Volkswagen TOUAREG V6 TDI SPORT A For Sale

LOGIN REGISTER NEWSLETTER Home NEWS REVIEWS PRODUCTS COMPARE CARS VIDEOS BUYING USED CARS NEW CARS MOTORSHOWS COMPETITIONS 6 ISSUES FOR £1 Search Car Reviews: You're in - Car Reviews: First Drives Volkswagen Touareg VW Touareg Altitude 3.0 V6 TDI The Touareg's V6 engine is well made, but many would prefer the SE spec trim over the Altitude's Auto Express Car Reviews Text: Chris Thorp / Photos: Pete GibsonApril 2007 Rating: Times have never been tougher for luxury 4x4s. Environmental concerns are putting gas-guzzling cars under the spotlight more than ever before. No matter which engine you go for, the Altitude is fitted with the latest Touareg technology.So, to keep its big off-roader in the headlines for the right reasons, Volkswagen recently revised the Touareg. In Issue 949, we were impressed by the V10-powered model's talents - but does the flagship Altitude trim, with a more affordable, less polluting V6 diesel, scale new heights?We drove the previous-generation Altitude in Issue 924, and its successor has as much visual impact. It's now established as the top model in the three-trim line-up, and the most striking feature is its bodykit.With unique bumpers, side skirts and a roof spoiler, the Touareg has never been more imposing. In fact, the lower bodywork entirely changes the big 4x4's proportions - with less ground clearance, it has the stance of a large estate. Other styling additions include stainless steel-finished twin exhaust pipes and huge 19-inch alloy wheels, which give the VW the image it needs to tempt Range Rover Sport buyers. The Altitude also benefits from the latest Touareg's Eos-style radiator grille and reshaped headlights.Inside, the range-topper is fitted with a raft of equipment as standard. The Touareg's cabin still isn't all that exciting, but it's solidly put together, comfortable and practical. This model comes with everything from dual climate control to leather trim.However, to get the specification of our test car you need deep pockets. Raid the options list - which ranges from a £325 tyre pressure monitoring system to a £2,495 air-suspension and bi-xenon headlight package - and the figure balloons to £46,300. If you stick to the standard spec, the price of the V6 diesel stays at £38,375 - that's £17,675 cheaper than its V10 oil-burning big brother.The good news is that the engine demands few compromises. Mated to the standard six-speed automatic transmission, its 500Nm of torque pulls strongly in both city traffic and at motorway speeds. The gearbox is the model's biggest hindrance, as it has a reluctance to kick down that often sees the driver reaching for the much sharper responses of sport mode.Use all the available performance, and 0-62mph takes 9.2 seconds - 1.4 seconds slower than the V10. But the V6's 26.9mpg fuel economy and 278g/km CO2 emissions shame the pricier model's 23mpg and 332g/km.The lazier pace of this variant also fits in far better with the Touareg's character. Handling and body control are adequate for a large mud-plugger, although the VW is no driver's car.No matter which engine you go for, the Altitude is fitted with the latest Touareg technology. A key safety feature is ABSplus, which cuts braking distances over rough surfaces by allowing a bow wave of gravel to build up in front of a skidding wheel.It won't ever be described as a green car, but the Touareg remains a practical and luxurious all-rounder. For an alternative review of the latest Volkswagen Touareg visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk What Next COMPARE CAR LOANS COMPARE CAR INSURANCE For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift! < Previous Next > 1 Comment The Touareg V-6 TDI is a remarkably smooth SUV. There is almost none of the characteristic growl that distinguishes the Touareg V-10 TDI from its gasoline-powered competition. The main reason for this is the injection system. Although the V-10 TDI uses unit injectors, a technology on which Volkswagen has suspended further development, the V-6 TDI gets its fuel served up by a common-rail system operating with piezo injectors. This allows VW to optimize the combustion for smoothness. http://www.carsfind.net By Remaine on 8 September, 2010, 8:47pm You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join. Email: Password: Sponsored Results More VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG articles Car ReviewsNew Reviews: Volkswagen TouaregNew Reviews: Volkswagen TouaregFirst Drives: VW Touareg V10 TDI SEFirst Drives: Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI SportFirst Drives: Volkswagen Touareg ExpeditionNewsAuto Express News: VW Touareg R50Auto Express News: Touareg tows Boeing 747 Related Index Pages Volkswagen Volkswagen Touareg Social Bookmarks Link to this article: For more details about purchasing this feature and/or images for editorial usage, please contact the Dennis Syndication team on pictures@dennis.co.uk Email a Friend Print this Pictures - Advertisement - Sponsored Results FIRST OPINION This VW combines the best and worst aspects of the Touareg. Under the bonnet is the pick of the engine range. The V6 diesel unit is well up to the job, both on and off the tarmac, and comes with a huge cost saving over its V10 brother. However, most buyers will be better off with SE spec rather than the top-of-the-range Altitude trim. Unless you like the garish bodykit, the cheaper, more discreet variant is likely to suit your 4x4 needs. AT A GLANCE New chrome grille sets latest Touareg apart, while V6 diesel is the pick of the engine range. Cabin gets lots of kit and a quality finish, but isn't very exciting. Price: £38,375 Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel Power: 22bhp Transmission: Five-speed manual 0-62mph: 9.2 seconds Top speed: 109mph Economy: 26.9mpg Standard equipment: Adjustable steering, remote central locking, electric windows Find Used Cars Find your Volkswagen Touareg with our new used car search. £61990 - £29985 £29985 - £25985 Less than £25985 - Advertisement - Company Website | Media Information | Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Subs Info | Voucher Codes | SitemapOur Other Websites: The First Post | Custom PC | Evo | IT Pro | IT Pro India | MacUser | Men's Fitness | Micro Mart | PC Pro | bit-tech | Know Your Mobile | Octane | Expert Reviews | Channel Pro | Know Your Cell | Know Your Mobile India | iGizmo | Digital SLR Photography | Den of Geek | The Week | Computer Shopper | Dennis Communications | Magazines | Mobile Phone Deals | Competitions | Health & Fitness | CarBuyer © 2010 Dennis Publishing Limited. 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NHTSA proposes mandatory backup cameras by 2014 Officially Official: 2012 Audi A6 grows up, borrows a page from A8 ←→ First Drive: Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) on Jan 27th 2009 at 11:58AM Volkswagen Touareg TDI – Click above for high-res image gallery The way Volkswagen talks up the $42,800 Touareg V6 TDI, you'd almost think it was the ninja of SUVs: a single package with so many highly developed capabilities that its gas-engined foes are annihilated and left on the side of the road with ninja shuriken lodged in their tailgates before they even realize they've been outdone. The engine alone promises reduced fuel consumption, fewer emissions, more power, more torque, better responsiveness and quiet progress. The only questions then are: Does it deliver and will anyone buy it? We took it for a spin to find out. Follow the jump for the story.Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDIPhotos Copyright ©2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc. The diesel Touareg is essentially unchanged from the gas Touareg, so the sole story here is the engine. Volkswagen has done a Manhattan Project on its oil burner, going over everything that could make it more appealing to customers. It's a three-horse race in the non-gasoline powerplant derby, and diesels, hybrids and electric vehicles are fighting for share. VW and Audi have thrown their bets on the filly called Oil Burner, and the next couple of years will inform us whether it can win more than 5% of the market. To the engine, then. Sounding like something they got from the lab that created Wolverine, the compact engine block with a 90-degree V angle is made of high-strength vermicular graphite iron. Being 15% lighter than cast iron and not even 1.5 feet long, it has been fitted with aluminum alloy cylinder heads and weights 498.2 pounds. Within that block, the common-rail fuel injection system has been thoroughly refined. Electronically-controlled piezo fuel injectors permit injection pressures of 