Category: Sporting 4x4s 
Price Range: £30,010 to £58,130
Huge amounts of pulling power, smart looks, decent kit levels.
Ride is too firm; pricey; lethargic kickdown.
Understated bling might attract some buyers, but price isn't right.
Standard equipment includes side, head and full-length curtain airbags as well as stability control - a must-have in an SUV with a high centre of gravity. Should the Touareg hit something despite all this, the front airbags may go off at one of two levels of intensity depending on the crash severity. All five seats have three-point belts, the outer four have electrically igniting tensioners and the rear row features Isofix child seat fasteners. The front passenger airbag can be switched off if you want to fit a baby seat.
Four-wheel drive gives good traction on slippery roads and the Touareg's strong structure has helped to secure five Euro NCAP stars for adult occupant protection, four for child occupant protection and one (out of four) for pedestrian protection.
The R50 is awash with safety systems: ABSplus (Anti-lock braking), EBD (electronic brake pressure distribution), hydraulic Brake Assist, ESP (electronic stability programme) including trailer stabilisation, electronic differential lock and anti-slip regulation as well as tyre-pressure control systems to keep the car under control. All models are fitted with an alarm, deadlocks and automatic door locking.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Touareg
wrote on 26 09 2007