Volkswagen Touareg goes diesel-only for 2013 update

By David Zalstein | August 28th, 2012

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The Volkswagen Touareg range has been updated for the 2013 model year with new features, new equipment and an entirely diesel-powered line-up.

The $62,990 entry-level Volkswagen Touareg 150TDI now includes as standard a rear view camera, upgraded Vienna leather seat upholstery, 12-way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats with electro-pneumatically adjustable backrest side bolsters and new “safety optimised” front head restraints.

These are joined by exterior tweaks of bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights and bigger Karakum 18-inch alloy wheels. The 150kW/400Nm 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 TDI tied to the Touareg’s range-wide eight-speed automatic transmission remains.

Both 180kW/550Nm variants of the large Volkswagen SUV, the $78,990 Touareg V6 TDI and $83,990 range-topping Touareg V6 TDI 4XMOTION, come at a $1000 premium over 2012 model year prices but receive the same rear view camera and headlight upgrades as the base Touareg along with the addition of 20-inch Pikes Peak alloy wheels and air suspension with adaptive dampening control as standard.

The Touareg V6 TDI 4XMOTION has also been visually pulled into line with the exterior of the other variants with body coloured trim, chrome mouldings and dual chrome triangular exhaust tips being incorporated in favour of the previous, more rugged looking, grey and silver trims and oval chrome exhaust tips. For those buyers who prefer the tougher style, it remains available as a no-cost option.

All models across the updated 2013 Touareg range also benefit from Volkswagen’s BlueMotion tehnologies and driver fatigue system as standard – the latter being a program that detects driver concentration levels and warns drivers to take a break accordingly.

A city emergency braking function that activates below 30km/h and automatically initiates the vehicles brakes in order to avoid a collision, is now also part of the optional driver assistance package.

While the first 2013 model year vehicles are expected to start arriving in September, the petrol-powered Touareg V6 FSI will not be one of them, being discontinued from the range all together due to low sales volume.

Volkswagen Touareg manufacturer’s list price:

Volkswagen Touareg 150TDI 8-speed Automatic – $62,990
Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 8-speed Automatic – $78,990
Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 4XMOTION 8-speed Automatic – $83,990

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Zaccy16

They have a great diesel engine lineup! i just wish they came in 7 seats! great quality interior and they have a normal 8 speed Auto not a DSG!
Basil Exposition

Buy a Prado diesel. No DPF or the need for ad-blue. VW won’t warrant the DPF either. The VW looks the goods but not when you factor these type of ownership considerations. A shame really as the VW is rather appealing.
- F1
  
  Yeah Toyota pretty much started the clean-diesel trend.. They do without DPF, where as if you take of the DPF from the euro-diesels you’ll end up with a pure oil burner!
  - Brad
    
    Sorry mate. Wasn’t it PSA-Peugeot Citroen that started the clean diesel trend with the particulate filter?
    And the first diesel passenger cars in the 1930s were French (Citroen) also. I believe a French car won the first diesel-powered race and beginning in 1959, Peugeot offered the 403D with their TMD-85 four-cylinder engine of 1.8L and 48 hp (36 kW).
    Toyota haven’t been first with anything. They copy, imitate and build basic, simplistic vehicles.
    Mind you, I’d never own another Peugeot… this VW looks a lot more appealing and ownership wouldn’t be the headache that I became accustomed to with my French vehicles.
- Tom
  
  The Prado diesel has to be one of the most antiquated engines on the market. I drove one and it has appalling NVH compared to just about every modern diesel on the market, and is extremely underpowered for such a heavy car.
  
  Besides, they are different cars – the Prado is a proper off roader, the Touareg is basically a car. A Prado really isn’t an ideal car for driving around the city, a separate chassis and live axles are useful off road but compromise safety and handling on road.
  - Robin_Graves
    
    Everything you said is correct except the bit about the Prado having live axles, the front is independent, rear is live axle. Unfortunately the kinetic setup makes it dive and wallow under braking – it almost makes me feel seasick driving one.
- Random
  
  Not to mention it’s deplorable reputation for poor reliability and expensive repairs. The Q5 represents better value particularly when you consider resale.
KKK

Vw have lost heaps not offering a third row… Otherwise Perfect SUV of 3
- zanzi
  
  Is the Touareg even big enough to have usable 3rd row seats?
  - Golfschwein
    
    Without checking dimensions, I doubt. If people need a 3rd row, I reckon a longer car is up to the job.
    - Noddy of Toyland
      
      You could always chuck in some rear facing dicky seats in the boot, its always weird to see kids staring at you at the lights.
- F1
  
  How is it perfect? It’s overpriced..
  - Zaccy16
    
    Its not overpriced when you see the quality of the interior and the great engines on offer and when you compare it to the price of its sister cars eg cayenne, Q7
    - Random
      
      Q7 is a larger vehicle.
      - Zaccy16
        
        It is but they share the same underpinnings
Legnab

Those that can afford this usually only have a couple or no kids , no big deal no 3rd row , get a rexton if youv’e got 5 kids .
Nobody

Looks fabulous and really tempted to buy this but Im scared due to some horror stores on service costs and reliability.

Anyone any idea on service intervals & costs please.

Thanks
- Andre Gall
  
  Yes … Have had $3000 services, however included brakes being done, on previous model… Tyres are very expensive too…
  I prefer the old Volvo XC90 with 7 seats … Though drivability is nicer in the VW, especially the new model but, yes maintenance costs are over the top in comparison
Love that 2013 Treg

Prado?? You got to be kidding! the old 4D4 127kw Diesel? Not to mention the new Prado’s hideous chunky looks.
- Basil Exposition
  
  I agree, the Prado is daggy and the engine specs are basic but it’s cheap to own and you don’t have a DPF without a warranty to worry about. If you turn your cars over every 3 years buy the VW, it is a much more appealing car. If you intend to keep the car long term, best go the daggy Toyota. I wish I could get the attributes of both cars in one car… Alas this is not the case.
  - Tom
    
    The DPF isn’t a problem so long as you do some highway mileage to regenerate it. And if you aren’t doing highway mileage, you are most likely in the city, in which case the Prado is a completely inappropriate car anyway.
    - Basil Exposition
      
      Tom,
      
      That’s not the point.., VW do not offer any warranty on the DPF… Is classed as a consumable.., problem is it is a $4,000 consumable!
      
      As long as this warranty policy exists I will not be buying a VW diesel.
- Random
  
  Like it or not, Prado has the best resale of any mass produced vehicle in Australia. Checkout the depreciation on the Touareg. It seems to drop faster than a hot potato in an eskimos hand.
Edward

Not sure why, but i was expecting to see something like 800Nm of torque…
- Kd
  
  Thats in the V8 diesel which VW are looking to introduce.
Mouse

Want a car with the attributes of both Toureg and Prado, buy a Discovery. Great interior, brilliant on and off road, reliable (D4 3L 60,000k Gibb River Rd x 3, no warranty stuff) no dpf, plenty of after market gear. Just brilliant.
Evaddirb

Why all the DPF scaremongering, they self regenerate and don’t need mtce or adblue?
The 3.0 Tdi 180kW donk used in this vehicle with DPF is identical to the ones in Cayenne, Q7.Q5,A4,A5,A6,A7 & A8. It’s a winner.

I reckon the limitation not to have 7 seats is the low roofline at the rear?

Depreciation for Touareg bad……….. certainly not, same as Prado really.
I just sold my 2007 and am well pleased. Walked away after 5 years with much more coin in pocket than if I had a X5, XC90, Disco or M Class.