Volkswagen Touareg R50 & Mercedes Benz ML500 review
June 12, 2008 by Paul Maric
Paul Maric – Volkswagen Touareg R50:
While David will go on to explain the ML500 in finer detail, I’ll discuss the R50.
After stabbing the starter button located near the driveline tunnel, an eerie noise erupts from under the bonnet. It’s certainly not an aggressive noise, but on the same token, it doesn’t sound like a traditional diesel 4WD either. In fact, an unsuspecting member of the public would simple assume you were driving a typical Toorak tractor.
The inherent difference between the R50 and any other city-slicking 4WD on the road at any given time is the monstrous credentials the R50 carries. Sitting between the driver and the front number plate are several impressive things. First up is a 10-cylinder diesel motor. Now, hold up a second. Before all your car buffs grab the mouse to close the window, listen on, this isn’t any ordinary diesel.
Attached to the V10 motor are two turbochargers. The power figure of 258kW is staggering for a diesel, the most important figure though is the torque – 850Nm. Yes, that’s 850Nm. To give you an idea of just how incredible that torque feels, take into consideration that HSV’s most powerful V8 sedan produces 550Nm of torque – 300Nm short of the Touareg R50.
Jump on the throttle from a standing start and the front end lifts, causing traction control to activate to stop the front wheels from spinning. In the wet, doing the same thing causes traction control to act on all four wheels, as they lose traction under full throttle. With 295-wide tyres, this gives you an indication of just how tremendous the R50’s pulling power is – especially when you consider the fact that it weighs 2.6-tonnes.
Performing family duties is easy as Pi. Rear leg room is sufficient for adults and children, also accommodating for plenty of head room. The R50 also receives quad-zone climate control which allows both outer rear passengers to set their own temperature. The two outer rear seats, along with the two front seats, are also heated.
Boot room is good, but is slightly intruded upon by the air compressor sitting under the boot floor. As the R50 features NO spare tyres, an air compressor and repair kit take its place in the tyre hole dug out in the boot. The main reason behind the lack of spare tyre is that it’s impossible to fit a 21” 295-wide spare tyre in its place. It’s also unfeasible to fit the spare tyre to the rear of the vehicle as it alters the vehicle’s weight distribution and for a sporty vehicle like the R50, it’s a scenario which can’t be entered in to.
One of the most exciting features of the R50 is RNS510. Sure, doesn’t mean much to most but it’s Volkswagen’s new center console user interface. It replaces the ever-dated system which used Volkswagen’s also ever-dated satellite navigation system. It was inanely slow, while the graphics were totally subpar.
RNS510 uses a brand new screen and a hard disc operated navigation system. Upon delivery of the vehicle, the dealer loads the navigation DVD into the slot and the system copies it to its local hard disk. The hard disc can hold up to 30GB of data (10GB for navigation and 20GB for music) and loads quicker than it would using a DVD based system.
I played around extensively with RNS510 and thought it was quite a clever system. A touch-screen system is now in place for the navigation, while all other commands are operated via sliders on the screen or buttons stacked vertically to the side of the screen.
A couple of griped I had with the system was how long it took to initiate when starting the car. It takes up to 30-seconds for the system to become active which means that you can’t enter any addresses into the navigation or browse your music collection on the hard disc. It also took far too long for the reversing camera to activate once reverse gear was selected, almost nullifying it on several occasions as the vehicle was already reversing.
The quality of the reversing camera was also questionable. Volkswagen have used what seems to be a cheap, low resolution UWA (Ultra Wide Angle) unit which distorts the already grainy image. The camera is also next to useless at night time when visibility is further reduced due to the R50’s privacy glass.
Steering wheel controls are easy to use and allow the driver to navigate the large colour LCD screen used in the centre of the speedometer and tachometer cluster. The screen allows navigation of the audio system, vehicle settings, cruise control, satellite navigation (a compass is displayed when navigation isn’t in use) and trip computer.
It’s hard not to like the exterior of the R50. The Touareg’s recent styling facelift ensured a fresh design of an already attractive product. The massive 21” Omanyt wheels accentuate the gigantic blue painted front and rear brake callipers, while the low-slung stance and chrome highlights around the grille and roof racks bring out the rest of the car’s design.
Subtle front and rear ‘R50’ badges make the R50 somewhat of a sleeper, catching other motorists by surprise at times.
