Volkswagen’s flagship SUV is utility made luxurious. After a facelift in 2015, Touareg continues with only minor changes to equipment. Lux and Executive models add 14-way adjustable ventilated seats. Executive models add a power adjustable steering column, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) and Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist). The Hybrid model is discontinued for 2016.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The Sport w/ Technology Driver Assistance Package adds Park Distance Control (Park Pilot) and a new 21-inch wheel package is available on Lux and Executive models.
Exterior
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg sports a crisp, sleek and aerodynamic look that is firmly set in Volkswagen DNA.
The Touareg measures 188.8 inches in length, 76.4 inches wide and 68.2 inches high. Key design elements include a 4-bar chrome grille that connects seamlessly to the headlights, which themselves sit flush with the grille’s base. Standard on all models, these headlight clusters feature Bi-Xenon high intensity gas-discharge headlights, the Adaptive Front-lighting System, and LED Daytime Running Lights.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The horizontal theme continues throughout the Touareg’s front end. A lower valance incorporates foglights, and the bumper has an “A” shape, with the connecting pillars leaning inward.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
Moving to the back, LED taillights are standard on all 2016 Touareg models. These units flank a tailgate design with an elegantly sharpened “Tornado Line” running across the entire width. The rear bumper features chrome accents that wrap around the Touareg entirely; the lower spoiler features blacked-out trim. Signature triangular exhaust tips round out the overall look.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg offers a variety of wheel choices, depending on trim. The 18-inch Arica design offers a sharply chiseled 10-spoke design, while the 19-inch Salvador, 20-inch Montauk and optional 21-inch Mallory wheels all feature variants of a doubled five-spoke look.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
Interior
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg offers a premium modern layout. The cabin is illuminated with white LED overhead lighting, and chrome trim and wood accents lend a clean, luxurious feel throughout.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
Mounted in the center of the dash is either Volkswagen’s RCD® 550 sound system or the available premium RNS® 850 navigation system, depending on vehicle trim. The RNS 850 features an 8-inch touchscreen capable of displaying maps and directions in high-definition 3D graphics, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and satellite/AM/FM radio. Music can be stored on the 60GB hard drive (with 18GB reserved for uploaded media); iPod® device, SD card, and DVD drive interfaces can be found in the glovebox. Touareg Executive models come with a 620-watt Dynaudio® sound system with 10 premium speakers (four tweeters, two midrange, and four woofers) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology.
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
Another feature on the Executive trim is the Area View 360° exterior camera system. Utilizing four cameras (in the rear hatch, the door mirrors and the radiator grille), Area View transmits images of the complete area around the Touareg onto the touchscreen in the center console. The control unit also calculates from the four individual camera images a high-quality overall view of the surrounding area—from the perspective of a virtual camera above the vehicle. On off-road terrain, Area View relays via the front and side cameras the scene immediately ahead and to the side of the vehicle.
The second-generation Touareg has a 113.9-inch wheelbase, which allows for 36.9 inches of rear legroom, as well as a 40/20/40-split rear seat with 6.3-inches of fore/aft travel and reclining backrests. The Touareg can also accommodate 32 cubic feet of cargo and luggage behind the rear seats, or 64 cubic feet with the split rear seat folded. On Sport with Technology and higher trim levels, the hands-free Easy Open liftgate allows for convenient access to the back of the vehicle.
Powertrains
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Volkswagen Touareg is available with a V6 FSI® gasoline engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic® shifting capability. A 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system is also standard. Touareg models are capable of towing 7,716 pounds.
As one of Volkswagen’s most powerful naturally-aspirated engines, the gasoline-powered 3.6-liter V6 delivers 280 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,500 rpm. As in all current Touareg engines, the engine utilizes a crossflow aluminum-alloy cylinder head design, twin overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection. The Touareg V6 has manufacturer-estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
All Touareg models send power to the 4Motion permanent all-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission that features manual gear control, Sport mode and Dynamic Shift Program (DSP) technology that helps adapt to the driver’s individual style by adjusting the shift points accordingly. This transmission also uses its seventh and eighth ratios as overdrive gears, with the top gear reducing engine rpm by about 30 percent compared to sixth. Because of this, the vehicle’s top speed is actually achieved in sixth gear. In addition to the fuel economy benefits of the low overdrive rpm, this configuration allows for substantially quieter, more relaxed highway cruising.
Chassis
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg features the latest iteration of the independent suspension layout that debuted with the second-generation SUV. With lightweight aluminum-alloy upper and robust steel lower control arms at both front and rear, the Touareg’s coil-spring suspension is capable of great control and road manners in any situation. The 4Motion permanent all-wheel-drive system is standard on all Touareg models. This features a Torsen® limited-slip differential that splits available torque 40 percent front and 60 percent rear (nominally) for balanced driving both on and off road.
All Touareg models feature a variable-ratio hydraulic power-assisted steering system that needs just 2.6 turns from lock to lock. This gives a precise, responsive feel in various conditions, from parking lots to the open highway. Touareg models are fitted with 13.0-inch vented disc brakes front and rear.
