2018 VW Touareg

[Galaxy]

Now that the Phaeton is gone, this is the Alpha Dog at VW. China is the main market for this, accounting for 50% of all Touareg sales. North America will not get this, receiving instead the larger, but cheaper Atlas.

Overall I really like it, not 100% sure on the razor grill. Probably the best implementation of integrating a large touch screen. The screen is not only tilted toward the driver it is also slightly curved. The ledge below where the wood, or metal trim is, is for resting one's hands when using the touch screen.
















It is a sibling of the Q7, Cayenne, and Bentayga, it gets all the gizmos like the adaptive suspension, and four wheel steering, and all the driver aid kits.

2 V6 diesels with 231, and 286hp,

1 V8 diesel with 421hp

1V6 gasser with 340hp.

China gets an I4 plug in hybrid with 367hp. Europe will either get the same one later on, or combined with the V6 engine. That has not been decided.

[12,000 RPM]

Looks good, but I just don't see what this delivers over a SWB 2 row Atlas with the same interior + tech. VWAG is so wasteful with capital. I guess in China where ostentatiousness is frowned upon it makes sense, but I would rather save $15-25K and have an equally equipped Atlas.

[Galaxy]

Looks good, but I just don't see what this delivers over a SWB 2 row Atlas with the same interior + tech. VWAG is so wasteful with capital. I guess in China where ostentatiousness is frowned upon it makes sense, but I would rather save $15-25K and have an equally equipped Atlas.

The Atlas is hard plastic though, and does not have the suspension and other gizmos.

[Laconian]

I guess in China where ostentatiousness is frowned upon it makes sense

Can't tell if sarcastic...

[2o6]

We aren't missing anything with this.

[12,000 RPM]

Can't tell if sarcastic...

With cars, yes, at least from what I've heard.

[Laconian]

With cars, yes, at least from what I've heard.

Go to Vancouver B.C. and witness the mainland Chinese restraint for yourself. Plutocrats and plutocrats' kids in garish hypercars.

[Raza]

That looks great. We're not getting it?

[68_427]

Looks better than the Cayenne, and this is nothing like the Atlas.  This is like a Genesis branded car vs a Santa Fe

[veeman]

It's a good move not to bring it to the U.S.  While it's a good/great looking SUV with better mechanicals than the Atlas, it's too expensive for an SUV with a VW badge here.  Not many would buy it over a Cayenne, X5, Merc GL, Yukon Denali.  Not many would buy this over an equivalent costing Audi Q7. 

[MexicoCityM3]

With cars, yes, at least from what I've heard.

You've heard wrong. Showing off wealth is much more prevalent in China than almost anywhere. In Hong Kong I saw stores literally called "Big Spender Jewelry Store" with no qualms. Cars are the same.

[MexicoCityM3]

It's a good move not to bring it to the U.S.  While it's a good/great looking SUV with better mechanicals than the Atlas, it's too expensive for an SUV with a VW badge here.  Not many would buy it over a Cayenne, X5, Merc GL, Yukon Denali.  Not many would buy this over an equivalent costing Audi Q7. 

I agree. Down here the first gen Touareg sold a bit but the current one has been dismal.

[12,000 RPM]

You've heard wrong. Showing off wealth is much more prevalent in China than almost anywhere. In Hong Kong I saw stores literally called "Big Spender Jewelry Store" with no qualms. Cars are the same.

Hong Kong <> China

[12,000 RPM]

Go to Vancouver B.C. and witness the mainland Chinese restraint for yourself. Plutocrats and plutocrats' kids in garish hypercars.

Canada <> China

[93JC]

Canada <> China

Vancouver ≈ China... 

[Laconian]

Vancouver ≈ China... 

[r0tor]

Looks good, but I just don't see what this delivers over a SWB 2 row Atlas with the same interior + tech. VWAG is so wasteful with capital.

Engine, suspension, AWD system, and refinement come to mind

[SVT_Power]

Go to Vancouver B.C. and witness the mainland Chinese restraint for yourself. Plutocrats and plutocrats' kids in garish hypercars.

eh it's definitely a thing, but it's not as prevalent as people make it out to be

[CALL_911]

eh it's definitely a thing, but it's not as prevalent as people make it out to be

I don't know man, it's fairly prevalent in Long Island. Shit, you see it all the time with the Asian Syracuse University students up here. Off hand, I can think of Chinese international SU students with a BMW i8, an AMG GT, a GTR. A lot of these kids live in my girlfriend's building. Last year there was a kid with an S63 coupe.

[2o6]

I don't know man, it's fairly prevalent in Long Island. Shit, you see it all the time with the Asian Syracuse University students up here. Off hand, I can think of Chinese international SU students with a BMW i8, an AMG GT, a GTR. A lot of these kids live in my girlfriend's building. Last year there was a kid with an S63 coupe.

I see McLarens, Aston Martins, and 911's daily driven by Chinese international students.

[12,000 RPM]

Engine, suspension, AWD system, and refinement come to mind

The only thing the first SD of crossover customers care about is refinement, which the MQB platform has baked in pretty nicely. Give a 2 row Atlas the same sound insulation and suspension tech and it's gonna be a wash

Again not everyone gets their jollies off driving their SUVs on the beach just to say "i drove my SUV on the beach"

[2o6]

Now you're just saying shit.


This is like the difference between a Traverse and SWB Escalade.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

The Infotainment screen is bigger than the Flat Screen in my man Cave......

[cawimmer430]

That's a really nice interior.

Still, I am driving my stone-age 2007 car and I am not missing anything. I like my stone-age analog speedometer and no-touch-screen interior very much, thank you!

[r0tor]

That's a really nice interior.

Still, I am driving my stone-age 2007 car and I am not missing anything. I like my stone-age analog speedometer and no-touch-screen interior very much, thank you!

Yea ... I agree

[12,000 RPM]

There is good interior design and bad interior design. All touch everything is bad. But I would welcome some updates, like a higher res screen and Android Auto

[giant_mtb]

I like my simple controls. I don't understand why everybody feels a need for giant screens and to be infotained. 

[Laconian]

I like my simple controls. I don't understand why everybody feels a need for giant screens and to be infotained. 

It's a dimension for status/desirability in cars nowadays, just like vehicle length in the 50's and 60's.

[r0tor]

I like my simple controls. I don't understand why everybody feels a need for giant screens and to be infotained. 

Some people watch an applewatch, some people don't care, and some people want their watch hands to be real.... I'm in the last camp and it applies to the gauges in my car

[giant_mtb]