2008 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI Review
October 24, 2007 by Karl Peskett
The unique sound is nothing like you imagine a V10 to be. While idling or loping slowly around the city, there’s barely a hint of its compression ignition origins. But put the boot in, and it growls, similar to a whooshy Volvo 5-cylinder – only with turbo whistles laid over the top.
And when you do put the boot in, all seven-hundred-and-fifty Newton metres kick you in the back, as they do their best to launch 2.5 tonnes of 4WD. Indeed, launching is possible. Foot on the brake, foot on the accelerator, let the revs rise to about 3000rpm. Then let the brake go. Wham! A slight chirp and it’s off.
First gear’s gone. Second gear’s finished. Third gear is winding out and, oh dear, we seem to have exceeded our national speed limit. And then some. 0-100km/h is dispatched in 7.4 seconds. To put that in perspective, that’s quicker than a Range Rover Sport Supercharged.
What’s scary though is that you realise that this is a car that is still meant to go off-road. Time to back off and savour the surroundings.
Audi’s influence on its parent company is obvious. The Touareg’s plastics are all tactile and soft. There are no squeaks, or rattles. The body structure is solid and quiet even though our test car had over 10,000km on the clock.
The steering wheel (and column), straight from the Bentley 2006 Continental family, initially seems large, but is actually the right size, especially for the rough stuff. Clear, bright and attractive instrumentation give the Touareg its luxury SUV edge, and set the standard for other marques. Pity the same couldn’t be said about the centre stack. Littered with a million buttons, it’s far too complex for its own good.
The brushed aluminium that borders the cockpit is contrasted with lacquered walnut (yes, it’s real wood), giving an air of timeless style. Even though Volkswagen has held back from overdoing the wood theme, there’s enough to lift the ambience to a warmer tone.
The rear seats, although comfy, are a little lacking in space, especially head and foot room, but then, we did test them with 5 guys in the car who are all 6ft tall. However, the standard four-zone climate control, which caters for the rear passengers as well, was appreciated.
Unlike the Audi Q7 (which shares the same platform), the Touareg doesn’t offer a 3rd row, and so the boot is a decent size, with enough width and height to accommodate all your gear. But unless you option the eye-wateringly ugly spare-wheel carrier, you’ll have to make do with a space-saver.
It’s kind of like Jennifer Hawkins being able to wear a bikini, but choosing to wear a hessian sack because it’s cheaper. If you’ve got the room for a full size spare, why not use it? Given the size of this beast and its 4WD role, it’s not a sacrifice I’d be happy with.
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I want one – NOW…..
Thanks, Alborz, for your kind offer, but I really can’t accept :)
This is really a feat.
Amazing, saw it at the Sydney Int. Motorshow and it is certainly appealing to the eye. I’m interested on how this beast would run with the space saver on because wouldn’t it put the car on a tilt due to the space savers size?
I saw the one in the back of the Touareg and it certainly looks small.
Excellent review Karl
You’d be pissed if you’d just spent $30k more on the outgoing model. Gotta love the Toe-rag!
Great review Karl :)
Off topic Karl is there a way for me to buy some of the Test Drive Australia road tests that was on C31 here in Adelaide that you did ?
As I’m a VAG fanatic would love if you could copy all the VAG stuff onto DVD(s) I would pay of course ;)
No worries Phaeton.
I’ve sent you an e-mail.
KP
Awesome motor. pity all veedub look the same. its much like a pup up tiguan…which is like a pumped passat…..which looks like a mildly updated golf….. which looks like a pumped up polo……oh i’m bored
Well the new X5 sd is a twin turbo diesel which is .2 seconds quicker to 100km/h that the V10 VW. Once again BMW show how to use every NM to its full extent !
Im surprised by the writers fuel economy comments,I owne an 05 V10 with 40,000k’s running mixed highway / city at around 800k’s a week and average 11.6 litres per 100k’s, better than my previous Falcon GT at 15.5ltrs per 100k’s !!
And re the $30K price variance from the previous model, agree to a point but the new model is a significantly lower spec in base config.
Average consumption on my many interstate trips was initially 11km/l and has now dropped to 10km/l after about 40000km/6 mths. Get around 8km/l around town. Yes, I do let it off the leash as often as possible without being a hoon.
The X5 without dual range would not get to places the Treg laughs off. Also, useable fuel capacity in the Beemer is only around 60l, compared to the Treg’s 80l. The Treg is also far roomier and comfortable – it’s the ultimate all-round tourer without the wank factor.
BMW’s……….boring boring boring…..the X5 is a lovely vehicle but not unique. The VW V10 is officially the most powerful diesel engine…why do we all judge a 4×4 on how it gets to 100km’s…there is no point. A true 4×4 is diverse, and I am sure that the Tourag would wipe the floor with the X5 in many other areas. Note to TY BMW’s are two a penny and if I had the money, even if the X5 was a great drive, I could not by one, they are so common….boring boring boring….. every footballer has one in the UK…what a testiment as most of them have no brain cells!!!!
Test drove the 3.0 TDI last week performance was great appears solid and well built.It looks great. The comments I read previously about cost of performance brake and tyres previously put me off. I am thinking about taking the plunge. Any local experience from owners may assist my purchase dilema. Any owner feedback welcolme.
Oli, hopefully Tonyn sees your post. He should be able to help. Pretty sure hes got experience with most of the VW Group sold here.
a stock 5.4Litre 220kW/472Nm Barra220 V8 3V or a Barra230 the 230kW/500Nm can easily beat this, just give it a CAPA supercharger, and you get an instant 1000Nm from just 1500rpm and over 500kW with out even touching an exchaust system. Not to mention the new Fords 6.4L Turbo Diesel for F-250 for 2010.
well ive owned both the x5 two of them that is of the v8s 4.4 and also had 2 v10 touareg cant compare the 2.that v10 is a motor second to none and sure u can bolt some thing on to your 3l motor to push ou t 1000nm ,but how long would it last and its a bolt on action u know what i mean.the v10 is the best thing since peanut butter believe me.i have driven the new x5 win turbo not as nice as the touareg!!1