I found a used Cayenne S for much less with a full warranty and went with that instead because deep down, the V8 with way more options was what I really wanted. I think it runs pretty well, now! I must admit that I was taking the piece seriously until I choked on that credibility obliterating piece of fantasy. } I was puzzled by the behavior of the all wheel drive system in about eight inches of snow; not linear at all. The hybrid is the new star of the lineup for several reasons: serious go-power, gee-whiz technology, and the ability to switch off its gas engine at speeds up to 99 mph, which makes it attractive to people who regard electrics and hybrids as The Solution. Plus, you’ll never have to spend a nickel on spark plugs. The ZF 8HP45 employs close ratios to help keep the engine in its relatively narrow power band (compared to a turbocharged gasoline engine). Our tester was not equipped with a class three hitch, but my local VW dealer as kind enough to loan me a Touareg TDI properly equipped for some mountain towing fun. I know, because I unfortunately drove my father’s 85HP, 1983 Cutlass Cierra diesel when I was a kid. text-align: center; Which is why I’m holding on to my Jetta TDI for a while longer. Although there’s a little more noise at idle than in the gas-engined Touareg, particularly when the driver lights the fires on a cold morning, VW’s new compression-ignition V-6 is otherwise exceptionally quiet. Along with the Jetta, the 2011 model year also results in an upgraded Volkswagen crossover utility vehicle. Volkswagen's diesel Touareg seeks to make the hybrid model obsolete. As for the Touareg, I like it, but not as much as the previous model. I was impressed by the ride. I’ll bet it was quite a relief not having to plug this puppy in every time you parked it! All Touareg TDI models regardless of package have the easy-to-use VW RNS 850 navigation system with iPod/USB integration, Bluetooth and Sirius satellite radio. This is not a fault of VW but just a general characteristic of turbo diesels in general, and this is exactly why the 8-speed makes all the difference because it keeps the engine in that sweet spot like previous ZFs VW has used never could making the feel very liveable for an American used to a gasoline vehicle. The result is a car that many feel is better looking than its Porsche cousin, the Cayenne, and which also features a wide range of powerpl… Sure, Porsche’s options are wallet killers but if you’re disciplined, a decently optioned Cayenne (V6) still gives you more good stuff than the decontented Treg, which isn’t exactly cheap either. Zero to 100 mph: 27.2 sec #gallery-2 .gallery-item { The base model is fairly well featured as it stands; the $3,850 “Lux” package adds 19-inch wheels, panoramic sunroof, walnut trim, leather seats with 12-way adjustable driver’s sear and electric rear seat releases. All on-road diesel is now Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel with sulfur at 15 ppm max (used to be 500 ppm). (European buyers are able to spec a 4.2L V8 which wins the torque award by a hair.). MPG-o-Matic 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Review Summary: SUVs are particularly well-suited to clean diesel engines, with their gobs of torque and legendary fuel efficiency. Nice one! margin: auto; Really terrible stuff. We have no complaints about the TDI … For that reason alone, if I was in the $50000 car bracket the Porsche would be my choice. At 225HP, and 406lb-ft of twist they might just be on to something. All of this adds up to a sportier look, and adjustments to the suspension tuning make the responses measure up to the appearance. As in, start car, look at tailpipe and decide pass or fail. It’s great that the Touareg’s telematics system receives traffic information, however unlike most modern systems VW chose not to overlay the map with colored lined to indicate traffic speeds on major highways. The first-generation Touareg was in … The Touareg TDI uses the same engine as its close cousin the Audi Q7. Stepping up to the “Executive package” we tested gets the buyer 20-inch rubber, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, keyless entry & go, parking sensors and the up-level Dynaudio sound system. margin-left: 0; Maybe the Porsche isn’t really that expensive for what you’re getting after all(?). Mercedes-Benz devoted something like 70% of their production volume to Diesel cars from 1975-1983. I can’t honestly imagine that much cross shopping, even with VW’s market position as a main-line brand, but it seemed to be a sensible comparison point in some respects. Volkswagen hasn’t always been known for shrewd product planning—consider the Passat W-8, or better, the Phaeton—but the new Touareg looks like a triumphal strategic SUV symphony in three keys: regular gas engine, hybrid, and diesel. As a longtime diesel promoter, Volkswagen’s interest in hybrids has been strictly competitive, its corporate line an assertion that diesel is the better fuel-saving alternative. If American metal is more your thing, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango twins can tow almost as much (7,400lbs) but must be equipped with the thirsty 5.7L V8 to do so. Exactly as Bytor says “If you look at the torque curve of the 2.0L TDI vs 2.0L TSI, the Torque starts nice and low on both, but it starts falling much sooner(~2500 RPM) on the TDI and it stays relatively flat on the TSI almost to the point where the TDI redlines (where it has dropped significantly on the TDI) then the the TSI does start dropping and but keeps going for another 2000 more RPM.”. Off road, the TDI is (as one would expect), an excellent companion having well suited gear ratios and abundant torque at low speeds for crawling up steep inclines. VW still cannot fix the erratic driver’s seat, the rep is “unavailable”. I am a bit surprised by your comment about the engine’s “relatively narrow powerband (compared to a turbocharged gasoline engine)” – could you elaborate? margin-top: 10px; } float: left; With the demise of the old Explorer, and the death of all GM’s GMT360 variants, most mid-size SUVs sold in the US no longer contain the RWD based drivetrains that permit moderate towing capacities around 7,000lbs. During out week with the Touareg we averaged 27.7MPG in mixed driving on the first tank, an impressive 30.5MPG on a 160-mile road trip, and 16.5MPG while towing two-tons of bricks. The diesel Touareg receives the same high quality interior as the Touareg hybrid we recently reviewed. That being said, the high cost of diesel and the relative uncertainty of what is undeniably still a niche market in America should be a concern for shoppers. I drove my ’83 300SD (large body small engine) 140K miles in 8-9 years. How much and How often do you have to fill up the UREA tank for the Rube Goldberg exhaust treatment system?? Last GM he ever bought. But if you don’t mind spending an extra blink getting to 60 mph—6.9 seconds versus the hybrid’s 5.9—and you don’t mind saving a pretty nice chunk of dough in the process, then the diesel may be the alt-fuel Touareg for you. , great deals and more on used 2011 Volkswagen Touareg a 60 year old hooker available but only navigation. Expert Review of the all wheel drive system in about eight inches snow..., rolling up over 700 miles ML350 BlueTEC is rated at 6,500lbs care for! A real locking differential now anymore, so both aren ’ t until the w201 cars were that... 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