Safety
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
A combination of both passive and active safety systems help to keep occupants protected in the latest Touareg. In addition to the chassis, which was designed from the ground up with strength and stability in mind, the Touareg also has a total of six airbags—including Side Curtain Protection® head airbags for front and rear outboard occupants, and front and thorax units for driver and front passenger—and a number of mechanical and electronic systems that work in tandem to help keep the Touareg stable.
This lineup of active safety systems also includes an advanced Rollover Sensor System that monitors the vehicle’s turning angle and speed in order to help detect possible rollover situations. If it determines a rollover hazard is present, the system can deploy the Side Curtain Protection airbags to help reduce any risk of injury. Anti-lock brakes and a stability control system are standard on all models.
All Touareg models have the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System as standard. This builds on the premise that a collision is rarely a single, instantaneous action, but rather a series of events that follow the initial impact—the most significant of which can cause additional collisions. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System helps address this by applying the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors, thus helping reduce residual kinetic energy and, in turn, the chance of additional damage.
The Touareg also includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
Driver Assistance Systems
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg is available with a number of advanced driver assistance features, depending on trim line. Among the available driver assistance features, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) uses dual front radar sensors to maintain a set following distance to the vehicle in front of the Touareg. This system can bring the Touareg to a complete stop in traffic situations. This double radar system has a range of just over 200 yards with a field of view of 40 degrees. Augmenting ACC is the Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist) system. When it detects an imminent collision, visual and audio signals alert the driver and, if necessary, emergency braking is activated to help slow the vehicle.
The Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) system is camera-based. If there is a danger of the car changing lanes without the turn signal being engaged, the system helps alert the driver by vibrating the steering wheel and by depicting the lane markings that the car has crossed on the multifunction display in the instrument panel. The system consists of a camera between the headliner and the rear-view mirror and a motor that vibrates inside the steering wheel. The camera recognizes visible lane markings (one side suffices) and, using a special algorithm and taking into account vehicle information, calculates the risk of the car leaving the lane. Lane Assist is activated at speeds of 40 mph and above.
Lane Change Assistant (Side Assist) uses two radar sensors at the rear on the Touareg to scan approaching traffic. LEDs in the side mirrors help inform the driver of a vehicle in the blind spot or approaching at a higher rate of speed. Any use of the turn signal during this phase shows that the driver intends to change lane and thus signals potential danger. The LEDs in the side mirrors then flash brightly, helping warn the driver of a situation that could possibly be dangerous.
The final available driver assistance feature on the 2016 Touareg is Park Distance Control (Park Pilot), which uses ultrasonic sensors located in the front and rear bumpers to monitor a range of up to five feet in front or behind the vehicle. The system is activated when reverse gear is engaged or below a speed of 9 mph and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight situations.
The system provides static and dynamic guidance lines in the camera screen when reversing to help assist the driver in assessing distances for parallel and perpendicular parking. It also has audible and visual warnings when the car starts to approach parked cars or static objects from the front or rear.
Limited Warranty
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg models are offered with a 10-year/100,000-mile (whichever occurs first) powertrain limited warranty and 3-year/36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty.
Model Line-up
2016 Volkswagen Touareg © Volkswagen AG
The 2016 Touareg line-up offers customers a choice of four trim levels: Sport, Sport w/Technology, Lux and Executive.
Sport
Starting at $42,705 (plus $910 for destination and delivery), the Sport comes very well-equipped, including 4Motion all-wheel-drive; an eight-speed automatic transmission; 18-inch Arica aluminum-alloy wheels; Bi-Xenon headlights with the Adaptive Front-lighting System and LED Daytime Running Lights; the premium RCD 550 touchscreen radio; V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces; 8-way power driver and passenger seats; MDI (Media Device Interface); unique chrome trim; LED taillights; and the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.
Sport w/ Technology
Building on the Sport model, the Technology trim adds RNS 850 navigation system; Easy Open liftgate; Keyless access with push-button start; rearview camera; Lane Change Assistant (Side Assist); and a towing package. This model starts at $46,745. A Driver Assistance Package that consists of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist); and Park Distance Control (Park Pilot) is available for $2,960.
Lux
The midrange Touareg starts at $51,450. It includes all of the features of the Sport w/ Technology models and adds 19-inch Salvador wheels; a wood trim interior; 14-way power ventilated leather seating surfaces with driver memory; electric rear seat release; adjustable front armrest with storage; a panoramic sunroof and Park Distance Control (Park Pilot). The new 21-inch wheel package ($880) adds 21-inch Mallory aluminum-alloy wheels. A Driver Assistance Package that consists of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); and Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist) is available for $2,500.
Executive V6
Priced from $59,745, the Touareg Executive tops the lineup. The following features are added to the Lux model: 20-inch Montauk wheels; stainless-steel appearance pedals and scuff plates; unique wood trim; power-adjustable steering column; heatable steering wheel and rear seats; 10-speaker Dynaudio sound system; the Area View exterior camera system; rear sunshades; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC); Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist); Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist); and Park Distance Control (Park Pilot). The new 21-inch wheel package ($440) adds 21-inch Mallory aluminum-alloy wheels.
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