Volkswagen’s flagship SUV is the epitome of luxury for 2017. The Touareg features high-end interior and exterior design, premium technology and driver assistance systems (including an available Area View camera for the Executive trim), and an efficient and powerful engine. Interestingly, the vehicle is named after the Tuareg – nomadic inhabitants of the Saharan interior of North Africa.
Driving through the countryside. Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.
The 2017 Touareg received some equipment changes. The lux trim is replaced by a new, value-oriented Wolfsburg trim. On the sport with technology trim, the following are added as standard features: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Lane Change Assist (Side Assist); Park Distance Control (Park Pilot); and a heated steering wheel. The Executive model now has standard 21-inch aluminum alloy wheels and Auto Hold is now standard on all trims. The Wolfsburg Edition benefits from a number of design enhancements, including; brushed aluminum décor, stainless steel door sills and pedals, black headliner, two-tone Vienna leather seating surfaces, heatable and ventilated front seats, gray door inserts, a Wolfsburg badge, and contrast stitching on the floor mats, steering wheel and shift. The vehicle is also available with an all-black interior. Externally, the vehicle rides on 20-inch “Tarragona” wheels that have a diamond-turned finish, with the option of blacked-out 20-inch “Mallory” wheels.
The blacked our 20-inch “Mallory” give the car a sleek finish. Picture courtesy of Volkswagen.
The Sports Edition has a sleek and aerodynamic look that is firmly set in Volkswagen‘s DNA. The vehicle is 188.8 inches in length, 76.4 inches wide and 68.2 inches high. Key design elements include a four-bar chrome grille that connects seamlessly to the headlights, which themselves sit flush with the grille’s base. The horizontal theme continues throughout the car’s front end. A lower valance incorporates fog lights, and the bumper has an “A” shape, with the connecting pillars leaning inward. Moving to the back, LED taillights are standard on all 2017 Touareg models. These units flank a tailgate design with an elegantly sharpened “Tornado Line” running across the entire width. The rear bumper features chrome accents that wrap around the vehicle; the lower spoiler features blacked-out trim. Signature triangular exhaust tips round out the overall look.
New for the interior of the 2017 vehicle is white LED overhead lighting and chrome trim. Wood accents lend a clean, luxurious feel throughout the car. The RNS 850 features an 8-inch touchscreen capable of displaying maps and directions in high-definition 3D graphics. Music can be stored on the 60GB hard drive (with 18GB reserved for uploaded media); iPod / iPhone devices, SD card, and DVD drive interfaces can be found in the glovebox. Touareg Executive models come with a 620-watt Dynaudio® sound system with 10 premium speakers (four tweeters, two midrange, and four woofers) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology. Another feature on the Executive trim is the Area View 360° exterior camera system. Utilizing four cameras (in the rear hatch, the door mirrors, and the radiator grille), Area View transmits images of the area around the car onto the touchscreen in the center console. The control unit also calculates from the four individual camera images a high-quality overall view of the surrounding area—from the perspective of a virtual camera above the vehicle. The standard hands-free Easy Open liftgate allows for convenient access to the back of the vehicle.
Interior of the Volkswagen Touareg.
The 2017 model has a V6 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic shifting capability. A 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is also standard. Touareg models are capable of towing 7,716 pounds when properly equipped. As one of the most powerful naturally-aspirated engines, the gasoline-powered 3.6-liter VR6 engine delivers 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,500 rpm, achieved on premium fuel. The vehicle’s top speed is actually achieved in sixth gear. In addition to the fuel economy benefits of the low overdrive rpm, this configuration can allow for quieter, more relaxed highway cruising.
The car brings power with its V6 engine.
The 2017 model features the latest iteration of the independent suspension layout that debuted with the second-generation SUV. All 2017 models feature a variable-ratio hydraulic power-assisted steering system that needs just 2.6 turns from lock to lock. This gives a precise, responsive feel in various conditions, from parking lots to the open highway. Touareg models are fitted with 13.0-inch vented disc brakes front and rear.
With a combination of both passive and active safety systems, occupants can feel more protected in the latest Touareg. In addition to the chassis, which was designed from the ground up with strength and stability in mind—and a number of mechanical and electronic systems that work in tandem with the car, we felt protected and safe.
Learn more about the Volkswagen Touareg here.