Which Towcar? VW Touareg

What is it?
It’s VW’s understated SUV that’s got one of the best diesel engines currently available anywhere. It’s already more than three years since the Touareg reached these shores, although it took another 18 months for the 3.0 V6 TDi engine to make it here.

Which model is best for towing?
There’s no question that it’s the 3.0TDi; the 2.5TDi unit is lacklustre while the V10 TDi is completely over the top. When you consider that the 3.0TDi offers a massive 369lb ft of torque from just 1750rpm, you have to wonder how the V10 TDi Touareg ever finds any buyers. As a result, the following information relates to the 3.0TDi, which is available only with VW’s excellent Tiptronic transmission.

What about towing?
With torque aplenty from the creamy smooth V6 unit, you’ll never struggle to pull anything up to 2150kg. That’s our self-imposed limit; VW reckons you can pull up to 3500kg but you’d be mad to for any distance. With a 1.5-ton van on the back, we couldn’t even tell it was there for much of the time. With that 2150kg limit, you can pull any new caravan listed in the back of the magazine – even the biggest Airstreams can just about be pulled by the Touareg.

How practical is it?
Some of the colour schemes are very light, but opt for a darker one and it’ll keep its good looks for years thanks to the superb materials used. There’s no seven seat option though (unlike Discovery and XC90), but you can carry up to 415kg or 555 litres with the seats up – fold them down and you’ve got 1570 litres at your disposal.

How much is a tow bar?
VW will charge you £420 for a tow bar complete with three-pin electrics. Unusually, this is rather less than Towcraft in Birmingham (0121 559 0116) will charge you for a Witter system, as their price is a whopping £816.63.

What about build quality?
In typical VW fashion the fit and finish is superb, with high-quality materials throughout. While the leather is far from supple, it appears to be very durable. The switchgear also feels very well engineered.

Is it comfortable?
It’s fabulous for four people, with supportive seats and plenty of adjustment for those in the front. There’s also reach and rake adjustment for the steering wheel, while the ergonomics are spot on. However, the poor soul who has to sit in the middle of the back seat will not be happy; the backrest is convex so it supports the back very poorly. Even with 19-inch wheels the Touareg’s ride isn’t crashy, but if you can afford it, the optional air suspension is worth a look – but it’ll set you back another £2950 because bizarrely you also get xenon lights as part of the package.

How much is it?
You can buy a basic Touareg 3.0TDi for £31,825, although an SE is recommended as it’s better equipped and costs ‘just’ £35,090. The Altitude that we tested costs £37,855 and while it’s very well equipped the SE has all the kit you’ll need.

What are running costs like?
•    You can get 29mpg on a run – but this’ll dip to more like 22mpg when you’re towing.
•    The 3.0TDi has an official CO2 rating of 287g/km, which puts it in band G. That means you’ll pay £215pa for road tax.
•    The car falls into insurance group 16
•    Buy new and a Touareg costs 75.2 pence per mile over three years and 36,000 miles; it’s expected to retain 66% of its value after that time.

Verdict
The Touareg is a brilliantly capable vehicle driven solo or for towing, but it only makes sense from a financial point of view if you buy it with this powerplant. In this form it’s hard to fault, but for similar money there are some equally capable rivals snapping at its heels. Volvo’s recently facelifted XC90, BMW’s soon-to-be-replaced X5 and both the Discovery and Range Rover Sport from the Land Rover stable are all highly capable and very desirable.

Specifications (3.0TDi Altitude)
Engine configuration	2967cc V6 turbodiesel
Power	225bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque	369lb ft @ 1750rpm
Transmission	Six-speed auto/sequential manual
Fuel tank capacity	100 litres (22 gallons)
Fuel consumption	29mpg (22mpg when towing)
Range	640 miles (485 miles)
Price	£37,855
Value	4.5/5
Standard kit	9x19” alloy wheels Heated front seats Leather trim Dual-zone climate control Electric windows all round Electronic stability programme Multimedia system with sat-nav

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