2,000 bar (29,000 psi) and spray through eight-holed nozzles for a finer fuel mist and better, more efficient combustion. Those injectors are also lighter and have fewer moving parts, and so can move at twice the speed of previous solenoid-valve injectors. With all of that, the number of injection processes per cycle can be varied and optimized as needed. The turbocharger, served by two intercoolers, has variable turbine geometry, with vane angles controlled by an electric servo motor. And get this: it's ribbed. The engine block has fluting to diminish vibration, and "all pathways on the engine mounts that could transmit vibrations to the interior have been eliminated." Finally, to aid engine packaging, the ancillaries and camshafts are driven by maintenance free chains mounted in back of the engine.So, what's all that get you? A torquey little V6 that grinds out 221 hp and 407 lb-ft. That latter number comes as soon as 1,750 rpm, obviating the need for much footwork with the pedal on the right when it's time to git 'er done. 0-60 miles-per-hour is estimated at 8.5 seconds, which isn't all that bad for what is probably a 5,000-plus-pound vehicle (VW hasn't divulged its weight yet, but the Touareg V10 TDI rocked the scales at 5,800 pounds). It's not a sprinter, obviously, although neither is it a laggard. It is the marathon – or perhaps, the ultramarathon – where this car makes its name. VW says you'll get from Kokomo to the Poconos on one tank, which is 600+ miles for those of us who have nothing to do with either locale. Strictly by the numbers, you could go 660 miles if you used every drop of diesel in the truck: the Touareg is rated at 25 miles-per-gallon on the highway, and has a 26.4-gallon tank.In reality, you might be able to go even further. On a recent drive in the similarly-engined Audi Q7 on Audi's mileage marathon, we drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles, about 352 miles, and had a half tank left when we got home – and we weren't being kind with the footwork. In that Q7, we never got any worse than 21 mpg and we were doing some serious speeds through some serious mountains. The Audi Q7 diesel was billed as getting 33.1 mpg on the highway, so if you're a little kinder than we were to Mr. Throttle, we're sure he and his friend Mr. Gas Mileage will be a little kinder to you.The engine has also been designed to be kinder to the environment, thanks to its use of VW's AdBlue system. Exhaust gasses pass through a catalyst where nitrous oxide is measured, and based on that measurement an appropriate amount of AdBlue treatment is injected into a dosing module. AdBlue is 32.5% urea, and mixed with the hot exhaust it breaks down into ammonia and converts the NOx to nitrogen and water. The resultant NOx levels are reduced by about 90%. The AdBlue tank is located under the spare tire, and is heated for cold weather climates since it freezes at 12 degrees Fahrenheit. The solution itself is non-toxic, odorless and biodegradable, and the tank holds enough for around 15,000 miles. When it needs to be refilled, that can be done during regular dealer service, and VW mentioned that places like JiffyLube will carry it. So here we have a 50-state diesel with an earth-friendly mien. But would you want to actually drive it in any state? In real-world driving, the V6 TDI shares a number of beneficial similarities with its V10-powered (former) sibling: it is quiet, powerful and refined.At a cruise, the engine is as quiet as church just before a service, with only the slightest hum as any aural indication that the car is actually on. It is also steady as a rock: vibrations are essentially non-existent.The V6 is 90 hp and 146 lb-ft down on the V10, but as we piloted the two-ton-plus SUV around snaking canyon roads, it was evident that VW has done its work to make sure all available power is applied to forward motion. Even on steep uphill grades, you don't worry about losing momentum because the Touareg will pick it right back up again on demand. The ride would be best described as business casual: crisp and smart, it suits all of the sporting situations you could wish to get into in an SUV. VW says "The 3.0 TDI produces a quiet, cultivated and harmonious sound. The hard 'knocking' and metallic rattling at partial load is history." That is true... when you're cruising. And that is what