First Drive: 2015 VW Touareg TDI Review

Putting the 2015 VW Touareg TDI to the test in Spain at the Volkswagen Driving Experience. Here's a closer look.

Sierra Nevada, Spain – Absolutely YES PLEASE! My answer when asked was if I wanted to go to Spain for two days to drive the new 2015 VW Touareg TDI from Granada to Malaga, Spain, through the Sierra Nevada.

This is a program that VW offers to anyone who wishes to experience VW vehicles in environments that highlight their product. The program is called the Volkswagen Driving Experience. They offer a variety of different experiences from off-road which is what we’re doing to winter driving. Along with Spain, there are also other amazing locations like Iceland, Morocco, and Sweden.

2015 VW Touareg TDI
2015 VW Touareg TDI

Our journey starts off in the historic city of Granada. From here, there will be 291 km of a mixture of on and off-road segments to our final destination of Malaga. The Touaregs in the convoy are all stock other than off-road tires.

How does the new diesel-powered VW Touareg compare to the previous model?

The 2015 Touareg may look very similar to the previous model but looks can be deceiving. There are many subtle changes, in fact, none of the panels are shared with the previous model. VW has always been more about refining rather than re-engineering when it comes to upgrading its models. The Touareg has had a full body makeover. Some changes are very minute, a little change in angle here, a small tweak there, but the final result is a broader-looking stance and better aerodynamics. The grill and lower valance are the most obvious changes, as are the upscale-looking front and rear light treatments.

For 2015, the Touareg also receives a host of new technology, including lane departure and blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and a frontal collision emergency braking system just to name a few.

Why mess with a good thing? The new Touareg TDI’s engine remains unchanged. The 3.0 turbo diesel puts out a respectable 240 hp and a whopping 406 lb/ft of torque, which proved to be perfect in our mixture of city/hwy/off-road driving. The torque was especially helpful when off roading. The TDI would climb or crawl over anything without even thinking about breaking a sweat. If towing is your thing, the Touareg TDI can tow up to 7700 lbs. That’s enough to tow most any toys, and that’s with a mid size SUV. Very impressive.

These Touaregs have VW’s air suspension, which is not an option available in Canada at this time. The system allows you to lower and raise the suspension at the turn of a dial. We were told to place the dial onto setting number 4 which is equivalent to the ride height of the Touaregs on this side of the pond.

The Touareg has had a full body makeover. Some changes are very minute, a little change in angle here, a small tweak there, but the final result is a broader looking stance and better aerodynamics.

The Volkswagen Driving Experience

The great thing about this program is that you really get to see how capable these vehicles are. Oh, and did I mention – You’re in Spain. This has got to be one of the best ways to see the country. With winding roads, vast fields of poppies and thyme, and many small cities and towns, There’s something for everyone. The Volkswagen Driving Experience is a 4 day program that costs around 2500 Euros per person. That includes everything other than airfare.

2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Pricing

Starting at just over $53,000, The 2015 Volkswagen TDI will give some of the best luxury premium SUVs a run for their money.  It’s an extremely practical and capable vehicle that gets great fuel economy and has some of the best resale value in the market.

2015 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Pictures:

 

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