2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Review
6 Jun, 2008
20 Comments 
The soundproofing in the R50 makes this vehicle a quiet car, at any speed. It may as well be called a Grand Tourer; such is its versatility and refinement.
The 6-speed Tiptronic auto gearbox is certainly smooth shifting but don’t bother using the paddle shifters. I found them too slow to be of any use and superfluous at best. You just need to engage the “S” for “Sport” mode. That’s a pity, because this set of paddles look awefully similar to that used in Audi’s R8 supercar.
But I’m not finished raving about this thing just yet. I haven’t told you how Volkswagen has altered the laws of physics, as we know it. That is, when it comes to handling.
The R50 is no lightweight; at over 2500kg and all of 4,754mm long, it’s big. So when I tell you that it turns into corners like a spanking new HSV R8 Clubsport, you would be as surprised as I was.
Super wide 295/35 Michelin rubber on all four corners, do wonders for grip and stability under load. I checked up on the specs for these tyres for you. They are capable of dealing with 0-100km/h in less than 5 seconds and up to 300km/h, if you have a German address. They also come in 25 series and can wrap a 23-inch wheel!
But that’s just half the story. The real genius behind the R50’s extraordinary handling ability lies in the Air sports suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC). This system allows you to scroll through three settings Comfort, Auto and Sport. With 35 series profile tyres, the difference between the settings, while noticeable on smooth surfaces, is small at best.
On the hardware side – Sophisticated Double wishbones and Anti-roll bars are employed front and back
Even at considerable speed, you can turn in hard without lifting your foot off the right pedal and there just isn’t any body roll. You might as well be in a Golf GTI. Now that would be an interesting comparison as mad as it sounds. Just don’t bet against the R50!
This is also a proper four-wheel drive complete with a transfer gearbox with low range off road ratio.
I took the vehicle onto some very soft sand to photograph it and despite the fitment of high performance road tyres with tarmac tyre pressures, the low range gearing made light work of the situation.
“The R50 gets my vote for the most capable all round SUV on the market today. It has no weaknesses worth mentioning here. It also represents extraordinary value for money, should you be bothered to scrutinise the sheer number of standard features packed into this vehicle”
Click here to read Matt’s review of the R50.
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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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