2006 Volkswagen Touareg Model Update

Tweaking the Touareg

VW infuses its SUV with added power and other updates. But is it enough to lift lackluster sales?

Volkswagen debuted its Touareg sport utility vehicle in June 2003 as a 2004 model. It shares its underpinnings and bodywork with the Porsche Cayenne, though the Touareg does not offer that model’s potent turbocharged engines.

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A V10 turbodiesel version of the Touareg was introduced for 2005, but Volkswagen was forced to withdraw it from the U.S. market when the Environmental Protection Agency demanded further tests of its liquid-additive exhaust-treatment system. It’s expected to be offered in the U.S. again sometime during 2006.

For 2006, a new 3.6-liter V6 engine replaces the former 3.2-liter version. The new engine generates 280 hp, which is 40 hp more than the previous V6. An available 4.2-liter V8 remains unchanged, producing 310 hp. Touaregs with either engine can tow an impressive 7,716 pounds with proper equipment.

The Touareg is a heavy vehicle and gets lousy fuel economy. Models equipped with the V6 weigh 5,086 pounds and get an estimated 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway; V8 models weigh 5,300 pounds and get 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway.

The only available transmission remains a sophisticated six-speed Tiptronic automatic that adapts shift patterns to driving style and allows manual gear selection. The V6 model is equipped with an updated four-wheel disc antilock braking system with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist.

Consumer Reports rates the Touareg as having much-worse-than-average reliability. It performs well on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration front- and side-impact crash test but has not been rated for rollovers.

An optional DVD-based navigation system is new for 2006. It integrates a CD changer and an auxiliary connector that can accommodate iPods and other portable devices, and it's also used as a monitor for a new rearview camera that activates when the vehicle’s transmission is shifted into reverse. This not only helps prevent a motorist from inadvertently backing into objects or people in the vehicle’s path but also makes parallel parking easier.

Other updates for 2006 include an outside rear spare-tire carrier that frees up additional interior cargo space and a new roof rack, which comes in silver or black, depending on the model. A 115-volt power outlet replaces the former 12V connection in the rear cargo area, chrome trim has been added to the automatic-transmission shift lever and thicker carpeting is used throughout the interior. A Bluetooth interface that allows hands-free operation of compatible cell phones will become standard later in the model year.

While its sophisticated suspension system and standard 4Motion permanent all-wheel-drive system enable it to tackle rough terrain, the Touareg handles better on the road than do many truck-based SUVs. A rear air suspension is available to further improve the ride. An impressive array of standard chassis-control features, including traction control, electronic stability control, hill descent assist and hill ascent assist, improve traction and safety.

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The Touareg’s interior is plush and comfortable, with front and side airbags for occupants up front and side-curtain airbags for front-seat and backseat passengers. It has many comfort and convenience features but doesn't offer third-row seating, which limits the total occupant capacity to five. A long list of options includes premium items such as heated seats and steering wheel, and four-zone climate control.

While the Touareg has been well received by automotive journalists and is seen as an engineering marvel that offers remarkable comfort on-road and superb utility off-road, it hasn’t caught on with the general public. The company sold just over 27,000 units last year, which was a decline of nearly 35 percent compared with 2004.

A Touareg, also spelled Tuareg and pronounced TWAH-reg, according to Merriam-Webster Online, is a member of a nomadic people in the central and western Sahara Desert.