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VW Adds Touareg TDI to Clean-Diesel Lineup
Jun 18 2009 by Sherrice Gilsbach
Volkswagen is adding the 2010 Touareg V6 TDI to its clean-diesel lineup. Clean-diesel cars produce about 25 percent less greenhouse gases than their gas-engine counterparts.
I’ve driven both the gas-engine Touareg and the Touareg V6 TDI, and I can honestly say I didn’t notice a difference in drivability between the two models. The new Touareg V6 TDI is swift and handles well without any added diesel noise or odor.
By the way, the odor associated with older diesel cars was caused by sulfur in the fuel. Today 97 percent of the sulfur has been removed from the ultra-low sulfur fuel, which was introduced to the U.S. in 2006.
The Touareg V6 TDI reduces the car’s nitrogen-oxide exhaust emissions by up to 90 percent. According to VW, the Touareg V6 TDI’s exhaust is actually cleaner than the air the car breathed in. In theory, the combination of the high-tech diesel engine partnered with its exhaust system allows the Touareg V6 TDI to work as not only a transportation device but also a mobile air purification system. Well, I might be stretching the facts a bit.
While driving the Touareg V6 TDI on the highways and curvy country roads of Virginia, I was never able to achieve its EPA-estimated highway mileage number of 25 mpg, however, I came really close with 24.6 mpg. Admittedly, I wasn’t thrilled with this number because I kept thinking VW could have done better with its mileage numbers. The Touareg V6 TDI gets an estimated 17/25 mpg city/highway.
Even if you don’t hit 25 mpg on the highway, you will get a break from the gas pump. The Touareg V6 TDI can hold 26.4 gallons of fuel. With that kind of camel-like storage, the Touareg TDI could get more than 600 miles on one tank of diesel, which means fewer trips to the gas station. Calculator in hand, I entered my average weekly mileage and realized that one tank of diesel in the Touareg TDI could carry my family for two weeks and maybe even into three. Now I’m intrigued.
To make fewer stops at the gas station in the Touareg TDI, it’ll cost $3,500 more than the base Touareg. The Touareg TDI’s MSRP is $42,800 while the gasoline-powered Touareg VR6 FSI has an MSRP of $39,300. The 2010 Touareg V6 TDI qualifies for a $1,150 federal tax credit. Now if I could just figure out how to get my kids to store their fuel as efficiently, the family road trip might just be reinstated!
User Comments
This SUV is my favorite, terrific ride (TDI) get up and go and gas mileage beyond what its rated. I think I get 30 or 31 mpg on the highway..not sure why its rated at 25..but maybe thats pulling a boat or something..sound system is great very solid vehicle my favorite of the past 20 years..and maintenance is included in first 3 years.
Terrible article.
Did you get close to the EPA mileage inthe V6 or V8 engine. Doubt it.
Mileage could be better with the European 5 cylinder diesel, 30mpg, but Americans are obsessed with o to 60 times.
Still, a diesel is probably the best option for SUVs.
The author failed to mention that diesel is cheaper than gasoline. at least right now, but probably in the future as oil companies spend billions to produce more diesel for the US.
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