Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The 3.0 litre V6 cylinder turbo diesel engine produces maximum figures of 242 bhp at 4000 rpm and 405 lb-ft at 2000 rpm, which is plenty to make this Touareg feel adequately muscular. A 0-62 mph time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 137 mph are respectable figures and show that for its size, this Touareg is no slouch.

On the road, this Volkswagen Touareg’s ride is cosseting yet slightly firmer than its SE sibling due to sportier suspension, though body roll is still kept in check. The 8 speed gearbox is smooth most of the time and the steering is accurate and feels nicely weighted, but there is a little tyre rumble over rougher surfaces. There’s very little in the way of wind noise and the engine is nice and quiet at cruising speeds, which makes for refined motorway travel. Overall, the Touareg is an enjoyable and refined car to drive. Its off-road abilities are best described as adequate rather than advanced and if off-roading is an important requirement, then the Escape model would be better because it comes with 4MOTION, Volkswagen’s advanced four-wheel-drive as well as greater under-body protection.

The driver’s seat has height adjustment and the steering can be adjusted so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The dashboard is laid out intuitively and is made from high quality materials, but many of the fixtures are shared with cheaper models from the brand, which makes the cabin feel less special. All round visibility is good thanks to the high driving position.

The Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr is a well-proportioned 4x4 with handsome lines and finely sculpted bodywork. It comes with silver roof rails and heat insulating tinted glass. Inside, you get climate control, electric windows front and rear, electric door mirrors, rear parking sensors, leather seats, cruise control, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, Satnav and a CD player as standard. It also comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, remote central locking and immobiliser and alarm.

Among the available options is metallic paint at £700.

There is enough space in the cabin for five adults to travel comfortably and boot space is generous. With the rear seats in use there is 580 litres of capacity and with them folded down (which doesn’t quite create a completely flat surface) it opens up a very handy 1642 litres of load space. They also slide backwards and forwards to offer differing load spaces.

This Volkswagen Touareg comes with many safety features including seven airbags, ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Isofix child seat mountings and stability control.

Volkswagens have above average reliability and this car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty.

At £44,295, the Volkswagen Touareg Altitude 3.0 V6 TDI 5dr is reasonably good value and it comes with a good level of kit. It has a spacious cabin and, although it’s let down slightly by cheap fixtures, it is a comfortable place to be. It’s a decent ride and has the benefit of four-wheel-drive for cross-country motoring or coping with winter weather. It’s also reasonably frugal and so buyers will enjoy relatively low running costs. A combined cycle of 39.2 mpg is a respectable figure in this class and a CO2 emissions figure of 189 g/km means the taxes and running costs are manageable, although the emissions are a little high.