makes it all the more jarring when you get hard on the power. It's as if the sound insulation has evaporated with a flick of the accelerator. Engine noise commandeers the cabin. Under mild acceleration the noise is alright. Even under hard acceleration it isn't awful, it is simply unexpected because the contrast is so striking. We found the same thing in the V10 – get on the gas, and you can hear the horses neigh. That was the only demerit we gave to this vehicle. The only question is whether buyers will pony up the $3,000 premium for it over the VR6 FSI. The TDI will get you more power and much better gas mileage – 3 mpg more in the city, 5 mpg more on the highway, but these days, you'll pay substantially more for diesel at the pump, and that will likely more than neutralize the extra mileage. As fine a vehicle as it is, then, is it worth it? The best answer we can give to that one right now is probably this: We'll find out.Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDIPhotos Copyright ©2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.Meals and accommodation for this drive were paid for by the manufacturer. Filed under: SUV, Volkswagen, First DriveTags: diesel, featured, first drive, FirstDrive, suv, touareg, touareg 2, touareg diesel, touareg v6 tdi, touareg2, TouaregDiesel, TouaregV6Tdi, volkswagen, volkswagen touareg, volkswagen touareg tdi, volkswagen touareg v6 tdi, VolkswagenTouareg, VolkswagenTouaregTdi, VolkswagenTouaregV6Tdi, vw, vw touareg, VwTouareg Print this Email this Comments (61) Tweet '); })(document); Volkswagen 2010 Volkswagen VW Diesels VW Vans VW Sedans VW SUVs VW Cars Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen CC Volkswagen Eos Volkswagen GLI Volkswagen Golf Volkswagen GTI VW Jetta VW Jetta TDI VW Passat VW Rabbit VW Tiguan Used VW for Sale Powered by AOL Autos Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)66.9052576783%1nardvark 12:09PM (1/27/2009)Um, after all of the hoolaballoo, it only gets 25mpg? I mean, the Flex gets 24mpg with gas. Why the heck would you pay the diesal premium for this thing?Reply ↓↑report84.3137254902%2StickShift 12:26PM (1/27/2009)Torque. Lots of it. Mountains of it.I imagine this as slotting in between the V6 and V8 performance and price wise, rather than an ultra green model. $3,000 for all that torque, without a real hit to operating costs seems like a decent deal to me. This rings especially true when the V8 starts near $10,000 higher. ↓↑report78.9431545236%3bhtooefr 12:43PM (1/27/2009)That's 25 MPG EPA highway, I believe.Closer to 30 MPG real world. The EPA numbers are 18.3% low on diesels, according to the EPA's own admission. ↓↑report70.4986149584%4rodan32 1:23PM (1/27/2009)And as much as I like the Flex, the Touareg is a very capable vehicle by comparison. If you had a mind to take it off-road, it's a surprisingly good performer. ↓↑report53.8090128755%5Dondonel 1:28PM (1/27/2009)@stickshiftThat torque at the crank does not matter, diesels are geared much higher because of the low red line. Diesels' torque at the wheel is not much different from that of a gasoline engine of the same power. ↓↑report69.8994252874%6G-Meister 2:34PM (1/27/2009)Dondonel- because of the engineered torque output of a modern diesel, there is some advantage: peak torque is available from the onset of boost up to about 3/4 redline. This is because torque is actually limited by the fuel map to make everything hold together nice and neat. since this means very broad torque, the benefits are noticable. Also, gas engines in light trucks peak around 3400-4000rpm. Diesel torque comes on at 15-2000rpm, again, as soon as there's boost. even with the (numerically) lower final drive, this happens much quicker in the diesel. Lastly, the diesel can stay in the cruising gear all day going up grades, again, because full torque is available. ↓↑report54.6152206353%7MikeW 7:20PM (1/27/2009)This is a German vehicle, it is not geared tall.1-25mph, 2-45mph, 3-65mph, 4-90mph, 5-125, 6-130mph (governed)It should more than hold its own against the V8 at altitude. ↓↑report68.5567010309%8BigWill 8:19PM (1/27/2009)You do realize that the weight of this thing is a lot closer to 3 tons than it is to 2 tons. ↓↑report56.602784742%9spin cycle 10:36PM (1/27/2009)G-meister:This is not special to Diesels. My 2000 A6 2.7T has full torque available from 1850RPM