fbpx
Print this page
Thursday, 20 October 2016 14:15

Nice car, but don’t lose the keys!

Written by  Mark Daniel
The Volkswagen Touareg. The Volkswagen Touareg.

You wonder how the marketing people in the motor industry come up with new model names.

For example, the Volkswagen Touareg name originates in the name of the Tuareg people of North Africa, pastoral nomads who eke out a living in the Sahara Desert.

Scarce in New Zealand, the VW Touareg started life in 2002 as a joint venture, branded alongside the Audi Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne, before an upgrade in 2011.

Depending on your vantage point you get the impression of a big SUV; viewed from the rear it appears extremely wide.

Jump in and close the door; a reassuring ‘thump’ suggests it’s nicely put together; of course – it’s made in Germany. But that’s not quite correct, because it’s built alongside the Audi and the Porsche at VW’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia; they obviously do it right.

The Rural News test car was fitted with a V6, 3.0L turbo diesel pushing out 180kW and 550Nm torque at 2000rpm. Despite its kerb weight of close to 2200kg it showed a reasonable turn of speed, hitting 100km/h in around 7.5 seconds, at sensible fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km.

Interestingly, even when pushed hard in ‘sport’ mode the engine noise was always restrained, no doubt helped by that ‘German’ fit and finish and serious sound deadening between the engine compartment and the passenger area.

On-road progress was equally smooth, the 8-speed transmission slipping through the box like a knife through butter; it was best left to sort out what ratio it wanted to be in, but drivers who like to fiddle would find that the pair of flappy paddle shifters under the wheel work just fine.

On a Coromandel drive on the infamous Thames-Hikuwai road (lots of bends), ‘sport’ mode and a slow in-fast out approach brought a grin to this tester’s face; the car pulled away strongly while maintaining lots of poise, irrespective of changing cambers or surfaces mid-bend.

In the cabin, the five seat layout works well, giving plenty of space for all occupants, with none of the trap of trying to jam seven seats into a space designed for five. This is probably the reason the rear load area is a healthy 580L with space for a crew of five on a weekend away. The seats are firm yet comfortable and provide plenty of lateral support when hustling through bends, and -- a big plus for this reviewer -- the seat squabs are extendable, giving great support to a tall driver’s rear thigh.

Suspension is largely conventional: double wishbones and coils front and rear, working with gas dampers which provide active suspension adjustment and combine with roll bars to keep things on a level plane. 4Motion all-wheel drive ensures power is pushed to all corners and senses the need for more or less action depending, for instance, on whether you’re in mud or on loose gravel.

Safety gear included electronic brake force distribution, stability control, auto levelling suspension, traction control and hillside descent systems. Our car also had blind spot monitoring, land departure warning and adaptive cruise control.

Also in the package was a full colour, 8-inch infotainment system – requiring Germanic logic for best use – and a first-rate camera set-up offering 360 degree visibility and bang-up-to-date parking sensors.

This SUV is right up with the best and warrants a much closer look; but hear one word of warning: a neighbour had visitors from Australia who drove from Auckland in a hired Touareg with their kids, just when the test vehicle was on our drive. After their first day in Waikato the little darlings did a runner with the keyless entry fob which is very effective; for the next four days entry was denied even the finest locksmiths; the car proved impenetrable. Moral: don’t lose the key.

More like this

Second generation Amarok ups the stakes

The first-generation VW Amarok – launched back in 2010 – has built a reputation based on comfort, handling and ability that has led to more 7700 of the vehicles being driven on New Zealand’s roads.

The best just got better

When we reviewed the VW Amorak in February 2016, it was fair to say we quite liked it. For 2017, that ‘like’ has just moved up to a ‘love’, especially because of the new V6 engine offering.

Living up to its big reputation

At a recent vehicle launch I mentioned to a fellow journalist that I was getting the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack to test and he replied "you'll enjoy it".

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.