Volkswagen Touareg 4WD 2003 Review

Ten minutes later as the 4WD is squeezing past huge trees on a ridge in the Daintree rainforest north of Cairns, I am glad it's not my $100,000 car taking such a pounding and risking serious mechanical and panel damage.

The folks from Volkswagen have picked a seriously tough track to prove that their first 4WD can take the punishment.

They are keen to push the point that the Touareg is not just another upmarket grocery getter for wealthy footy mums and dads.

Perception is what matters in the luxury Sports Utility Vehicle market, otherwise you wouldn't have all those BMW X5, Mercedes M Class, and Volvo XC 90s cruising around.

So far this year the latest figures from industry monitor Vfacts show 7446 luxury vehicles were sold in this segment to the end of August, up from 5570 for the same period in 2002.

This means a lot of people with a lot of money are harbouring dreams of getting down and dirty in the bush even if they never get beyond the lower Blue Mountains.

But back to the Touareg. It's a nice looking vehicle for a 4WD, and it is only up close you realise just how large it is - 4.75 metres in length, almost 1.93 metres wide, 1.73 metres high and weighing more than two tonnes.

It is nowhere near as tank-like as the acknowledged off-road master the Range Rover, nor does is have the rather odd snout of the recently-released Porsche Cayenne which was developed with VW.

VW have set high standards with their interiors, the Passat boasting levels of refinement that better more expensive competitors.

The Touareg is no slouch in this area. Leather, wood and aluminium are used and give the vehicle an expensive feel.

You would not feel out of place parking at the polo to watch a few chukkas.

The onboard computer display that gives all sorts of feedback is placed in the centre between the rev counter and the speedo.

The size of these two main gauges and their placement means that for some drivers portions can be partly obscured when driving.

However, as the computer display also shows the speed it is not a serious problem and will bother few people. The front seats are comfortable enough, but they felt a bit too wide and lacking in support as if they were begging for somebody more substantial than my 80kg to sit in them.

Rear seat space is adequate and the Touareg does not have capacity for a third row of seats like some other large 4WDs.

Driver vision is good, which, considering the width of the Touareg, will be helpful around narrow city streets.

Cabin noise is whisper quiet with triple seals around the doors ensuring little road noise and no dust enter the cabin.

Volkswagen are launching three main versions into the crowded Australian marketplace - a 3.2 litre 24-valve petrol V6, a 4.2 litre 40-valve petrol V8 and a V10TDi twin turbocharged diesel variant.

Prices will start at $67,600 for the V6, $99,950 for the V8 and $138,500 for the V10TDi.

On the bitumen the Touareg belies its size, easily handling tight corners at speed.

The V10TDi can do the standing 0 to 100 in 7.8 seconds, and the speedo travels all the way up to 320km/h - just add a few zeros and you have the average Sydney mortgage.

The Touareg has dual wishbone suspension which ensures a smooth ride on the highway and soaks up all but the biggest bumps with ease.

For those wanting even more comfort the Touareg can have a continuous damping control air suspension system fitted (standard on the V10).

On the highway it will electronically adjust the ride to allow for bumps and will even lower the ride height for high speeds down to 180mm for 180km/h.

Off road it allows the driver to raise the ground clearance from the standard 237mm to 300mm when needed on the rough stuff.

On the open road 100 per cent of the drive force is capable of being transmitted to either the front or rear axles when needed.

In low range with the assistance of traction control and automatic downhill assist, the Touareg becomes a formidable mountaineering machine.

It easily managed some very tough terrain in the Daintree that would have had its rivals from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus struggling.

However, the fact VW have chosen only to include a space saving spare wheel in the case of a puncture shows they know that while their buyers may dream of the great outdoors in reality they stay put in the city.

People who head into tough territory will need to spend up to $2000 extra on a full-sized 18 inch spare for the V8.

There is also no allowances made for your typical full-sized bush-bashing bullbar, with the VW folk realising these often attract unwanted criticism to the 4WD market.

The company points out the Touareg¿s design exceeds European pedestrian protection standards, one of the bugbears of the anti-4WD fraternity.

All around a welcome entrant into the 4WD market and with VW expecting to sell at least 1400 each year the Touareg will become a common sight in the city, if not the outback.

Volkswagen Touareg

Price: V6 $67,600; V8 $99,950; V10 Tdi $138,500.

Engine: V6 24-valve 3.2 litre petrol producing 162 Kw at 6400rpm; V8 40-valve 4.2 litre petrol producing 228 Kw @ 6200rpm; V10 TDi producing 230Kw @ 3750 rpm.

Transmission: six-speed tiptronic.

Torque 100 per cent variable.

Standard features included. V6: Alloy 17 inch wheels on V6, dual climate control, front fog lights, steering wheel mounted controls for cruise control and stereo.

V8: Alloy 18 inch wheels, electrically operated front seats and mirrors, rain sensitive wipers, parking sensor.

V10TDi: Alloy 19 inch wheels, air suspension, keyless entry, sunroof, four-zone climate control, satellite navigation and wood or leather steering wheel.