to 4500RPM, and keeps revving to 6500RPM. And I assure you with the gearing in my car, it hit 1850RPM before your Diesel hit 1500-2000. ↓↑report70.4%10Hamud 12:13PM (1/27/2009)If it was made at the same lab that created me, the engine would be adamantium, not iron graphite, eheheheheh.The mileage doesn't impresse me though, mainly for a diesel engine.Reply ↓↑report73.0822873082%11Jared 12:13PM (1/27/2009)Overpriced. Overweight. And unreliable.Reply ↓↑report72.9800629591%12psyvicpeng 12:20PM (1/27/2009)No kidding. My father works in the industry, visited the Touareg factory in Germany; and then vowed never to buy a Touareg ↓↑report26.5765765766%13Suddhodana 2:03PM (1/27/2009)Sorry, but your father lied to you, he was in Slovakia and enjoyed the woman....There is no German Touareg factory, it is completly build in Bratislava. Fail. ↓↑report53.6082474227%14fernan 10:01PM (1/27/2009)Fail Phony story, your dad should have made up something about audi, or that he liked german sausages etc ↓↑report53.8090128755%15Dondonel 12:16PM (1/27/2009)Embarrassing fuel consumption for that hp and performance, even gasoline engine SUVs get better fuel consumption. And is that a $40k interior?? did they melt unsold Rabbits to make that interior?Reply ↓↑report58.7750523159%16zamafir 12:32PM (1/27/2009)What other SUVs these sizes provide that fuel economy? VW's gas V6 sure doesn't, and this is a smidge quicker as well. Yes the 3.0TDI is an odd pairing in a truck this large, which is why the Q5 TDI should be a lot more fun, faster, and more fuel efficient. I get where you’re coming from, it’s why I bought a 7 seat suv that manages 25-27mpg vs the Tahoe’s 20, but I also realize I won’t be towing as much, there are trade offs everywhere when we’re talking bit fat trucks. ↓↑report53.8090128755%17Dondonel 1:24PM (1/27/2009)@zamafir2010 Equinox is rated 17/24 mpg with a 255 hp V6 gasoline engine and AWD2009 Forester XT is rated 19/24 mpg with a 224 hp gasoline engine and AWD25 mpg highway for a 220 hp diesel engine SUV is embarrassing no matter how you look at it. ↓↑report80.5466237942%18Ken Stamper 1:48PM (1/27/2009)@DondonelYou are comparing the Touareg to two SUV's that are much smaller and lighter and utterly lack the Touareg's off road capability. You might as well be comparing the VW to a Honda Fit. And yes, of course the diesel has a relatively low HP number compared to a similar-size gas engine. But it makes up for it with torque. Try towing a boat with a Forester's turbo four. ↓↑report59.701840205%19Dan 2:02PM (1/27/2009)Comparing to an Equinox or Forester shows you have no idea about what what this vehicle is.The Touareg is a real SUV with a low range, a 7700 lb tow rating, 4WD - not AWD -, air suspension with major ground clearance. Not a FWD biased cute ute.Compared to other real SUVs like the Explorer, Jeep Commander, etc. 17/25 is pretty damn good. The diesel Grand Cherokee rated 17/22.That said, it's 500 pounds overweight and $10,000 ovepriced which puts it up against a luxury field where 220 hp is grossly inadequate. And like most VWs they gave it a pretentious yuppie d-bag name. ↓↑report53.8090128755%20Dondonel 2:33PM (1/27/2009)@ken and dan,Yes, long stroke engines are much better suited for towing, but that does not affect their fuel consumption. And please don't start a discussion about Touareg's off-road abilities, they are mediocre at best, despite the low range and locking diff (which actually isn't).25mpg on diesel is equivalent to 21mpg on gasoline, this is unacceptable for a small 220hp 5 seat SUV, regardless of its towing capacity. ↓↑report | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments Featured Breaking Popular Quick Spin: 2011 Subaru Forester Quick Spin: 2011 Ford Flex Titanium Quick Spin: 2011 Dodge Avenger Autoblog Podcast #207: Fun CR-Z, Lincoln's new designer, the return of the Dodge Viper Quick Spin: Audi Quattro Concept View all Officially Official: Volkswagen Golf R headed to U.S. for 2012 Wards announces 10 best engines Spy Shots: Are you the 2012 Volkswagen NMS? 