2017 Volkswagen Touareg

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a stylish, smaller SUV while the large Atlas is more family-oriented, and the mid-size Touareg slots in between as a luxury sport utility vehicle. We're not sure if that will help the lagging sales with two models in the USA sounding inferior to the Touareg, but it does make sense. The Touareg costs more because it has more in it, and it makes better use of the shared V6 motor than in the bigger Atlas. The Touareg is the Volkswagen that's built more like an Audi, both in terms of exterior and interior style, and has some great safety features to make up for the hurt of paying so much for it.

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Inside the new Volkswagen Touareg, things are certainly upmarket with a choice of fine leather interior finishes along with some really good seating that can include heated and ventilated 14-way power seats up front, if you tick the right boxes. There's a decent navigation system to option on, which is headed up with an 8-inch touch screen and a 60GB hard drive for your own tunes, but it does stall now and then.

The layout and materials may be looking a little dated, thanks to very few changes in the model's almost 15-year production run, but that doesn't take away from the good layout and functionality of the controls and systems, even for the base model. Brushed aluminum and chrome trimming in select spots will always be a nice touch in terms of colors, and it looks better than the previously offered wood trim. There's enough space to seat seven - not as much as in the Atlas - but enough so long trips aren't at all uncomfortable.

The VW Touareg is the medium SUV in the range, but it's still a sizeable machine, and it feels as big as it looks when driving. Its width means being careful of tight parking spaces. It does make better use of the V6 powerplant than the bigger Atlas, but in the segment, you can find a few rivals with more power on tap by comparison. This means things are less efficient, and the new Touareg has a drinking habit, sacrificing a bit on gas mileage. The EPA rates the Touareg at 17/23/19 mpg on city/highway/combined cycles.

The electronic steering gives good feedback, and the suspension is firm enough that the SUV doesn't feel wallowy, but the considerable dimensions show when braking hard because things feel a bit spongy. You'll still stop just fine in an emergency, though, thanks to the on-board safety systems. The Touareg is a car that offers a good drive overall though, but you may want better for the price.

Being in its second generation, the Volkswagen Touareg SUV looks about due for more changes in the performance department. There's more than enough punch for it to feel fast, but that feeling will go away quickly if you try to pull away from some of the competitor vehicles. After the recent scandals, the diesel engine was dropped, and now just one engine can be had across the range, namely the 3.6-liter V6 with 280 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. All models also now come with 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard with a smooth 8-speed automatic. The engine allows for a run from 0 to 60 mph in under eight seconds and a top speed of 150 mph.

There haven't been any new systems added to the tech and spec list for the 2017 Volkswagen Touareg, but it's still got enough on board so that it can still square up with the competition. Notable features include the Anti-Slip Regulation system to help with traction along with the electronic diff lock. The latter actually affords the Touareg some good off-road prowess, despite its weight. The SUV has a 5-star crash rating for occupants, thanks to many systems like the Intelligent Crash Response System, passenger occupant detection, a brake override system, and a rigid reinforced safety cage construction. The IIHS gave the VW Touareg a review in terms of safety, and the SUV scored ratings of Good in every category. As for reliability, the 2017 model has no recalls to speak of.

The Volkswagen Touareg's price is on par with rivals; the base price of the V6 Sport with Technology configuration starts at just under $50k, while the V6 Wolfsburg Edition sees the MSRP rise to $53k. The top trim in the US will cost around $61k, though the final asking price will depend on how much you add in terms of optional extras. These prices exclude licensing and other fees.

While the 2017 Touareg is quite good, it does need an engine refresh and a few more powertrain options since some popular options fell away. True fans of the model would be future buyers, but with the Atlas being the new kid on the block, for less money, the Touareg in the United States may be living on borrowed time.