Photo: Volkswagen
It's been a really bad year for variety over in VW land. After learning that the Touareg and its Porsche cousin will lose their 4.2-liter TDI engines, we now have bad news from the hybrid cam.
Demand hasn't been all that great, and when the company announced 2016 model year changes this week, the Touareg Hybrid didn't make the cut. That's not surprising when you consider that the model cost $67,000 and only managed to return 24 mpg on the highway.
Still, it's not all bad news, as upgrades are being made. Lux and Executive variants gain 14-way power adjustable ventilated front seats. You can also order optional 21-inch alloy wheels.
The Touareg Sport and Tech get a Park Distance Control system, as Executive models offer things like Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning.
The best news of all is that after the 2016 models cost an average of $2,000 less. If you've always wanted one of these, now's a good time to get one. Just make sure it's not the Hybrid.
The Hybrid is the only version of the Touareg sold in Europe that drinks petrol. The 2015 Touareg Hybrid combined a 333 hp V6 TSI (supercharged, not turbocharged) to a 52 PS electric motor. Despite its total 380 PS output, it emits as little as a GTI. It can drive at speed up to 31 km/h in the all-electric driving, with zero emissions.
What we're left with is a choice between the old 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 making 280 horsepower or the 3.0 TDI Clean Diesel with 240 ponies. The difference between the two is about $8,000, but the frugal diesel gets nearly 30 on the highway, and the added torque is a bonus.
The first SUV VW ever made is now in its second generation, and a mid-life update was in order, getting rid of the outdated look. Changes have been made to the outside and reflect the latest VW design philosophy. We'd stop somewhere between calling it nice and handsome.
Still, it's not all bad news, as upgrades are being made. Lux and Executive variants gain 14-way power adjustable ventilated front seats. You can also order optional 21-inch alloy wheels.
The Touareg Sport and Tech get a Park Distance Control system, as Executive models offer things like Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning.
The best news of all is that after the 2016 models cost an average of $2,000 less. If you've always wanted one of these, now's a good time to get one. Just make sure it's not the Hybrid.
The Hybrid is the only version of the Touareg sold in Europe that drinks petrol. The 2015 Touareg Hybrid combined a 333 hp V6 TSI (supercharged, not turbocharged) to a 52 PS electric motor. Despite its total 380 PS output, it emits as little as a GTI. It can drive at speed up to 31 km/h in the all-electric driving, with zero emissions.
What we're left with is a choice between the old 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 making 280 horsepower or the 3.0 TDI Clean Diesel with 240 ponies. The difference between the two is about $8,000, but the frugal diesel gets nearly 30 on the highway, and the added torque is a bonus.
The first SUV VW ever made is now in its second generation, and a mid-life update was in order, getting rid of the outdated look. Changes have been made to the outside and reflect the latest VW design philosophy. We'd stop somewhere between calling it nice and handsome.
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