IT has been more than a decade since Malaysians last saw the Volkswagen (VW) Touareg on the streets and the model, now in its third-generation, returns with the R-Line badge to take on the premium scene.
But a lot has changed since and VW's latest premium sport utility vehicle (SUV) has to go big if it wants to make an impact.
To show it means business, the model is being assembled in Malaysia instead of the VW factory in Slovakia, which is a first for the German carmaker.
It's just as well that the latest Touareg is the largest it has ever been size-wise and backed by plenty of features as it comes with a hefty price tag.
LAND LUXURY
Now with R-Line styling, the single-variant 2024 Touareg has an all-new exterior look, including the radiator grille, headlight and apron at the front, and continuous horizontal LED strip for the taillight clusters at the rear.
The R-Line trims include 20-inch Braga alloy wheels, enhanced chrome detailing and the "R" insignia at the doors and emblazoned on the front grille.
Lighting is a major part of the model as it utilises a new IQ Light HD Matrix lighting technology for its headlights, which is a highly intelligent lighting system of more than 38,000 interactive micro-LEDs to precisely illuminate the road, depending on the situation.
The major highlight is the rear VW logo that now illuminates in red, a feature previously available only in selected markets such as China and the United States.
There's also the entry and exit puddle lighting that illuminates the ground by the doors with the Volkswagen logo.
The Toureg has a length of 4,878mm, height of 1,686mm and width of 1,984mm with a wheelbase of 2,899mm.
This is the first generation of Touareg as well as the first Volkswagen model to come with front cross traffic assist.
Another first for a Volkswagen model in Malaysia is the night vision system that uses an infrared sensor to detect thermal signatures from humans or animals up to 130m ahead to keep the driver aware of potential collision at night.
The model also adopts the brand's IQ.Drive advanced safety technology. The active and passive safety systems include adaptive cruise control, area view, autonomous emergency braking front assist, automatic post-collision braking, lane assist/lane keeping, park assist, side assist with rear cross-traffic alert, advanced driver attention and drowsiness monitor and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
These technologies push the Touareg's off-road capabilities further in combination with the adoption of VW's MLB Evo platform.
Its air suspension is automatic self-levelling that adapts the vehicle height to match terrain conditions and can lower the ride height by 40mm for easier loading or unloading of cargo, while its wading level is 550mm.
As the brand's premium model, the Touareg runs on a 3.0L V6 TSI engine that its paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with an all-wheel drive (AWD) intelligent 4Motion system.
The powertrain has a delivery output of 340PS and up to 450Nm of torque.
In contrast to its rugged performance, the comfort-centric cabin has up-to-date entertainment features.
The Innovision Cockpit is a combination of digital display panels merged to form a "one-screen design". These consist of the 12.3-inch Digital Cockpit in front of the driver and the 15-inch touchscreen of the Discover Pro Max infotainment system with Wireless App-Connect and wireless charging.
Sound is delivered through the 730W Dynaudio Consequence sound system that is powered by an 80W amplifier. The system has 13 speakers strategically situated around the cabin with one sub-woofer located in the boot floor.
Exclusive to the Touareg is the four-zone climate control. Front passengers also get Active Climate Seats while rear passengers can control the temperature, blower intensity and direction.
The five exterior colour options are Lapiz Blue, Silicon Gray, Grenadilla Black, Oryx White and Dolomite Silver.
Available at a recommended retail price of RM469,990, the Touareg R-Line is offered with the Volkswagen Assurance Package that includes five-year free maintenance, five-year unlimited mileage warranty, and five-year complimentary roadside assistance.
TOUGH ENOUGH
Reactions were mixed when the third-generation Touareg was revealed. It was exciting that the top range model was finally back in Malaysia with the new R-Line design, giving the model a much needed (brand-oriented) sporty update.
The new rear logo lighting up is a treat that has been confirmed to be a new standard feature for VW models going forward.
It doesn't do much during the day but at night, it makes the brand's models, in this case the Touareg, stand out when followed from behind.
The cabin is VW comfort at its finest, which goes without saying. The space is reflective of the vehicle's new size, which gives passengers plenty of room.
But on the surface, we're simply dealing with what seems like a larger Tiguan and while the Touareg has always been given the premium pricing, times have changed and the market has never been more competitive than it is now.
A price hike for an already premium priced model only adds to the challenge.
To give it the advantage it needs, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) organised a convoy drive to Sungai Lembing, Pahang to demonstrate the model's off-road prowess.
And that was all the convincing that this writer, and those who participated in the excursion, needed to trust in the Touareg.
The vehicle is entirely off-road capable and it does so without compromising on passenger comfort, at least when the terrain is at an amateur-level difficulty.
This isn't the first time a premium or luxury model has been packaged for its off-road credibility, but suffice to say the experience with the third-generation Touareg can easily rival that of the best.
Throw in its one-of-a-kind Night Vision system and you're good to go even when visibility is low.
VERDICT
Call it tough love but the machine will win hearts in the end. It just needs to be given the chance to do so.
The best part of the Touareg is how well it balances out the areas it needed to excel in - sporty design, executive comfort interior and a no-nonsense performance.
The showcase of its off-road performance and how well it handled itself sold it.
VW's premium model is also the brand's finest to date, showcasing all that the German carmaker has to offer. Many of these elements are also expected to be in the brand's upcoming models.
It does come at a premium price but this writer feels that the Touareg is more than worthy of your time if you're looking for something of a similar package and price range.
This makes even more sense when you're not looking for anything that's even more expensive; why should you when the Touareg is more than capable of doing it all and even better in some areas.
A small nice touch is that while there's a lot of touchscreen reliance, thankfully some of the more important features such as drive modes have dedicated physical touchpoints (be in buttons, lever or knobs) so that you're always on the pulse with your vehicle's drive performance.
Clearly, a lot went into making the Touareg a champion in its own division and it does so with the perfect blend of toughness and luxury.