Item: Used Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 2003 - 2010
Rating: 3
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

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<p dir="ltr">The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.</p>

<p dir="ltr">However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.</p>


VOLKSWAGEN

TOUAREG

<p>The Volkswagen Tourareg was the firm's first ever 4x4 - and it's a fine effort</p>


Used Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 2003 - 2010

<p>In this market, the VW badge doesn't have the same prestige as, say, BMW or Volvo, and that's good news, because it makes the Touareg a little cheaper to buy than a Volvo XC90 or BMW X5. However, with limited supply, prices are far from cheap, and the Discovery is cheaper still.</p>

<p>This is a big car, though, and will cost a lot to run. Even the most fuel-efficient engine, the 2.5 TDi, returns just 28.8mpg officially, and you'll be lucky to get more than 20mpg out of either petrol engine in everyday driving. It's true that these figures are not bad by the standards of the class, but both petrol and diesel Touraegs are worse than the equivalent XC90.</p>

<p>On the other hand, insurance costs are par for the course, and routine maintenance on the VW will be less than on its rivals from BMW, Volvo and Land Rover.</p>

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The Volkswagen Tourareg was the firm's first ever 4x4 - and it's a fine effort

<p>The 3.2 V6 petrol model is not only cheaper to buy than the 2.5 TDI diesel models as used cars, it's also more refined.</p>

<p>Other than the 3.2 V6, the only other petrol engine on the used market is a 4.2-litre V8. It's not much more costly to fuel or insure than the V6, but it's pricier to buy, so is also best avoided.</p>

<p>As for the diesels, there's also the option of a V10 TDI, but examples are still comparatively expensive to buy, and aren't worth it. A 3.0-litre TDI engine joined the range in October 2004, and is the one we'd opt for.</p>

<p>In terms of trim, there's little choice, and the basic rule is the bigger the engine the more kit you get. That said, there's hardly a shortage of toys on any model.</p>

<p>http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/Volkswagen/touareg)**</p>

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

<p>We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.</p>

<p>The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.</p>

<p>A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;</p>

Large SUV

<p>Two recalls have affected the Touareg, both covering cars built in 2003. The first dealt with three areas: the parking brake, which could foul the wiring loom; faulty welding on the left seat console; and an extra earth connection might be necessary in the fuel tank of some petrol models. The second recall dealt with a potential problem with the rear seat belts.</p>

<p>Apart from these, though, there's nothing much to worry buyers. That's partly because the Touareg remains a relatively rare car, so it's difficult to get a clear picture of how solid it is.</p>

<p>Online reports from owners say there have been some problems, but most have been dealt with under warranty. Overall, we expect the Touraeg to match the above-average results by other VWs in JD Power surveys.</p>

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<p>On the road, the Volkswagen Touareg drives very well, albeit with the emphasis on comfort and smoothness, whereas the Porsche Cayenne (the Touareg's sister car) - or BMW X5, for that matter - is more sporty.</p>

<p>It can't quite match the superb blend of ride and handling in a Land Rover Discovery, but it's not far off, which is praise indeed. It's also good off-road, and much better than cars such as the X5 and Volvo XC90.</p>

<p>The Touareg's sheer size also makes it a decent family car, although it's strictly a five-seater, without the third row of seats you get in a Discovery or XC90. The boot is huge and, even though the rear isn't as big as in some rivals, it's large enough to take three six-foot adults in comfort.</p>

<p>http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/Volkswagen/touareg)**</p>

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Used Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 2003 - 2010 review

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