2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg: Full Review

Updated: 11/23/08

2004 Volkswagen Touareg
2007 Volkswagen Touareg
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2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg ▼

  • Price Range:  $16,600 - $46,100
CG Rating

56

out of 100

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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.

Pros

  • Cargo room
  • Build quality

Cons

  • Fuel economy
  • Instruments/controls

Vehicle Highlights

Volkswagen's first sport-utility vehicle was a midsize five-passenger luxury wagon offering V6 or V8 power, plus an all-wheel-drive system suitable for serious off-road use. Named for a nomadic tribe of the Sahara, Touareg (Tour-regg) came with a 220-horsepower V6 or a 310-horsepower V8. The sole transmission was a six-speed automatic with manual shift gate. Similar in size to the Acura MDX, Touareg was developed in conjunction with Porsche, which offered its own version as the more expensive, more powerful Cayenne. Touareg was a four-door wagon with a rear liftgate; no third-row seating was available. Its 70 cubic feet of cargo room (with the rear seat folded) beat BMW's X5 but fell short of the Lexus RX 330 or MDX. Standard equipment included VW's 4XMotion AWD with low-range gearing and a locking center differential; a locking rear differential was optional. ABS and an antiskid system also were standard. A height-adjusting air suspension was optional. The V6 version had 17-inch wheels, versus 18-inch (or optional 19s) with V8 power. Front side airbags and curtain side airbags for both seating rows were standard. Both models came with wood and aluminum interior trim, and a sunroof. Leather upholstery was standard on the V8 and optional for the V6. Other options included a navigation system, an obstacle-detection system, and four-zone climate control Towing capacity was 7716 pounds with either engine. Volkswagen competed against the Acura MDX, Infiniti FX, and Lexus RX 330, as well as the Cadillac SRX. But the Touareg promised greater off-road prowess than those rivals.

Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)

Category Volkswagen Touareg V8 Rating
Performance 6
Fuel Economy 2
Ride Quality 5
Steering/Handling/Braking 5
Quietness 7
Controls/Materials 6
Interior Room 8
Room/Comfort (rear) 5
Cargo Capacity 7
Value within Class 5
Total Score: 56
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg.

Year to Year Changes


2004 Volkswagen Touareg: No change was evident as the 2004 model year began, but a 310-horsepower turbodiesel V10 engine that cranked out a whopping 553 pounds-feet of torque became available late in the year.
2005 Volkswagen Touareg: A more powerful V6 engine and new options marked the 2005 season. The base V6 gained 20 horsepower, now rated at 240. Volkswagen's turbodiesel V10 model had a height-adjusting air suspension, which was available for other Touaregs. OnStar assistance became standard rather than optional, as did self-dimming mirrors. Newly available were satellite radio and a tire-pressure monitor. An external spare tire could be mounted on V8 and V10 models.
2006 Volkswagen Touareg: VW's SUV was unchanged for 2006.
2007 Volkswagen Touareg: Touareg adds more power and a few options for 2007. The V6 model has 276 hp for '07, an increase of 36 hp. A power liftgate and keyless entry/starting also are now available for all models.

Our road test for the 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg is right for you.

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

Value for the Money
Though pricey for a Volkswagen, Touareg follows VW's formula of sophisticated interior decor, solid construction, and more-than-competent SUV road manners. Off-road, it's utterly exceptional. But adding a few choice options elevated new-vehicle prices to levels associated with such prestigious brands as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. VW's task was to convince buyers that its new SUV belonged in such company. The turbodiesel cost plenty when new, but perhaps not as much secondhand. Touareg V6 and V8 models are budget-label stand-ins for their Porsche Cayenne cousins.

Expert Ratings Summary

Category Volkswagen Touareg V8 Rating
Performance 6
Fuel Economy 2
Ride Quality 5
Steering/Handling/Braking 5
Quietness 7
Controls/Materials 6
Interior Room 8
Room/Comfort (rear) 5
Cargo Capacity 7
Value within Class 5
Total Score: 56

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Volkswagen Touareg includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Volkswagen Touareg .

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Battery: The battery can go dead because the navigation system is kept awake by RDS (radio data system) signals, requiring reprogramming of the navigation system. (2004-05)

Battery: The battery may become discharged and/or the key may not come out of the ignition lock due to a bad battery ground connection under the driver's seat. (2004-05)

Door handles: The inside door handles may stop returning when released requiring installation of a clip on the cable inside the door. (2004-07)

Electrical problem: The PRNDS indicator light may come on due to a problem in the wiring harness. (2005-07)

Information stickers/paperwork: A step was left out of the owner's manual for the emergency ignition key release: The parking brake must be applied. (2004)

None: Vehicle may crow-hop (wheels binding or scrubbing) on low-speed turns and ESP light may come on requiring reprogramming the differential control module. (2004-06)

Suspension problems: The vehicle may sag after sitting because the residual air valve for the suspension become corroded and an revised valve is available. (2004-07)

Transmission problems: Harsh downshifts from 5-4 coming off the highway and/or delayed engagement in heavy traffic as slow speeds, requires flashing the transmission control module. (2004)

Wipers: Wipers go to full speed despite the amount of rain due to malfunction of the rain sensor. (2006-07)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.
Item Name Repair Cost
A/C Compressor $750
Alternator $920
Automatic Transmission or Transaxle $3,100
Brakes $890
Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing
Constant Velocity Joints $3,100
Exhaust System $850
Radiator $1,340
Shocks and/or Struts $7,400
Timing Chain or Belt $1,340
Our price chart for this generation Volkswagen Touareg details a range of prices in year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Prices Good Average Poor
2007
Touareg V10 TDI $46,000-49,000 $43,200-46,100 $34,000-36,300
Touareg V6 $26,800-29,000 $24,900-27,000 $18,000-19,400
Touareg V8 $30,000-32,500 $27,900-30,200 $21,000-22,800
2006
Touareg V10 TDI $40,000-42,500 $37,200-39,500 $28,800-30,600
Touareg V6 $22,800-24,800 $21,000-22,800 $14,800-16,100
Touareg V8 $25,500-27,500 $23,700-25,600 $16,800-18,200
2005
Touareg V10 TDI $34,500-37,000 $32,100-34,400 $24,500-26,300
Touareg V6 $20,000-21,500 $18,400-19,800 $13,000-14,000
Touareg V8 $22,000-23,500 $20,200-21,600 $14,300-15,300
2004
Touareg V10 TDI $30,000-32,000 $27,900-29,800 $21,000-22,400
Touareg V6 $18,000-19,500 $16,600-17,900 $11,500-12,500
Touareg V8 $19,500-21,000 $17,900-19,300 $12,700-13,700
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.
Specs for this generation Volkswagen Touareg include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification 4-door wagon
Wheelbase, in. 112.4
Overall Length, in. 187.2
Overall Width, in. 75.9
Overall Height, in. 68.0
Curb Weight, lbs. 5086
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 71.0
Standard Payload, lbs. --
Fuel Capacity, gals. 26.4
Seating Capacity 5
Front Head Room, in. 38.7
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 41.3
Rear Head Room, in. 38.3
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 35.6

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

Initially, two powertrains were available in Touaregs: a 220-horsepower 3.2-liter V6 engine, or a 310-horsepower 4.2-liter V8. Both engines team with a six-speed automatic transmission. The V6 jumped to 240 horsepower for 2006. During 2004, Volkswagen launched a Touareg with a turbodiesel V10 engine. The V6 model gets 276 hp for '07, an increase of 36 hp.
Engines Size liters /
cu. in		 Horse- power Torque Transmission:
EPA city/hgwy		 Consumer Guide Observed
dohc V6 3.2 / 195 230-276 227 6-speed automatic: 16/21 6-speed automatic: 13.8
Turbodiesel ohc V10 4.9 / 300 310 553 6-speed automatic: 17/23 6-speed automatic: --
dohc V8 4.2 / 252 310 302 6-speed automatic: 14/18 6-speed automatic: 13.1

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Built In:  Austria
Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/all-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Volkswagen Touareg include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test 2005 Touareg
Front Impact, Driver 4
Front Impact, Passenger 4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 2003-2007 Volkswagen Touareg directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.

NHTSA Recall History

2004 Touareg: Rear seatbelt latch attachment bolt may have been insufficiently riveted, and belt could fail to restrain occupant properly.
2004 Touareg: Tire pressure monitor's wiring harness may have been improperly routed, which could result in inoperative monitor and possible short circuit.
2004-05 Touareg: In a crash, child restraints may not be properly secured, increasing risk of injury or death.

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