2017 Volkswagen Touareg

While Volkswagen is synonymous with producing high-quality vehicle backed by European looks that are often a cut above the competition, they’ve always been considered near-luxury vehicles, and not true luxury cars. Still, near luxury is nothing to scoff at given Volkswagen shares its stables with the likes of Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi, and Bugatti.

But if there’s a Volkswagen that’s worthy of true luxury vehicle status, it’s the Touareg. Sharing its platform and underpinnings with the Porsche Cayenne, VW’s largest sport utility vehicle has plenty of high-class pedigree. Slip behind the wheel and you’ll find a comfortable ride, confident handling and the sort of build quality you’d expect from a true luxury vehicle. Reclining rear seats with available side blinds are sure to please rear passengers while the plush carpeted cargo bay is wide, deep, and tall thanks to the Touareg’s upright profile.

For 2017, the Touareg carries on without much by way of change – just a shuffle in equipment and trim levels.

The base Sportline trim now receives VW’s KESSY proximity key and push-button start as standard.

The mid-grade Highline has been discontinued. Taking its place is the Wolfsburg Edition, which in all actuality contains similar levels of equipment. You’ll find special 20-inch alloy wheels, 14-way power adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, two-tone leather upholstery with contrast stitching, panoramic sunroof, radar cruise control, emergency autonomous braking, heated rear seats and steering wheel and more. It basically covers all the features anyone could possibly want at a fairly reasonable price.

The range-topping Execline gets restyled 20-inch wheels, too, and the advanced safety technology equipment formerly included as a part of the Technology Package now comes standard.

Other changes include a new auto-hold function for the electronic parking brake, a thumping 620-watt 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system (optional on the Sportline, standard on all others), plus a new colour: Malbec red.

Motivating the Touareg is a 3.6-litre narrow-angle V6 engine that develops 280 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, which is slightly above what rivals in the class generate. It’s paired to a smooth eight-speed automatic and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system. With its sturdy frame, the Touareg is capable of towing over 7,700 lbs – a figure more in line with full-size half-ton pickups than a midsize SUV.

While the Touareg has the gear and the equipment to qualify as a genuine luxury vehicle, tech-savvy individuals should note that the Touareg is one of the last remaining Volkswagens to not feature the new App Link system which offers iPhone and Android Auto compatibility. On the plus side, the display is large, crisp, and easy to navigate, and a 360-degree parking camera is available on the Execline.