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Anatomy and the Perfect (Undead) Headshot Home How-To Projects & Plans Home Improvement Tools Reviews Skills Featured Stories Top 10 Home Brewing Recipes Top 11 Tool Gifts for Dad Outdoors Featured Stories Director Danny Boyle on 127 Hours This Is My Job: Boat Builder Recreation Sports Survival This is My Job DIY Central Homepage / Automotive / Auto News / 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI Test Drive: So. Cal. to Baja Road Trip with a Clean Diesel Engine 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI Test Drive: So. Cal. to Baja Road Trip with a Clean Diesel Engine Email Print RSS Share October 1, 2009 12:00 AM ENSENADA, MEXICO — The Volkswagen Touareg was a latecomer to the SUV game, debuting as a 2004 model in a booming sport-ute market that was encouraged by relatively cheap fuel. A handful of V10 TDI Touaregs became available in the U.S., but the car's monster torque was accompanied by a high price tag and less than stellar emissions—not exactly the best of both worlds. Four years later, things have changed. Clean diesel technology offers big torque and low emissions in a package whose only drawback seems to be the uncertainty of diesel prices. The new Jetta TDI paved the way with Prius-beating fuel economy, so we were excited to put the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI to the test. To gauge how it handles a long-distance drive, we road-tripped from Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico for the 41st annual running of the Baja 1000, where a highly modified VW TDI Touareg was scheduled to run in the unlimited Trophy Truck class. The action in the dirt was exciting. But the civilian V6 TDI offered a revealing look at how next-gen clean-diesel technology can make long trips in a large vehicle efficient, and fun too. —Basem Wasef The Specs Unlike the monster V10 TDI engine in past Touaregs, the 2009 Touareg V6 TDI model is equipped with a reasonably sized 3.0-liter V6 that uses an advanced DeNOx emissions system. Its common rail-injection system uses piezo units operating at nearly 29,000 psi, with eight-hole nozzles designed to introduce tiny amounts of diesel fuel for combustion. The direct-injection system works in conjunction with an intercooled turbocharger, and quick-start heater plugs are capable of hitting 1800 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 seconds. Nitrogen oxide from combustion is cleaned up using urea that's sprayed into the exhaust stream before exhaust gases hit the DeNOx catalyst. The solution is called AdBlue, a trademarked formulation of synthetically produced aqueous solution that's nontoxic, odorless and biodegradable, according to VW. Adblue is stored in a 4.5-gal tank underneath the spare tire. It is sprayed continuously and metered according to the amount of exhaust gas produced by the engine; your Adblue consumption will vary based on how aggressively you drive, but the system is intended to be filled up at VW dealerships during regularly scheduled maintenance. The V6 produces 221 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque, enough twist to placate most enthusiasts who pine for the late, great V10 model. Expect 60 mph to be reached in about 8.5 seconds, with an electronic speed limiter kicking in at a healthy 130 mph. Because nitrogen-oxide emissions are reduced by up to 90 percent, Volkswagen claims that "the engine's exhaust gases are cleaner than the air it breaths in," though we're suspecting that claim might vary depending on what city you're in. The V6 TDI is EPA-rated at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and meets Tier 2, Bin 5/ULEV II standards. The diesel powerplant is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive with adaptive torque distribution. The Touareg's unibody construction meets continuous damping control through a four-corner, adjustable air suspension system. Six adjustable ride heights can be dialed in from the cabin, and three adjustable damping settings can also be manually adjusted. The Touareg V6 TDI comes standard with six airbags and an advanced tire pressure monitoring system. Techy options include adaptive cruise control with a forward collision warning system and active braking and acceleration. An available side-scan lane-change assistant warns the driver of vehicles in blind spots. The Drive Depending on time of day, the arteries that connect Los Angeles and Ensenada, Mexico, can be clogged with travelers or pleasantly wide open. During our early afternoon, midweek drive we encountered some slowdowns as we traveled through Orange County, but once past the