2009 Volkswagen Touareg R50 Road Test Review
Let’s talk about something big for a moment. Like an aircraft carrier. Something like the USS Ronald Reagan for instance: 95,000 tonnes, 332.8 metres long, twin Westinghouse A4W nuclear reactors and four steam turbines… yeah, it’s big.
Now just hold that thought a moment because I think I have been driving the automotive equivalent of the USS ‘Ronnie’. Let me introduce you to the Volkswagen R50 Touareg.
Big, badass and beautiful, one hour behind the wheel of Volkswagen’s ultimate SUV will have you spoiled forever. Sure, it weighs 94,998 tonnes less than the Reagan, but its power and presence is irresistible. Behind the wheel, you begin to find the inner megalomaniac… and you’ll start thinking it might be time to trample Tasmania, or tow it further out to sea.
That’s the kind of power it’s got.
• Road level 195mm • Off-road level 220mm • Extra level 280mmEngine R50 V10 TDI Type 10 cyl ‘V’ bi-turbo diesel Cubic capacity litres/cc 5.0/4921 Bore/stoke, mm 81.0/95.5 Max power, kW @ rpm 258 @ 3500 Max torque, Nm @ rpm 850 @ 2000 Compression ratio 18.5:1 Fuel system Bosch EDC 16 with unit injectors (Pumpe Düse) Ignition system Compression Emission level EU IV CO2 emission 333 g/km Fuel type Diesel Transmission 4XMOTION four-wheel-drive Gearbox 6 speed Tiptronic automatic with Dynamic Selection Program (DSP) Suspension Air suspension with 3 damper settings: Automatic, Sport & Comfort Variable ride height • Loading level 140mm Low range gear ratio 2.66 Performance 0 – 100km/h, seconds 6.8 Fuel consumption Combined, L/100km 12.6 Fuel tank capacity 100 Litres Tare Mass 2532 kg Towing Capacity Braked 3500 kg Towing Capacity Unbraked 750 kg