2016 VW Touareg is utility made luxurious

Volkswagen’s flagship SUV is utility made luxurious. After a facelift last year, Touareg continues with only minor changes to equipment for 2016. The Touareg SUV sports a crisp, sleek and aerodynamic look that is firmly set in Volkswagen DNA. Key design elements include a 4-bar chrome grille that connects seamlessly to the head-lights, which themselves sit flush with the grille’s base. The horizontal theme continues throughout the Touareg’s front end. A lower valance incorporates foglights, and the bumper has an “A” shape, with the connecting pillars leaning inward.

Moving to the rear, LED taillights are standard across the Touareg lineup. These units flank a tailgate design with an elegantly sharpened “Tornado Line” running across the entire width. The rear bumper features chrome accents that wrap around the Touareg entirely; the lower spoiler features blacked-out trim. Signature triangular exhaust tips round out the overall look.

Available in Sport, Sport w/Technology, Lux and Executive trim levels, upgrades and enhancements for the 2016 model year include: 14-way adjustable ventilated seats (Lux); and power adjustable steering column, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, and lane departure warning (Executive). In addition, the Hybrid model has been discontinued.

Power for the Touareg SUV is generated by a 3.6L V6 FSI gasoline engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic shifting capability. A 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is also standard. This features a Torsen limited-slip differential that splits available torque 40 percent front and 60 percent rear (nominally) for balanced driving both on and off road.

Control hardware features the latest iteration of the independent suspension layout that debuted with the second-generation Touareg. With lightweight aluminum-alloy upper and robust steel lower control arms at both front and rear, the coil-spring suspension is capable of great control and road manners in any situation.

Inside, the passenger cabin offers a premium modern layout. The interior is illuminated with white LED overhead lighting, and chrome trim and wood accents lend a clean, luxurious feel throughout. Mounted in the center of the dash is either Volkswagen’s RCD 550 sound system or the available premium RNS 850 navigation system, depending on vehicle trim.

The RNS 850 features an eight-inch touch screen capable of displaying maps and directions in high-definition 3-D graphics, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and satellite/AM/FM radio. Music can be stored on the 60 GB hard drive (with 18 GB reserved for uploaded media); iPod device, SD card, and DVD drive interfaces can be found in the glovebox. Executive models come with a 620-watt Dynaudio sound system with 10 premium speakers (four tweeters, two midrange, and four woofers).

The second-generation Touareg has a 40/20/40-split rear seat with 6.3-inches of fore/aft travel and reclining backrests. On Sport with Technology and higher trim levels, the hands-free Easy Open liftgate allows for convenient access to the back of the vehicle.

Dimensions & specifications

Wheelbase: 113.9; overall length: 188.8; width: 76.4; height: 68.2

All vehicle measurements are in inches.

Engine: 3.6L VR6 – 280 hp at 6,200 rpm and 266 lbs-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

EPA Fuel Economy: 17 city/23 highway

Cargo capacity: 64.0 cubic feet

Payload capacity: 1,239 lbs.

Towing capacity: 7,716 lbs.

Safety features

Dual front airbags, front seat mounted side-impact airbags, dual head curtain side-impact airbags, rollover sensor system, brake assist, electronic brake-force distribution, anti-slip regulation, electronic stability control, Bi-Xenon high intensity discharge headlamps, adaptive front-lighting system, LED daytime running lights, automatic post-collision braking system, and tire pressure monitoring system. Sport w/Technology adds navigation system, keyless access with push-button engine start, rearview camera, and lane change assistant. Lux adds park distance control. Executive adds area view exterior camera system, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, and lane departure warning.

Warranty

Basic: 3-year/36,000 mile

Powertrain: 10-year/100,000 mile

Corrosion: 12-year/unlimited

Roadside Assistance: 3-year/36,000 mile, 24-hour

Pricing

The base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg SUV starts from $42,705 for Sport up to $59,745 for Executive. Destination charges add $910.