JEZ’s favorite way to go green is one that requires no compromises. You should still be able to tow a boat, haul your children’s football equipment and power through those random Southern snowstorms that have become a lot less random this year. Enter the 2010 Volkswagen Touareg TDI, a fuel-sipping, do-it-all SUV that is not afraid of getting dirty while keeping up with the most active families.
The Touareg TDI’s innovative 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine is at the heart of this no-compromises lifestyle. With 225 horsepower and a massive 406 lb.-ft. of torque, the Touareg TDI still averages an impressive 20 mpg. During our testing, even though JEZ does not have a light foot, we bested the EPA’s conservative fuel economy ratings, averaging more than 26 mpg in a variety of driving conditions. While the Touareg won’t leave rubber at a stoplight, it can handily tow all your racing toys to Road Atlanta. In fact, unlike most hybrid SUV’s, this clean, diesel-powered one can tow an incredible 7,700 pounds, enough to enable you to bring your boat to any one of Georgia’s magnificent lakes this summer.
With seating for five, the Touareg is a roomy family hauler with styling that is fun and chic. The Touareg is ruggedly handsome with a unique, wide stance that’s augmented by the sculpted fender flares that swallow the standard 17-inch alloy wheels. Bi-xenon headlights, a welcome option, make it easy to see at night. Inside the design is equally striking. Once in the driver’s seat, you’ll quickly become spoiled by the elevated driving position. Perched high above traffic, you can easily see the road ahead. Rich genuine walnut or poplar wood trim is available, as are sumptuous cricket leather seats. The instrumentation is gorgeous, with bright chrome surrounds on all the gauges. At the center of the instrument cluster is an LCD screen that makes it easy to follow the optional navigation system’s instructions. Clearly, the Touareg TDI is not your average “people’s car.”
The Touareg is a joy to navigate through Atlanta’s highly congested thoroughfares. A must-have option if you are a frequent commuter is the $2,600 Driver Assist Package, which includes adaptive cruise control. This system automatically accelerates and brakes the vehicle based on the proximity of traffic ahead of you and is even capable of bringing the car to a complete stop when necessary. This same package includes VW’s Side Scan lane-change assistant, making it easier and safer to change lanes thanks to radar sensors on the rear bumper’s sides that monitor vehicles in your blind spot.
As with any good family vehicle, safety is paramount, and, fortunately for Volkswagen, this is one of the Touareg’s many strong points. The Touareg TDI comes standard with six airbags (dual front, dual side thorax and side curtain airbags), a sophisticated electronic stability control system and seatbelt pretensioners at all window seats. This peace of mind, coupled with the fact that you can travel more than 650 miles on a single tank of gas, makes the Touareg TDI an outstanding family vehicle that deserves a space inside your garage.