Best Used Volkswagen SUV - Touareg

One of the challenges facing smaller car companies attempting to increase their buyer base is that their product lineup is usually restricted to a few specialized segments of the market. While there are automakers out there who are comfortable with focusing their efforts on building exclusively sedans or hatchbacks, there are others which have tried to take the steps necessary to expand their business ventures into more profitable areas.

One of the best examples of this type of strategy can be seen with the sport-utility vehicle phenomena. Until the late 1990’s, it was not seen as necessary to compete in the off-road vehicle market in North America. Suddenly, as sales of these large, capable trucks took off it became a race to see how many SUV’s could be stacked up in showrooms. Even companies like Honda and Hyundai who had never previously expressed any interest in high-capacity off-road vehicles were getting involved and selling thousands of SUV’s and crossovers.

Volkswagen certainly took notice of the trend and decided that the high profit margins associated with SUV’s would help them expand their presence in North America in more ways than one. Instead of going the route of other import car companies and building a small crossover based on a sedan platform, they instead went whole hog and developed a full-size SUV in conjunction with corporate partners Porsche. The vehicle that would come out of this fruitful partnership, the Volkswagen Touareg, was unlike anything the company had ever built before: large, brawny and quite powerful. The move surprised many longtime fans of the brand and raised the hackles of some devotees who thought that VW’s profiteering on the SUV craze diluted the purity of the company’s image. Nevertheless, the Touareg was roundly praised by automotive critics as an excellent interpretation of the standard sport-utility concept.

One of the most appealing aspects of the Touareg was the way that VW designers managed to combine exception 4x4 abilities with handling characteristics not all that far removed from driving a large four-door automobile. This friendliness, combined with a number of different drivetrains including a powerful diesel, brought many curious buyers into showrooms to check out the SUV. This article discusses the most popular generation of Touareg, and makes a case for why the best used full-size SUV available from Volkswagen is deserving of attention by anyone currently shopping for a large sport-utility vehicle.

2004 – 2007 Volkswagen Touareg

Despite its somewhat obscure name, the Touareg has managed to achieve considerable sales success, thanks in part to the fact that despite its large dimensions it clearly contains a sizeable amount of Volkswagen DNA. The gently sloping front end and bulging fenders are not all that far removed from a Jetta, helping keep the Touareg inside the Volkswagen styling family and not alienate loyal buyers.

The 2004 – 2007 Volkswagen Touareg is a victory for the German company’s engineers as well as its designers, as it represents one of the few platforms sent to North America with the company’s powerful V10 turbo-diesel engine. Available sporadically at first and then consistently past 2006 due to emissions regulations, this 5.0 liter unit produces 310 horsepower and an astonishing 510 lb-ft of torque. A 4.2 liter V8 engine making between 310 and 350 horsepower depending upon the model year and a smaller V6 rated at up to 280 horsepower in later editions of the vehicle are also options for drivers who don’t quite need the excessive power that the diesel provides. The Touareg’s excellent all-wheel drive system combines with an adjustable air-ride suspension to make it a formidable off-road performer, and regardless of engine choice the SUV is rated to tow up to 7,700 lbs.

With 71 cubic feet of cargo space available with the rear seats folded flat, the 2004 – 2007 Touareg’s impressive utility continues on the inside of vehicle as well. The long wheelbase provides excellent passenger room no matter where occupants find themselves sitting, and with optional leather and four zones of climate control, the SUV is a very comfortable place to spend some time.

The 2004 – 2007 Volkswagen Touareg is a resounding winner, proving that sometimes it is possible to hit a home run the first time a company steps up to the plate. A used full-size SUV the Touareg is extremely competitive with offerings from Japan and Detroit, making it a must drive for families looking for extra room and the peace of mind that all-wheel drive provides.