- 2010
2008 Volkswagen Touareg
- Used Volkswagen Touareg
Volkswagen Touareg - What the Auto Press Says
The Touareg2 offers good on-road performance and surprisingly strong off-road capabilities, but suffers from a poor reliability record. It ranks in the bottom half of its class.
When it was introduced as a 2004 model, the Volkswagen Touareg was an award winner, named Car and Driver's "Best Luxury SUV" and Motor Trend's "SUV of the Year." Renamed for 2008 as the Touareg2, the SUV is little changed from 2004, but strong competition and a less-than-stellar reliability record have made it one of the lowest-selling vehicles in its class.
New for 2008 are tweaked front and rear styling, as well as new standard safety features. For buyers, the Touareg2 offers composed on-road performance and a surprising amount of off-road power. In fact, it ranks in the top half of the class when compared to other off-road SUVs. Motor Trend says, "Volkswagen deserves applause for delivering an SUV that can just as easily climb a slippery rocky slope as it can make record time to and from the outlet malls, looking good inside and out while doing it." Many reviewers think the V6 model offers terrific value. Go for a more powerful engine, though, and the Touareg2's price quickly climbs, surpassing the cost of luxury-brand competitors in its class.
The Touareg2 shares the same platform as the more expensive Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. It comes in three trims -- the base VR6, the more powerful V8 FSI, and the diesel-powered V10 TDI.
- "Indeed, the Touareg V-6 is one of the, if not the, most luxurious and well-equipped SUVs for its price." -- Car and Driver
- "I appreciate that the 2008 Touareg gets high safety marks, and as any dancing queen will tell you, this boogie machine's style is right on. Somehow, though, I just wasn't overly enthusiastic about it. It costs more than many other vehicles in its class and has too much non-charming quirkiness." -- Mother Proof
- +"If you want a do-it-all SUV that is actually lives up to the 'sport utility vehicle' name, you could do much worse than the Touareg 2." -- Orland Sentinel
- "With all of its computerized capabilities, the Touareg 2 is in the top ranks of vehicles with off-road capabilities. Whether that will be enough to buck the crossover headwind is the question." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Touareg Performance - 8.4 (Very Good)
The majority of reviews say that the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg2 offers performance that is on par with the rest of its class. Although some critics feel that the standard V6 engine lacks power, the optional V8 and V10 TDI diesel engines are favorites. Car and Driver says that "if straight-line speed isn't at the top of your SUV checklist, the Touareg V-6 is a delectable piece that will likely satisfy your every need." Read More
Touareg Exterior - NA
Overall, the exterior styling of the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg2, which received a few new tweaks for 2008, gets positive reviews. Motor Week finds the exterior "rugged and progressive." The Touareg2 has recognizably VW styling, and the exterior only hints at the SUV's off-road prowess in its large wheel wells and fender flares. Read More
Touareg Interior - 8.0 (Very Good)
Our analysis shows that the interior of the five-seat 2008 VW Touareg2 is comfortable, luxurious, and fits the vehicle's price tag. The Family Car says, "The Touareg is as well turned out as any luxury SUV on the market. The gauges look like an expensive watch, the burl walnut trim is scrumptious and the leather is soft." Read More
Touareg Safety - 9.8 (Excellent)
The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg2 does very well in federal government crash tests. It also features plenty of safety equipment, including new electronic stability control and a unique automatic brake-drying feature. Read More
Touareg Reliability - 4.0 (Mediocre)
The 2008 Volkswagen Touareg reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). New Volkswagens come with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. Read More
