2008 VW Touareg Preview – Vancouver Auto Show: Well, it’s still the best SUV no one will test drive, an above-average utility vehicle with a forgettable name...the SUV no one can remember. Tou-a-what? Oh yeah. More’s the pity, as well, for the 2008 model comes with a mild refresh to the interior and exterior, some slight added technology, more standard features and a power boost
With a recent power upgrade thanks to VW’s 3.6-liter 280-horsepower V6 engine, the Touareg should be able to move its 5,000 lbs.-plus girth around more easily. It should also be able to stop better, thanks to VW’s ABS-plus feature, which adds slippage sensors to the brakes and, according to VW, results in a 20 percent reduction in braking distance on off road surfaces such as gravel. Also new for 2008 is a side curtain rollover sensor.
The name matters, especially in an ultra-competitive utility market. As a result, the Touareg is more hurt by the fact that most people can’t say its handle correctly than any flaws built into the vehicle. This continues with the 2.0 model.
Photos courtesy of VW, Brian Chee