So given that there is only a 0.3L per 100 km difference in fuel consumption the ML500 would be cheaper to run given the current 20c per litre Diesel commands. And the ML500 is quicker in the 0-100 sprint. And in my opinion much better looking. I know the V10 diesel in a techno tour de force, but isn’t it a bit of overkill? It would be more at home under the bonnet of a 10 tonne truck.
^^agreed
I’m surprised that VW have a V10 in their lineup, as the price is up there in Audi territory. Also considering the Tiguan is competing against vehicles like the Rav4 and CRV, it is a big step up to the Touareg. This vehicle really should be rivaling Klugers and CX-9s, not M-Class’ and X5s.
^agreed.
Also forgetting about the price differences but when making such a comparison between these two vehicles, shouldn’t you be comparing it against the AMG model, given that the VW is a R50?
^ Agreed, however when you take cost into account they are direct competitors…
But then again VW is the bargain basement german automaker…
But then again you can’t compare it to CX-9 nor Kluger either, those entries are far too poor to even consider.
Even tho one is an SUV and one is a Large 4×4, I’d say the only Toyota you could compare the R50 to is the new Landcruiser 200 series with twin turbo V8 diesel, closer in price, power and offroad capability.
Certainly the new BMW X5 sd would have been a better car to compare to? With twin turbo performance from the diesel 6 and economy to make a Prius blush?
Still love that ML tho, gimmie the euro V8 diesel please!!!
^Yes, but the price here is almost identical, and as such its probably the most relevent comparison. And the 375kW AMG ML63 is in a totally different league. Perhaps a Twin Turbo Diesel X5 would be a better comparison.
^^Just to be clear, I’m not blaming Caradvice for comparing this to the M-Class, I’m saying VW in the first place, should have made this car rival with much cheaper 4WD/SUVs. As it seems a bit out there in the Volkswagen lineup and is positioned and priced in Audi territory.
Having been lucky enough to experience the “normal” Touareg TT V10 previously, I can only imagine the R50 model would be quite a weapon.
I dare say it has the edge looks wise over the MB too.
I guess at the end of the day it comes down to personal choice really – id happily own either as a tourer to eat up those country KM’s.
Dlr1, you are WRONG about the 20c price difference.
In Melbourne yesterday, ULP was 1.669, Dsl was 1.760, and 98ron PULP was 1.799.
Can’t for the life of me see where the 20 cents is.
You always compare Dsl with 91ron, where you should only compare it with 98ron since all the euro petrol engines want 98.
Performance wise both don’t better the FPV Territory F6X with it’s 270kw/550nm. Whilst the fixtures and fittings will probobly be better in both these vehicles the engineering of the FPV is up to the level of these performance suv’s and practicality of the FPV for a family is second to none. Mind you purchasing decisions for these two vehicles is as much about ego than economic considerations – My two Territory Ghia’s cost less than my mate’s ML350 (and are better vehicles) but don’t the Merc drivers look down their noses at the rest of us.
Good review guys and nice pics, keep the comparison articles coming! They’re every bit as good a read as the stand alone ones. Thanks.
Reckless1, 3 days ago in NSW the difference was up to 30c at some servos. The average has been around 20cpl. Today ULP 166.9, DSL 186.9, 98RON 174.9. I’m not saying that its 20c per litre every day. Sometimes more sometimes less. Do you take every comment so literally? Certainly your diesel price is quite cheap compared to what I was forced to pay earlier this week.
Good read, and well balanced report. I would like to see a comparison between the R50 , BMW X5 SDi, and Porsche GTS. There needs to be an equalisation of price exercise as well. The R50 is very, very well equipped standard compared to the others. I did the numbers and added almost $40k to the BMW. VW also offered a 5 year warranty the others didnt. As for the price of Diesel Vs. Petrol – spot on. Little difference as it is recommended to run 98 octaine. For the pureists historically, a Diesel powered vehicle has a premium resale vale compared to the same model in Petrol. 15% is the Industry benchmark.
I really don’t think they can compare the R50 to the ML500.. I think the VW competitor for the ML500 is the standard V10 model of the Touareg.
Keep the sports models together (R50 with ML63). Even though I know the ML is 1.8 secs faster.
AGREE Maca:
I’ve noticed that aradvice have some bizzare comparisons with vehicles from different sub-segments, engine comparisons variations (Diesel and petrol competitor road tests) and spec levels.
How are readers meant to compare similar vehicle types within a particular segment when the tested vehicles have so much variation?
In the close up of the centre stack, there is clearly a button of a sports suspension setting.
the VW would make an awesome tow car 4 my drag car all the torque