Orange Curtain, traffic along Interstate 5 moved briskly. In fact, the flow of cars was so brisk at some points that it became difficult to test the V6 TDI's fuel economy. It's tough to remain economy-minded when cars blast past at 85 mph. The Touareg's five-passenger cabin is roomy and quiet at highway speeds. In the best conditions—constant-speed traveling with cruise control engaged—we pulled an impressive 29.3 mpg from the diesel V6, according to the onboard digital trip computer. We would have preferred to measure our consumption the old-fashioned way (by filling up and dividing the gallons used by the miles driven), but our incremental use of fuel coupled with the Touareg V6 TDI's gargantuan 26.4-gal fuel tank wouldn't have produced a particularly accurate reading. Some more disciplined long-distance drivers have reported over 30 miles per gallon from the V6 TDI, which is believable since our 65-mile-per-hour pace wasn't the optimum speed for fuel economy. On those brief lower-speed drives—after stopping for food—we got a tantalizing taste of the Touareg's torque, which pulls this heavy SUV like a big-block V8. And it does press your back into the seat under hard acceleration as a much larger engine would. It's satisfying in a way that hybrids seldom are. Driving past the border and along the ribbon of highway that winds along the coast of Baja California, the Touareg was well-mannered, if a bit heavy feeling. Though a curb-weight figure has yet to be released for the TDI version, the car felt sure-footed, but not quite nimble enough to dance through a curvy canyon like, say, a smaller crossover. The Bottom Line Our drive to Mexico and back in a Touareg V6 TDI required few fill-ups. In fact, after several hundred miles we still had nearly two-thirds of a tank of fuel left. If we maintained our 65-mph cruising speed while getting the indicated 29.3 mpg, we could have traveled nearly 800 miles on a single tank of gas—not bad for an off-road-capable 5000-plus-pound SUV. As for Volkswagen's participation at the Baja 1000, its Touareg TDI prototype made history as the first-ever Trophy Truck to run using clean-diesel technology. While its V12 (which produces 550 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque) ran without a hitch, a defective gearbox seal challenged the Arciero Miller Racing team, ultimately resulting in a 13th-place finish. It's a respectable showing for a newcomer, considering the rigors of Baja, and the Touareg TDI will hopefully encourage more clean-diesel technology in race-bred vehicles. RELATED STORIES • EARLIER: 2008 Touareg Test Drive • TEST DRIVE: 2009 VW Routan Takes a Hint from Chrysler • PLUS: VW Jetta Diesel Beats Prius for Fuel Economy 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI VW TDI Touareg Baja 1000 unlimited Trophy Truck class 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 Test Drive: Hyper-Capable Off-Road, but Is It Really Next-Gen? PM Automotive Excellence Awards 2007 2008 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel: Video Test Drive 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid and 2010 Diesel Test Drive: Can Porsche SUVs Deliver Performance and Fuel Economy? 2010 Volkswagen Golf Test Drive: Clean Diesel Hits 41 MPG Mercedes-Benz E250 BlueTEC Concept: 2009 New York Auto Show Advertisement %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_COMMENTCOUNT% comment%TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_COMMENTCOUNT_STRING% / Post a comment %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_ITERATION% %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_ITERATION% loading.. please wait Thanks! Your comment has been added to this topic. %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_COMMENTTITLE%%TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_TIMESTAMP% %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_DATESTAMP% Posted by: %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_USERNAME% Report Abuse %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_COMMENTTEXT% %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_ITERATION% %TEMPLATE_VARIABLE_ITERATION% Post Your Comment You must be registered on popularmechanics.com to post comments. If you don't have an account, join now for free. Please try again. 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