Reliable, Intelligent Technologically Advanced

If you hate parking (parallel, especially), luxury SUV Volkswagen Touareg will do the job for you.

Words: Jamie Nonis DOES COMFORTABLE MEAN boring? That is one question we couldn’t help asking ourselves on our recent test drive of the Volkswagen Touareg. After a six-month hiatus, Volkswagen’s facelifted flagship has returned in a more chiselled form, and we also can’t help noticing that it has a little more swag, too.

The third-generation Touareg does not scream but whispers premium with quiet sophistication, gliding into the ranks of a competitor roster that also features the likes of the Audi Q7, MercedesBenz GLE, BMW X5 and even the Porsche Cayenne, perhaps.

But while the Touareg may not hold the same allure for badge snobs, consider the gauntlet thrown down. Under its hood, a three-litre V6 turbo petrol engine powers this luxury SUV, with 340hp and 450Nm of torque on tap. And despite its heft, the Touareg hits the century dash in a very respectable 5.9 seconds.

As far as SUVs go, this is one exceedingly comfortable ride. You’re completely insulated from outside noise in this premium class cabin, while the vehicle soaks up every little bump in the road with absolute ease. Its four-wheel steering makes the Touareg feel far nimbler than it actually is, and body roll is kept to a minimum with active roll stabilisation.

But in optimising comfort, that also makes for a somewhat unexciting drive as the all-wheel drive sacrifices some of its edgy ‘off-roady-ness’ in favour of comfort and luxury. Not that it’s a bad thing, and quite a fair trade, if you ask us. And we’re certainly not complaining about the sunroof or soft-closing doors, either.

That said, the Elegance variant is joined by the R-Line model, which proffers a sportier feel with pedals in brushed stainless steel and other distinguishing features. Both have multi-function leather steering wheels with shifting paddles to kick things up a notch when driving without kids in tow.

Now that’s all well and good, but what we really need to talk about is how this 2022 Touareg is the most intelligent and technologically advanced vehicle that has rolled off Volkswagen’s production line to date.

The impressive technology begins and ends with the new 360° Area View system, which makes a host of new features possible. Like the Park Assist Plus function debuting on this Touareg. Aided by 12 ultrasound sensors and four cameras, you can now entrust the vehicle to parallel and perpendicular park for you. All you have to do is press and hold the Park Assist button until the manoeuvre is complete.

The cameras also let you see around corners, alerting you of other road users in front of, behind, or to the left and right of the vehicle displayed via the infotainment system – before they come into view. If this high-tech SUV is starting to feel like the last word in reliable luxury, it is.

This and facing pages: externally, the Touareg combines stylish elegance with sporty dynamism, while its interior features a fully digitalised cockpit with a highly customisable intuitive touchscreen.