benign, serene drive it always has been, preferring to be stroked along than roughed hard into corners. Controls are light and desensitised and although there’s plenty of grip from the 4Motion system, standard, ultimately it’s a little soft at high speed.

Volkswagen have tried to drill lots of new tech into a rapidly-ageing interface but if you like simple, logical layouts there’s really much one can complain about. Inside the Tourage is wonderfully spacious and new trim colours enhance the visuals but the Touareg does without third-row seating which some of its rivals have started including. Problem? Not really, those seats spend most of their time folded away.

Should I buy one?

As always the Touareg makes a stronger case in the entry-level models where around R730 000 will land you in a 3.5-litre V6 petrol. The 4.2-litre V8 at R950 000 will have a tougher time winning over the brand snobs. We do like the lockable centre and rear differential in the Escape derivative but can’t understand why it doesn’t come with the air suspension as standard – that adds a crucial 80mm of ground clearance which in our experience is essential.

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About Andrew Leopold

8-speed, air suspension, bluemotion, diesel, drive, headlights, leather, petrol, review, south africa, touareg