[Kim Jihee's Tavoleo] Sleek Lines and Powerful Engine: Volkswagen New Touareg

#Volkswagen #Touareg #GV80 Competition? #Satisfactory Exterior #Excellent Quietness #Engine True to German Cars #Semi-Autonomous Driving is 'Assist' Level #Interior Also Disappointing

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] It seems to have started with the appearance of Hyundai Motor's 'Palisade' at the end of 2018. That was when the large sports utility vehicle (SUV) market, which had been overlooked due to its huge size and uncomfortable ride, began to heat up. Demand for large SUV models was confirmed, and imported car companies would not just stand by and watch this market. The traditional leader in the imported large SUV market, the Ford Explorer, also underwent a full change last year after nine years, naturally expanding the market to premium models. This time, Volkswagen has thrown down the gauntlet with the third-generation Touareg. In fact, from the moment news of the Touareg's domestic launch was announced, the industry consensus was that it would inevitably be compared to the first domestic premium large SUV, the Genesis GV80. And coincidentally, the two models appeared just about 20 days apart. Since they both entered the currently most attention-grabbing market in Korea at the same time, it is meaningful to look at the unique charms of the Touareg that the GV80 does not have. The test drive of the third-generation new Touareg took place on the 6th of last month, covering a round trip of about 50 km from the Grand Hyatt in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to a cafe in Gangdong-gu.

It's quite a large car, so I worry it might look too much like a tank. How does it look in person?

If you want the spaciousness of a large SUV but do not prefer the clumsiness typical of big cars, you might want to pay attention to the third-generation Touareg. The exterior design of the new Touareg emphasizes sleekness and sophistication. The front has sharper angles in the headlamps compared to the previous model, and the chrome radiator grille has become wider. Particularly attractive is the side view. While most large SUVs use curves to erase clumsiness and create a softer look, the Touareg takes the opposite approach by emphasizing straight lines. The lines extending straight to the rear emphasize the modernity of the third-generation Touareg.

Is the interior similar?

When you open the door, the spacious interior and large display immediately catch your eye. The 'Innovision Cockpit,' which is standard on all trims, features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch center fascia display seamlessly connected, giving a wide-open view. Especially, this 15-inch large display controls most convenience functions and responds sensitively to touch, resulting in high satisfaction. Thanks to this, the number of interior buttons is minimized, adding to the simplicity of the design. The instrument cluster can be customized according to the driver's preferences, showing driving speed, fuel status, and more. The problem lies with the navigation system. Although its accuracy is decent compared to other imported cars, it is complicated because it contains a lot of information at once. The road conditions on the screen are indicated in red, yellow, and green, but this actually made it confusing to check the driving direction. The materials and textures used in the interior are also below expectations. While it does not feel like cheap materials were used, the materials applied are somewhat ordinary for a car that claims to be 'luxury.'

Some consider the Touareg a mid-to-large SUV. What are its exact dimensions?

The new Touareg measures 4,880 mm in length and 1,985 mm in width. Compared to the previous model, the body was lengthened by 79 mm and widened by 45 mm. At the same time, the height (1,700 mm) was lowered by about 10 mm to prevent the vehicle from looking excessively large. Compared to the GV80, the length is 65 mm shorter, but the width is 10 mm wider. It is true that mid-to-large SUVs are highly practical as family cars. The rear seat space and trunk are important for that reason. The wheelbase, which directly affects rear seat space, is 2,899 mm for the Touareg and 2,955 mm for the GV80. However, the second-row space of the Touareg is also comfortable enough for tall adult men to sit without discomfort. The cargo capacity is 810 liters by default and can be expanded up to 1,800 liters by folding the second-row seats.

With such a large body, the engine power shouldn't be lacking, right?

Once driving started, I could truly feel the saying 'the engine is indeed German.' Although it did not feel like the vehicle would leap forward the moment I pressed the accelerator, the acceleration was excellent. Especially at speeds above 100 km/h, the speed increased smoothly without any dullness. Moreover, noise and vibrations were not transmitted, maintaining quietness, which was impressive. The Touareg 3.0 TDI model is equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, producing a maximum output of 286 horsepower and a maximum torque of 61.2 kgf·m. This is slightly more powerful than the GV80 (maximum output 278 horsepower, maximum torque 60.0 kgf·m). The fuel efficiency is 10.3 km/l.

How is the ride comfort during driving?

As mentioned earlier, the new Touareg excellently suppresses noise and vibration. Along with engine performance, the excellent ride comfort is considered its biggest attraction. It smoothly passes over speed bumps with almost no impact felt in both the front and rear seats. The Touareg does not use laminated glass. Nevertheless, it blocks engine noise and wind noise better than new cars that do use laminated glass, delivering a luxurious ride comfort. The new Touareg offers a total of seven driving modes: Normal, Sport, Comfort, Eco, Snow, Off-road, and Individual. These options diversify the choices, adjusting the engine, transmission, and various assist systems according to the situation for a more comfortable drive.

The semi-autonomous driving features must be reliable as well, right?

The semi-autonomous driving feature is the part I found most disappointing in this Touareg. Of course, it is a new car in Korea, but considering it was launched globally two years ago in 2018, this is somewhat understandable. Compared to recent new cars, the Touareg's semi-autonomous driving function is at the 'driving assistance' level. When I used this feature during actual driving, the car did not maintain the center of the lane and kept drifting to one side. It seems to only assist by holding the steering wheel just before crossing the lane line. On sharp curves, it can be unsettling, fearing the car might cross the lane. However, the adaptive cruise control function works much better. When the distance to the car ahead decreases, it slowly reduces speed and maintains stable driving on its own.

Is it really a '100 million won car'?

The price is controversial. When the price of the new Touareg was first revealed at the launch event, the general reaction was that it was expensive. Since it was expected that Volkswagen would lower the price to avoid direct competition with the GV80, this was unexpected. The official prices are set at 88.9 million won for the Premium, 96.9 million won for the Prestige, and 100.9 million won for the R-Line. The lowest trim is similar in price to the fully loaded GV80, and considering the previous model started in the high 70 million won range, this is certainly a high price range. However, if you use the discount promotions provided by Volkswagen Financial Korea, the prices drop to 79.12 million won, 89.15 million won, and 92.83 million won respectively, which is worth considering.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.