2008 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Review
June 6, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Matt:
Volkswagen’s strident motto clearly and eloquently defines their love of the car, though when it comes to the ‘R’ designated models, one must surmise that this is no ordinary love. This is lustful and unadulterated passion.
Having driven the thrilling R32 earlier this year I was impressed at just how well balanced and centred a car it had become above that of the already outstanding Golf. Thanks to some brilliant engineering work the enhanced model is truly something to behold.
Not only had shoe-horning a 3.2 litre V6 in to the small hatch back made it go harder, but every other mechanical feature of the car complimented the package so well as a whole that parting with such splendid company was a very hard process indeed.
Imagine then applying that level of enthusiasm and exhilaration to Volkswagen’s über four wheel drive, the Touareg. Now, that time has come.
R50 takes what is already a masterfully capable all roader and enhances it further with a sports feel unlike that of any so called SUV I’ve yet experienced. In fact it’s very hard to believe the Touareg’s dimensions are so large and weighty from a driver’s prospective.
Originally developed as a joint venture with Porsche, the Touareg’s thoroughbred background cannot be doubted and the demands of an SUV with sports car handling have been met beyond a shadow of a doubt with Porsche’s Cayenne and Audi’s Q7 both sharing the same beastly platform.
R50 pictured in Shadow Blue
Brilliant interactive front and rear self leveling air suspension with adjustable ride height and damper settings are either automatically or driver controlled (depending on the application selected) and offer several modes of firmness and five ride height settings, all at the turn of a dial.
The damper response is almost instantaneous and sharpens the level of control offered and response time in the vehicle’s handling, feel and feedback considerably. Conversely in comfort mode the R50 offers a ride on par with that of many large luxury saloons, truly a remarkable feat.
On paper the torque figures can in no way prepare you for just how hard the R50 can pull, in fact I remember a time not so long ago when large trucks didn’t have this many Newtonmetres. An asphalt stripping 850Nm are on tap from just 2000rpm, which when put to the ground through all four wheels offers blistering results.
Acceleration times to 100km/h in the six second bracket are impressive for any road going car but when you consider the R50 tips the scales at almost 2.6 tonnes then the 6.7 second sprint is nothing short of awesome.
Producing these impressive figures is a beautifully tweaked version of Touareg’s regular 5.0-litre, V10 TDI engine, which has also been slightly augmented from the standard 230kW to develop a burly 258kW @ 3500rpm.
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