VW Touareg Features and Prices
If you want to drive a luxury hybrid SUV without resorting to the ubiquitous luxury brands, the 2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid was made for you. Its strong engine, confident handling, and high-class cabin are sure to please all but the pickiest buyers. And some components were developed jointly with Porsche — what’s not to like about that? Unfortunately, all this pampering comes with a cost: a steep price tag, no third-row seat, and below-average cargo space. Whether this cost is too high will depend on your priorities and needs.
Trim Levels and Features
This midsize luxury crossover SUV holds five passengers and offers one trim level. MSRP starts at $61,995.
With so many standard features, there aren’t many options: trailer hitch, specialty floor mats, and splash guards.
Powertrain
The Touareg Hybrid uses a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine and an electric motor for a combined 380 horsepower, enough to propel the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds or to tow a noteworthy 7,700 pounds. Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is standard, as is an 8-speed automatic transmission with Dynamic Shift Program, Tiptronic, and sport mode. Fuel economy weighs in at 20 mpg city/24 mpg highway; a tad lower than you might expect, perhaps, but this vehicle is tuned for performance at the sacrifice of maximum efficiency.
Safety and Security
All safety devices come standard, including front and front side thorax airbags, side curtain airbags, rollover sensor system, Intelligent Crash Response System, lane change feature for turn signals, ABS, hill-hold assist, stability control, traction control, and Tire Pressure Monitor System. An anti-theft alarm system and immobilizer are thrown in as well. The brakes might feel soft to some drivers thanks to a long stroke, but in a crisis, they perform admirably, bringing the car to a standstill in a relatively short distance.
On all IIHS crash tests, the 2012 Touareg earned the top “Good” rating. NHTSA test results are not available at the time of writing.
Wrap-Up
Although Volkswagen is not typically viewed as a luxury brand, the Touareg Hybrid’s classy interior catapults it definitively into the luxury tier. The high quality surfaces and materials feel pleasing to the touch, and the high-tech features feel responsive and intuitive.
On the road, the Touareg Hybrid provides a sharp steering response and quiet, refined ride quality. Despite the lack of low-range transmission, it handles respectably during off-road adventures thanks to its decent ground clearance, small overhangs, and compliant suspension. The transmission shifts imperceptibly, and the Touareg inspires an overall feeling of confidence.
Trim Levels and Features
This midsize luxury crossover SUV holds five passengers and offers one trim level. MSRP starts at $61,995.
The Touareg Hybrid comes with numerous standard features: 19-inch alloy wheels with wheel locks, dual exhaust pipes, heat reduction glaze on windows, automatic headlights with Adaptive Front-lighting System, daytime running lights, foglights, power-operated power-folding heated side mirrors with turn signals and memory, roof rails, power tinted panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers with heated nozzles, dual-zone climate control, remote open/close power tailgate, cargo-area electric seat release buttons for rear bench, auto-dimming rearview mirror, navigation system with rearview camera, parking sensors, power heated front seats with memory, split folding and heated rear seats that slide and recline, Bluetooth, height-adjustable and telescoping steering column with memory, heated steering wheel, leather upholstery, and an eight-speaker sound system with six-CD changer, touchscreen interface, satellite radio, iPod connectivity, and auxiliary input jack.
With so many standard features, there aren’t many options: trailer hitch, specialty floor mats, and splash guards.
Powertrain
The Touareg Hybrid uses a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine and an electric motor for a combined 380 horsepower, enough to propel the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in less than six seconds or to tow a noteworthy 7,700 pounds. Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is standard, as is an 8-speed automatic transmission with Dynamic Shift Program, Tiptronic, and sport mode. Fuel economy weighs in at 20 mpg city/24 mpg highway; a tad lower than you might expect, perhaps, but this vehicle is tuned for performance at the sacrifice of maximum efficiency.
Safety and Security
All safety devices come standard, including front and front side thorax airbags, side curtain airbags, rollover sensor system, Intelligent Crash Response System, lane change feature for turn signals, ABS, hill-hold assist, stability control, traction control, and Tire Pressure Monitor System. An anti-theft alarm system and immobilizer are thrown in as well. The brakes might feel soft to some drivers thanks to a long stroke, but in a crisis, they perform admirably, bringing the car to a standstill in a relatively short distance.
On all IIHS crash tests, the 2012 Touareg earned the top “Good” rating. NHTSA test results are not available at the time of writing.
Wrap-Up
Although Volkswagen is not typically viewed as a luxury brand, the Touareg Hybrid’s classy interior catapults it definitively into the luxury tier. The high quality surfaces and materials feel pleasing to the touch, and the high-tech features feel responsive and intuitive.
On the road, the Touareg Hybrid provides a sharp steering response and quiet, refined ride quality. Despite the lack of low-range transmission, it handles respectably during off-road adventures thanks to its decent ground clearance, small overhangs, and compliant suspension. The transmission shifts imperceptibly, and the Touareg inspires an overall feeling of confidence.