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Little-Known Facts and History of the Volkswagen Touareg
Pros & Cons: Touareg's Most Unique Features

by Jim Walczak
for About.com

2004 VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG

The Volkswagen Touareg is comfortable on and offroad.

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA
The Touareg is Volkswagen's first official four-wheel drive SUV for the mainstream public, and it was built to be a leader in SUV design. Introduced in 2004, the 2½ ton Touareg is indeed a heavy hitter in the sport-ute market.

What Makes The Touareg Unique?

  • The air suspension package (standard on the V-10 version, an option on other versions) automatically raises or lowers the vehicle depending on road conditions and the speed you're driving. It can be activated manually as well.

  • Comes with a sophisticated "4Motion permanent all-wheel drive system" that splits torque evenly between the front and rear axles. It can also shift up to 100% of the power to either axle, depending on road conditions. Plus, it includes low-range gearing for serious off-roading.

  • It's the first SUV to offer two engines with more than eight cylinders.

  • Comes with Volkswagen's Intelligent Crash Response System, which automatically unlocks doors in a collision, disconnects the battery, shuts off the fuel supply and high-power electric components, then calls OnStar on vehicles equipped with that option.

  • Compared with 4- and 5-speed units, Touareg's 6-speed automatic transmission improves acceleration and fuel economy while reducing emissions.

  • The 6-speed automatic comes with "regular" and "sport shift" modes, as well as an auto manual gate for drivers who want to pick their own gears.

  • Most surprising is the Touareg's ability to handle off-road driving with ease. It's a luxury SUV that can truly tackle anything you throw at it, despite the fact that it's built on a unibody frame.

  • All models offer minimum approach and departures angles of 28 degrees, perfect for offroading.

  • A clever addition to the center console area is a built-in rechargeable flashlight. It's about the size of your vehicle's cigarette lighter and provides a bright light for about 13 minutes.

  • Touareg also comes with "hill ascent" and "descent" features. The ascent feature keeps you from rolling back on steep inclines when you're not on the brakes, while the descent feature permits slow, steady descents down steep grades without braking.

  • While most in-vehicle navigation systems can help you find the next exit on the highway, Touareg's will help you find your way back to where you started. This comes in really handy when driving off-road.

Pros: Best Reasons To Own A VW Touareg
Cons: Worst Things About The VW Touareg
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