Best Used Luxury Car 2013: The Car Connection's Picks
Luxury cars offer a little more—of what matters to nearly everyone but the most dedicated... Read More
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16 mpg city, 23 highway (VR6); 19/28 mpg (TDI); 20/24 mpg (Hybrid)
GREEN | 6 out of 10
The 2013 VW Touareg offers three different engines, each with a profoundly different character. V-6 (VR6) models aren't all that torquey, but they have acceleration that's plenty strong if you're not towing frequently. On the other hand, if you're towing or at all concerned about fuel economy, we strongly recommend the TDI diesel version. While the Hybrid version improves city mileage somewhat, it's simply not worth the higher price tag in our opinion.
At an EPA 16/23 mpg, the V-6 lands at the bottom of the fuel-economy scale for the Touareg; and that's about par for the class, really. The TDI model rings in at 19/28 mpg, while the Hybrid version gets just 20/24 mpg. And with the Hybrid particularly, there's a stiff price premium.
While we value the Hybrid as a stepping stone toward greater electrification, we'd advise shoppers to make the practical choice toward the TDI—especially if you plan to do much expressway driving or take a lot of highway trips.Conclusion
Touareg V-6 models remain surprisingly thirsty, but Hybrid and TDI models are fuel-efficient utility vehicles.
