By: IOL Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - Volkswagen's Touareg was recently given a midlife nip and tuck and the updated SUV is now available in South Africa, sporting a refreshed face, improved suspension and some new electronic systems.
Though retaining a familiar look, styling has been enhanced with redesigned headlights, featuring bi-xenon technology as standard, a four-slat grille in place of the previous two-slat design and a restyled front bumper.
The rear end also gains a new bumper, along with freshened taillights. New-look alloy wheel designs (between 17 and 20 inches in diameter) round off the exterior changes along with a range of new colours. New materials, colours and switches freshen up the cabin.
THREE ENGINES
The engine line-up continues as before, with VW offering a choice of one normally aspirated petrol and two turbo-diesel units.
The 3.6-litre V6 FSI delivers 206kW and 360Nm and, according to claims, gets the SUV from 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds and sips 10.9 litres per 100km in those EU lab tests.
Diesel proceedings kick off with the 180kW/550Nm 3-litre V6 TDI and culminate in the brawny 250kW/800Nm 4.1-litre V8 TDI. The two oil burners boast respective claimed 0-100 times of 7.8 and 5.8 seconds and combined consumption totalling 7.2 and 9.1 l/100km.
LOW-RANGE AVAILABLE
All three engines feed a permanent four-wheel drive system, through an eight-speed autobox, and V6 TDI customers can also opt for VW's '4xMotion' system with Terrain Tech package, which brings low range and a lockable centre diff to the party, along with higher ground clearance (230mm versus the standard model's 220mm).
While air suspension continues to be offered as an option, those not ticking that box will enjoy an improved steel-spring suspension, said to offer enhanced comfort and agility.
NEW FEATURES
On the features front, a new Automatic Post-Collision Braking System joins the range as a standard feature, while a new Adaptive Cruise Control with City Emergency Braking joins the options list.
Buyers looking for some extra bling can order an R-Line package that decorates the Touareg with 20-inch 'Talladega' alloy wheels, bespoke bumpers, side sill extensions, aerodynamic roof spoiler and black gloss diffuser.
As before, after-sales back-up comes in the form of a three-year/120 000km warranty and five-year/100 000km maintenance plan.
PRICES
3.6 V6 FSI Elegance - R709 100
3.0 V6 TDI Luxury - R796 500
3.0 V6 TDI Escape (Terrain Tech) - R822 100
4.2 V8 TDI Executive - R990 600