A hybrid SUV is a dream come true for consumer markets where fuel is the next most expensive thing to caviar. In the Gulf region however, fuel tends to be cheaper than water, so hybrids have just about as much appeal as lightbulbs.
Precisely why we were surprised when offered the chance to drive a Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid "for research" purposes. Curiosity did get the better of us and we somehow ended up in the Audi Volkswagen Middle East parking lot. Apparently we are one of the "exclusive" journalists to test this version out, as it's meant for international markets only, not for Middle East where nobody gives a fiddler's fart to oily terms like "fuel consumption".
Drive
In terms of handling the Tourareg leaves little to be desired, the drive is smooth, incredibly responsive and it feels both sporty and grippy. The V6 has great acceleration, although a somewhat lazy feel to it, as with most European SUV's. It needs a firm push to the pedal to get going but once it does you feel the V6 power rush in. It's one of the most high tech SUVs there's ever been and it shows. It's the world's first SUV with an 8-speed automatic transmission and also the first car to feature bi-xenon headlights with Dynamic Light Assist. They're camera based and are able to detect traffic ahead of you, so they dim automatically - allowing you to focus on your driving whilst the headlights monitor their own brightness and height giving you maximum visibility. Intelligent.
All that is hunky and dory but the real question is: Being a Hybrid, how fuel efficient is this car? Well, the hybrid engine is designed to consume fuel in the short term while the battery gets charged. As the drive goes on, reliance on the battery increases and petrol consumption reduces in tandem. Which means, if you're doing a short trip to the supermarket, you'll consume fuel. If you're going to Abu Dhabi, you'll get battery powered bliss. So, on longer journeys (powered by battery), there is no fuel consumption whatsoever. Short trips do consume fuel, mind you, not very economical, around 20L/ 100KM so it's not the best choice for the school run, but is an excellent option if you tend to take longer trips.
When Volkswagen claims it's the most technologically advanced SUV ever, they have no trouble backing it up. There's a whole host of features to assist you and keep your drive as safe as possible. One of the key features is the Adaptive Cruise Control. Unlike previous versions of the cruise control feature it's intuitive enough to use in all sorts of driving conditions. It detects the distance between your vehicle and the one in front and both accelerates and brakes to maintain a safe stopping distance. This also works particularly well with the stop and go feature in traffic jams as it's able to do the short shuffles along so that you don't have to. The different Drive Assist packages in the Tourareg are all able to work together, so the ACC feeds into the front assist package, which in turn helps to notify lane assist. It's a whole new driving experience that's safer and smoother than ever before, with the Touareg doing much of the leg work and being prepared for the worst.
Interior
Internally the new Tourareg is lush, comfortable and features a premium finish. Despite being made more aerodynamic it now offers an excellent 1642 litres of cargo space, making it quite practical for any family. It also offers a more comfortable ride in the back as leg room has been extended by 41 millimetres. There's also the option to unlatch the back seats and fold them down, so it really can be whatever you need it to. Typical Volkswagen quality entertainment options are built in, so you've got everything you need at your fingertips - despite the audio controls on the steering wheel feeling somewhat unintuitive, something that might take a bit of getting used to. Safety features are top notch keeping with high European standard requirements.
Verdict
Overall the Tourareg Hybrid really depends on your requirements. You can make the most of it's Hybrid quality if you intend to have long trips. For short trips, this is more like a high end SUV, taking a bit more fuel compared to some other SUV's in it's class. It does distinguish itself due to high quality interior finish, making it a solid contender for families.
