2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Review
6 Jun, 2008
20 Comments 
2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Review
Aus leidenschaft zum automobile
Model Tested:
- 2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Wagon 5.0 litre V10 TDI Auto - $129,990 (RRP)
Options:
- Metallic Paint - Standard; Sunroof $2,190 (Fitted); Satellite Navigation $4,490; Satellite Navigation & Rear View Camera $5,840 (Fitted); Dynaudio 600W Audio System $2,490 (Fitted); Rear DVD System $3,990; Automatic Tailgate $1,390
Torque, Equipment Levels, Handling, Comfort and Ride
Foot Operated Park Brake, Positioning of Stalk Controls
CarAdvice Rating: 
- by Matt Brogan & Anthony Crawford
Anthony:
“Enormous 21- inch alloys, a huge 5.0 V10 bi-turbo diesel with 850 Nm of torque, and massive 295/35 series tyres on all four corners.
No, it’s not one of those monster trucks but rather, the mother of all diesel SUVs – say hello to the Touareg R50”
We’ve been itching to get behind the wheel of this beast, ever since it’s well attended reveal, at the 2007 Sydney Motor Show, last October.
It wasn’t just the thought of 850 mind blowing Newton metres although, I grant you, that is a very, very, big number. Nor was it the R50’s 0-100kms/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds. It wasn’t even the crazy low fuel consumption of 12.6L/100km combined.
It was all of the above and much more.
Location: Home / Volkswagen, Behind the Wheel, Diesel, Car News / ...
Rate Post: 
(5 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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June 6th, 2008 at 2:38 am
Good review, but could we please have some higher resolution photos of the interior, thanks.
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June 6th, 2008 at 3:12 am
I quite like this car but theres something a bit cumbersome about large SUVs with extravagent body kits. The X5 M Sport looks terribly cheap, an RRS with an after market body kit looks terrible and the Audi Q7 S Line looks terrible aswell. Im not sure what to think really but this one looks the best so far - not so much like the body kits out of place.
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June 6th, 2008 at 6:10 am
230kw for a v10 isnt really that good. V6s are pumping that out these days.But all that gloruoius tourque
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June 6th, 2008 at 7:15 am
O
What are you on, it is 258kw from a diesel not petrol that is unreal.
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June 6th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I reckon they would have sold more of these had they had a third row seat option.
Compared to Q7/X5/ML/GL you don’t see many Toe rags on the road.
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June 6th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Haven’t checked last night’s 50 mil yet. Maybe I can get the BMW and one of these as well :)
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June 6th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
“The average combined consumption of the R50 is 12.6 litres per 100km, and it is very easily attainable if you manage to curb your enthusiasm. This makes the R50 no more costly to fuel than a Falcon or Commodore!”
The official figure of the fg falcon with the 6 speed is 10.1… on unleaded… which is 20c litre cheaper than diesel..
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June 6th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
The R50 is without a doubt the best value for money luxury performance SUV available. It is the only that will offer a 5 year factory warranty if required.Equilise the options on the Audi or BMW will have you over $150k. the 200 series Toyota Sahara will set you back $120k, and really how many are used off road ? The R50 eats the Toyota in performance, value, specifications, options and has a 6th gear that actually works. I want one !
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June 6th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Commos and Falcon can’t come any where close to meeting their fuel test figures. Our VEs at work regularly run in the 16s, sometimes more. I bet a diesel would run closer to the tested figure, and besides this looks way better than a VE or FG.
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June 6th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Looks amazing, inside and out.
I’d love some better interior photos.
Im not a fan of most of the big SUV’s, but that is one sensational looking SUV.
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June 6th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Casey, may I ask why the hell are you comparing Commodore’s to a VW Touareg R50!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big difference in class (sedan, to 4×4 etc.)
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June 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
to those who say the kw’s are low for a v10
ITS A DIESEL
it make 850NM of torque @ 2000 rpm
who needs kw!!
strange how 2.6 tonne with such low kw can pull 0-100 in 6 and a bit…. kw= sfa in this rig
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June 6th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Duck, did you even read the article? Then perhaps you’d understand what Timmy & I are discussing.
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June 7th, 2008 at 12:49 am
I like it. It looks clean. For the price though I’d rather take a Cayenne turbo. Sure the fuel will be more but its a Porsche..worth every penny…
Ryan
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June 7th, 2008 at 1:34 am
I reckon this is one of the most accomplished samrtest SUV’s on the market today even with smaller engines.
I’d have one no-problem.
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June 7th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I’d much prefer this to a Cayenne
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June 7th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
even if you were unfortunate enough to get 12.1l/100km out of a modern FG falcon it would be 12.1 litres of PETROL, not $1.85 per litre diesel…so such a statement as you made on the last page there to me seems ludicrous.
beaut car though, if i were driving with my collared-shirt and v-neck sweater to norwood parade to get a cafe latte i wouldnt want to drive anything else…
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June 7th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I went to a dealer to see volkswagen Touareg. It’s a big vehicle, don’t know why, it looks a lot bigger than a TDI3.6 model. it made me wonder why such a big one doesn’t offer 7 seat option.
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July 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
the porsche pit..
“For the price though I’d rather take a Cayenne turbo.”
Um.. there is a few $$ between this and a Cayenne Turbo actually few $$ is not really the term…
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September 21st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
The porsche pit, A turbo cost $230 000 that is nearly $100 000 more
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