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2008 Volkswagen Touareg Review

August 1, 2008

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

more of a touch-up on the first one
Cars.com

subtly revised styling
MyRide.com

looks every bit a member of the VW family
Kelley Blue Book

A minor refresh for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg subtly enhances the SUV’s adroit appearance and quality interior.

“Restyled headlamps and a large chrome grille that echoes the look of the Volkswagen Passat,” says Kelley Blue Book of the front of VW’s first entry into the SUV field, restyled subtly for 2008. They go on to praise its “tall, wide stance” and “short front and rear overhangs that also help improve approach and departure angles.” Cars.com likes the exterior freshening, making note of the grille that “adopts Volkswagen’s familiar silver faceplate,” as well as “darker taillights and a new roof spoiler.” Seventeen-inch wheels are now standard with the V-6 (VR6 in VW-speak), 19s for the V-8 and turbodiesel V-10. Of the new silhouette, MyRide.com feels “it gives the nose some character, something the generic-looking first run of Touaregs lacked,” and otherwise describes the Touareg shape as a “classic two-box SUV with all the edges rounded off.”

MyRide.com likes “the simplicity of the layout, the proper orientation of all the controls” on the inside of the Touareg. ConsumerGuide feels “the gauges, dashboard, and console look contemporary and upscale, but the proliferation of buttons and controls requires a preflight briefing.” They temper this criticism, noting the “Touareg 2 matches any luxury SUV for quality of interior materials.” Of the standard V-Tex Leatherette, MyRide.com says, “it's stiff but otherwise did a decent job of feeling like it once came from an animal of some sort.” Upgrades feature sumptuous leather and wood, an interior treatment that Kelley Blue Book attests “easily rivals the best in the luxury SUV class.” Car and Driver mentions “its handsome IP” that “includes analog gauges for water temp, oil temp, and volts – a rarity.”

Conclusion

The freshened 2008 Volkswagen Touareg looks more functional, capable, and luxurious, inside and out.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:more of a touch-up on the first oneCars.comsubtly revised stylingMyRide.comlooks every bit a member of the VW familyKelley Blue Book A minor refresh for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg subtly enhances the SUV’s adroit appearance and quality interior. “Restyled headlamps and a large chrome grille that echoes the look of the Volkswagen Passat,” says Kelley Blue Book of the front of VW’s first entry into the SUV field, restyled subtly for 2008. They go on to praise its “tall, wide stance” and “short front and rear overhangs that also help improve approach and departure angles.” Cars.com likes the exterior freshening, making note of the grille that “adopts Volkswagen’s familiar silver faceplate,” as well as “darker taillights and a new roof spoiler.” Seventeen-inch wheels are now standard with the V-6 (VR6 in VW-speak), 19s for the V-8 and turbodiesel V-10. Of the new silhouette, MyRide.com feels “it gives the nose some character, something the generic-looking first run of Touaregs lacked,” and otherwise describes the Touareg shape as a “classic two-box SUV with all the edges rounded off.” MyRide.com likes “the simplicity of the layout, the proper orientation of all the controls” on the inside of the Touareg. ConsumerGuide feels “the gauges, dashboard, and console look contemporary and upscale, but the proliferation of buttons and controls requires a preflight briefing.” They temper this criticism, noting the “Touareg 2 matches any luxury SUV for quality of interior materials.” Of the standard V-Tex Leatherette, MyRide.com says, “it's stiff but otherwise did a decent job of feeling like it once came from an animal of some sort.” Upgrades feature sumptuous leather and wood, an interior treatment that Kelley Blue Book attests “easily rivals the best in the luxury SUV class.” Car and Driver mentions “its handsome IP” that “includes analog gauges for water temp, oil temp, and volts – a rarity.” ConclusionThe freshened 2008 Volkswagen Touareg looks more functional, capable, and luxurious, inside and out.  2008 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: “more of a touch-up on the first one” MyRide.com: “subtly revised styling” Kelley Blue Book: “looks every bit a member of the VW family” A minor refresh for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg subtly enhances the SUV’s adroit ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Touareg is one of the best SUVs its size for off-roading or towing, but if most of your needs involve passenger-hauling, you’d be better off with most of the alternatives in its size and price range. The Acura MDX and Lexus RX feel roomier inside and handle well, though their appointments might not feel quite as exclusive. The Mercedes-Benz M-Class has a more spacious, more passenger-friendly interior, while the Q7, which is related to the Touareg, has an especially beautiful interior and is tuned for road duty rather than serious off-roading, resulting in a better ride and crisper handling. The X5 and MDX are the best choices of this group for those who want an SUV that feels frisky and agile; the result of juggling the roles of tow vehicle, off-road crawler, and luxurious family conveyance, the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg feels surprisingly heavy and cumbersome in day-to-day driving. Finally, there’s the Touareg’s less-than-stellar reputation for reliability.

Next Steps:

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See the Volkswagen Touareg in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

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