The 2013 diesel variant of Volkswagon’s only SUV is an astonishingly capable vehicle. Not for any other reason except that the new Tourareg TDI doesn’t look the part: unabashedly urban and almost sleek, as compared to the older version’s bigger, chunkier character.
With a comparatively leaner silhouette, Vienna-leather couched seats and blingy ‘Karakum’ alloy wheels, the Rs 58.5 lakh Touareg cuts quite a dandy figure. Pop open the hood – the car is propelled by the same 3.0 litre diesel power-plant, which does tours of duty in the Audi Q7 and the new Porsche Cayenne diesel, and the six cylinders churn out an augmented 240 horsespower (identical to the latter and 25HP more than the Q7).
Before you ask; the answer to bumping up the power in city street-driving vehicle is apparent once an innocuous looking dial behind the gear-shifting console is turned clockwise: suddenly the Touareg stretches its legs, heaving and adjusting as it rises inexorably to an ‘Off-Road’ setting. Turn the knob further to the ‘Super Off-Road’ setting and the number plate of the car in front is no longer visible. Suitably exhalted (the change in suspension height is close to a foot!) you engage another neat little rolling pin switch behind the gear shifter, which further changes the ride settings depending on whether you want to do some track racing or train for the Dakar.
The SUV comes with an automatic gearbox – just as well when you consider that there are eight forward gears to be negotiated – and there’s a live mileage display – expect about 6-7kmpl in city driving and up to 14kmpl on the highway.
As with the Passat, the Touareg’s tour de force is the technology VW has incorporated in the vehicle – the touch screen NAV is easy to navigate and the voice commands actually work (even with an Indian accent!). The front parking sensors are always on, and even the mirrors auto-fold when the car is switched off. Packed with gizmos, the Touareg has a huge show-off potential.