The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Sports Edition is VW’s compact SUV offering that is a shared project between VW subsidiaries Audi and Porsche. As a shared project, engineering design is shared with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne but there’s a major difference, the Touareg is the cheapest of the bunch.
The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Sports Edition Has a Simple Design But Doesn’t Fail to Make a Presence
The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Sports Edition has VW’s own styling based on its current company image where it looks simple and stealthy. The front end is understated yet dynamic. The headlights feature bi-xenon lamps and LED DRL. At the back the attention is drawn towards the LED tail lights. Overall, VW has gone for classy understated clean lines and has the proportions nailed just right. Under the hood is a 3.0 V6 turbodiesel putting out a decent 242hp and 550Nm of torque. The engine is mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission but sadly there’s no paddle shifters to keep things interesting. The powertrain sends power to all four wheels making the SUV off-road capable.
Interior-wise, the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg is straightforward, much like the understated exterior, the interior has everything where you need, performs its function with minimal fuss. To add contrast, some gloss black panels are present along with some silver trim. To break the monochrome scheme of the interior, the dials provide good contrast with the use of bright red colors. The seats are manual which are not typical for premium vehicles nowadays but it’s better for maintenance in the long run. Creature comforts include a four zone air-conditioning system to keep everyone comfortable.
Driving performance of the Touareg is very stable thanks to the all-wheel drive system. The vehicle is equipped with air suspension which is a huge bonus for vehicles at the Touareg’s price point. Ride comfort is exceptionally smooth thanks to the air suspension and is adjustable whenever overhead or undercarriage clearance is needed. Along with the air suspension, the Touareg also comes with adjustable dampers to cater to the three driving modes mainly: comfort, normal, and sport. Steering is firm and is biased toward the weighty side yet light enough for easy handling.
While the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg Sports Edition is equipped with all-wheel drive and adjustable ride height, off-road capability is hindered due to this being the Sport Edition which features rear underride guards that limit clearance. Compared to the other Germans, the Touareg is placed at a competitive price point in its class and makes for a very tempting crossover SUV.