Shelby 350H – Unrestored and 30 Years Racing
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2008 Volkswagen Touareg Safety Review

August 1, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

more safety gear loaded within
MyRide.com

enhanced electronic stability system with brake assist
Cars.com

One trick feature of the new Touareg 2 is its ‘ABSplus
Autoblog

The best part of the Touareg has always been its impregnability
Popular Mechanics

Five stars across the board for frontal and side impact
NHTSA

The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg’s stout platform is enhanced with new high-tech active safety features, making it less likely to need its passive ones.

In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) front and side impact crash testing, the 2008 Touareg earned five stars all the way around. It earned four stars in the rollover resistance category, perhaps explaining Volkswagen’s decision to include the aforementioned Active Rollover Protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet tested the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg.

The most prolific safety news for the Touareg’s 2008 model year is in the realm of braking. In addition to the Hydraulic Braking Assistant, which, as MyRide.com explains, “charges the braking system fully if the throttle is suddenly disengaged,” there is the new ABSPlus, which is designed specifically to shorten off-road stopping distances. On loosely packed surfaces such as dirt and snow, ABSPlus helps to reduce stopping distances by up to 20 percent “by intentionally locking up to push debris in front of the wheels,” reports Cars.com.

Popular Mechanics brings word of a new rollover protection system, Active Rollover Protection, that “activates the side and side-curtain airbags to reduce the possibility of injury” if sensors detect that the Touareg is about to go belly up. They also mention a new tire pressure monitoring system that “delivers real-time air-pressure readings to the driver more quickly and accurately.”

Other new safety features for the 2008 Touareg include Understeer Control Logic, which, as MyRide.com explains, “improves the vehicle’s dynamics if it understeers in a corner.” They also mention the ESP dry braking function, which “engages the brake linings with the disc at repeated intervals” during wet weather to keep the pads and disc surfaces dry and ready for effective braking at a moment’s notice.

Conclusion

The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg has excellent crash-test scores and abundant safety features.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:more safety gear loaded withinMyRide.comenhanced electronic stability system with brake assistCars.comOne trick feature of the new Touareg 2 is its ‘ABSplusAutoblogThe best part of the Touareg has always been its impregnabilityPopular MechanicsFive stars across the board for frontal and side impactNHTSA The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg’s stout platform is enhanced with new high-tech active safety features, making it less likely to need its passive ones. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) front and side impact crash testing, the 2008 Touareg earned five stars all the way around. It earned four stars in the rollover resistance category, perhaps explaining Volkswagen’s decision to include the aforementioned Active Rollover Protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet tested the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg. The most prolific safety news for the Touareg’s 2008 model year is in the realm of braking. In addition to the Hydraulic Braking Assistant, which, as MyRide.com explains, “charges the braking system fully if the throttle is suddenly disengaged,” there is the new ABSPlus, which is designed specifically to shorten off-road stopping distances. On loosely packed surfaces such as dirt and snow, ABSPlus helps to reduce stopping distances by up to 20 percent “by intentionally locking up to push debris in front of the wheels,” reports Cars.com. Popular Mechanics brings word of a new rollover protection system, Active Rollover Protection, that “activates the side and side-curtain airbags to reduce the possibility of injury” if sensors detect that the Touareg is about to go belly up. They also mention a new tire pressure monitoring system that “delivers real-time air-pressure readings to the driver more quickly and accurately.” Other new safety features for the 2008 Touareg include Understeer Control Logic, which, as MyRide.com explains, “improves the vehicle’s dynamics if it understeers in a corner.” They also mention the ESP dry braking function, which “engages the brake linings with the disc at repeated intervals” during wet weather to keep the pads and disc surfaces dry and ready for effective braking at a moment’s notice. ConclusionThe 2008 Volkswagen Touareg has excellent crash-test scores and abundant safety features.  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:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 Volkswagen Touareg near you

See the Volkswagen Touareg in Other Years:

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

Comments (0 total)

Be the first to post a comment

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy