The years around the new millennium were a funny time for Volkswagen, mainly due to the exploits of company chairman Ferdinand Piëch. He felt that VW should have a higher standing than it possessed in the mid 1990s, and reckoned that the best way to sort this out would be by illustrating that the brand was capable of building the best cars in the world. This approach was signified by the wild W12 Nardo concept supercar, as well as the Phaeton luxury sedan.
Aside from these upper-end creations, VW also had a hand in designing a premium SUV alongside one of the greatest names in the automotive performance space: Porsche. Over 20 years on, the Touareg exists as a bargain used SUV, which is basically a Porsche underneath. As deals go, this is a pretty tantalizing one.
The Touareg Is Identical To Porsche’s Cayenne
A front three-quarter shot of a 2004-2007 Volkswagen TouaregVolkswagen
The story of the Touareg dates back to 1997, when Porsche and Volkswagen entered into a partnership to develop a new premium sports SUV. The luxury SUV market had begun growing at considerable speed in the mid-1990s, and these German giants didn’t much fancy missing the boat. While Porsche would conduct the bulk of the design and development work, VW would provide its class-leading production facilities so that plenty of examples could be pumped out to customers.
The finished articles arrived in 2002, with the Porsche Cayenne being positioned as more of a sports SUV, whereas the Touareg was aimed at those looking for a more mainstream and comfort-focused proposition. Alongside this, the Touareg was also pushed as an extremely off-road capable machine, something made clear from the outset by its name. It was inspired by the rugged Berber Tuareg tribe, which inhabits the Sahara Desert. The two vehicles were identical underneath, since they shared the same foundations, and the only main changes were their interior and exterior designs, as well as the powerplants each was loaded with.
Plenty Of Engines Were Available, But The VR6 Had Its Own Character
2008 Volkswagen Passat Wagon VR6 4Motion engine bayCars & Bids
The Touareg came out of the gate in three different flavors. A 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 sat in the middle of the range as the luxury-focused option, while an insane 5.0-liter turbodiesel V10 acted as a torque monster for those who enjoyed pulling planets in their spare time. At the bottom of the range, there was a 3.2-liter VR6. The compact six-cylinder unit was unique compared to a traditional V6 thanks to its combination of a short block and very steep V angle for its cylinders, alongside an inline configuration. This ensured this V6-styled layout was much narrower than a traditional design, which ensured it was smaller, while also emitting a charismatic bark. The more compact and narrower nature meant that it was not only lighter, but could also be mounted transversally within its host.
With 217 horsepower and 229 lb-ft, it may have lacked outright grunt when compared to the larger engines available, but it was less expensive and intensive to work on, as well as more fuel efficient than its gas siblings. The facelifted version of the first-gen Touareg got an enlarged 3.6-liter version of the unit, which saw power rise to 276 hp and torque to 266 lb-ft.
Choosing The Right Premium VW VR6 SUV Is Important
A front three-quarter shot of a 2008-2010 Volkswagen Touareg drivingVolkswagen
Should you fancy picking up a used first-gen Touareg, but would rather not get stuck into the ultra-expensive world of running a V8, V10, or even W12 engine, the VR6 is the ideal entry point. Before we get into that though, you’ll need to make sure you’re choosing the right one. Specimens built between 2004 and 2007 come with pre-facelift styling and less technology, as well as the smaller 3.2-liter VR6 engine.
Post-facelift cars arrived for the 2008 model year, and were produced through 2010. A revised nose design better reflected VW’s design language at the time, while over 2,000 parts were updated versus the first variant. Notable improvements included the addition of Front Scan, an adaptive cruise control setup, a blind-spot safety system, as well as an improved ABS system that helped to reduce braking distances over slippery surfaces by 25%. You’ll also have the enlarged VR6 powerplant, to boot.
Used Touareg VR6s Are Very Cheap
A rear angle shot of a 2008-2010 Volkswagen Touareg drivingVolkswagen
Then we get to how much you’ll need to pay. In a conclusion that’ll likely not come as much of a surprise, the older first-gen Touareg examples will set you back less than the more advanced and powerful later models. Whereas the 2004-2007 machines currently feature an average value of $7,742 on the used market, 2008-2010 Touaregs are sitting around the $12k mark. These values reflect examples with less than 70,000 miles, meaning you’ll get a relatively fresh specimen despite their advancing age.
If you add higher mileage cars into the mix, these averages reduce to around $6k and $9k, respectively. Early high-milers that run well and are presented in good condition can be had for less than $3k, though you need to be aware that they could throw up more maintenance demands as the mileage piles up. Similar examples of later models are on the market for closer to $3,500, whereas low-mileage minters of either vintage will demand closer to $15k. Considering the Touareg is a literal Porsche underneath, though with a softer focus, it’s hard to argue against the value provided.
The Touareg Will Get You A Long Way Off The Beaten Track
A rear three-quarter shot of a 2004-2007 Volkswagen TouaregVolkswagen
But wait, we’re forgetting arguably the best part of the Touareg. Its undeniable off-roading prowess. The vehicle comes with a dual-range gearbox to ensure it can deal with different types of inclines, an element further built upon by its Hill Descent Control system. It also has a standard center differential lock to ensure each axle gets the right amount of grunt at the correct time, which enhances traction, while a rear locking diff lock was available as an option. The underside of the SUV is also reinforced to make sure it can deal with foreign objects giving it a hammering, while the off-road tuned independent suspension layout affords the vehicle enough ground clearance so that it can climb a 45-degree incline without much trouble. More specifically, you get up to eight inches of ground clearance with the base independent suspension arrangement, and 11.8 inches with the optional air suspension configuration.
It can even ford through 10 inches of water, a figure that rises to a formidable 22.8 inches when the air suspension system is included. As the cherry on the cake, the Touareg comes rocking VW’s 4XMOTION system, which is able to sense which wheels are lacking grip, and send the bulk of the engine’s power to those that do have traction. Don’t let the Touareg’s plush cabin fool you; this thing is every bit as hardcore as an old-school Land Rover.
Maintaining The Touareg Can Get Expensive
A front three-quarter shot of a 2004-2007 Volkswagen Touareg drivingVolkswagen
While it may lack power, and isn’t the most efficient engine in the world, given you can only expect around 17 MPG on average, the VR6 is at least cheaper to maintain than its larger siblings. Its smaller size makes access more straightforward and work less laborious, while parts are also cheaper to source. It’s also a pretty solid powertrain when properly maintained. Given its advanced design though, parts for the Touareg can get pretty expensive, which is the main reason RepairPal estimates you’ll need to spend around $937 per year to keep it running sweet. As an example, due to its size and weight, you’ll find yourself chewing through brakes and tires quicker than you’d normally expect.
To mitigate the chances of spending a fortune on fixing a Touareg, it’s best to skip those with air suspension, as the systems can cost thousands to repair when they go wrong. For the most part, the biggest setbacks you’ll need to anticipate are related to the Touareg’s electrical system. Corroded wiring harnesses can cause havoc throughout the vehicle, while the likes of the parking sensors and batteries are known to suffer early deaths. Much of this can be put down to the age of the vehicles though, seeing as even the latest examples are 16 years old. If you haven’t been put off making your Touareg ownership journey a reality, just go in with your eyes open and expect stiff repair bills now and again.
If you can swallow this, you’ll have one very capable, comfortable, and, not to mention, cool SUV on your hands.
Sources: Porsche, RepairPal, Volkswagen.
