2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Review
June 6, 2008 by Matt Brogan
But seriously, with 850Nm sitting under the bonnet, the luxury side of things was a distant thought.
It’s a Bi- turbo set-up, so the moment you dab the throttle, you’re off and running in the R50. I found only fractional turbo lag from a standing start launch, which, brought my first smile of the day.
It’s a vehicle of large proportions and with this sort torque on tap, I decided to take it easy on the drive back to the office and find out if this really was a monster, or not.
In actual fact, I was almost expecting the R50 to be the SUV equivalent of Bugatti Veyron. Pleasantly, that’s not the case at all. It’s quite content to amble along at slightly less than the speed limit and bumper-to-bumper traffic, is no more difficult than any other garden variety SUV.
I made a b-line for the steepest road I know in Sydney. Near enough to half a kilometre, from bottom to top. It’s a man made Everest, which the Army’s 1 Commando Unit use when sorting the men from the boys.
I’d like to see Nissan’s R35 GT-R get up this hill quicker than the R50. That’s a Top Gear segment, if there ever was one.
The acceleration via 850Nm in all six forward gears, defies logic. This is the car “The Hulk” would have in his driveway.
There’s mild torque steer only when you drill the throttle from a standing start, but the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) employed on the R50, quickly sorts you out, without ever seemingly cutting power to any wheel.
Some of you will be asking why I haven’t yet mentioned the power figure. Put simply and honestly, it’s nothing to write home about.
With so much torque, 258kW tends to be completely overshadowed, but let me tell you straight. It’s enough.
Diesel powered V10’s seem to make their presence known only at idle. BMW’s four-door missile, the M5 is the same. But once you pass 1000 rpm, the diesel clatter magically vanishes.
Good review, but could we please have some higher resolution photos of the interior, thanks.
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.
230kw for a v10 isnt really that good. V6s are pumping that out these days.But all that gloruoius tourque
O
What are you on, it is 258kw from a diesel not petrol that is unreal.
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.
Haven’t checked last night’s 50 mil yet. Maybe I can get the BMW and one of these as well :)
“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..
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 !
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.
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.
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.)
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
Duck, did you even read the article? Then perhaps you’d understand what Timmy & I are discussing.
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
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.
I’d much prefer this to a Cayenne
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…
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.
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…
The porsche pit, A turbo cost $230 000 that is nearly $100 000 more