As the popularity of SUVs continues to grow, it seems that much of the original rugged off-road personality these models were known for has been bred out of the segment in favour of on-pavement comfort and drivability. Among luxury SUVs, that shift seems even more evident. The Volkswagen Touareg was one of the sport-utilities to cling to those off-road roots, but it's recently made the shift toward the everyday. It's hard to argue with the results, though. The first-generation Touareg was a capable model known for its high-class interior, off-road ability, and respectable towing capacity. But it was also heavy and knew little when it came to fuel economy. The current Volkswagen Touareg, which was first launched as the 2011 model, lacks off-road chops but is otherwise a superior SUV that's more in line with what consumers want from their modern SUV. The second generation model was recently updated to feature a more prominent face, more efficient engines, and a more luxurious interior.
The updated Volkswagen Touareg will be sold as a 2015 model. The front-end design of the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is completely redeveloped. Especially distinctive are the headlights which are now larger; moreover, bi-xenon headlights are now standard on all versions of the Touareg. The trapezoid-shaped lights create a line towards the re-designed radiator grille in the middle of the SUV. In contrast to the previous model, the grille is trimmed with four transverse chrome fins instead of two. From the sides, the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is distinguished by two new wheel designs. The 18-inch wheel of the new model generation is the "Arica" alloy wheel whose distinctive and sporty look includes ten spokes. The 20-inch "Masafi" alloy wheels, on the other hand, have five twin spokes. From the rear, the more precise styling of the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is marked by its new, cleanly designed bumper, which - similar to the same area at the front end - emphasises the width of the SUV.
Integrated between the exhaust tailpipes is a diffuser that has also been redesigned. The LED rear fog lights are now located on the bumper, and also integrate the rear reflectors. The all-wheel drive 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is available as a model with a turbo diesel (V6 and V8 TDI), petrol (V6 and V8 FSI), and turbocharged petrol (V6 TSI). The petrol engines produce 213 kW / 285 hp, 235 kW / 315 hp for V6 TSI and while the V8 TSI churns out 265 kW / 355 hp. The TDI engines produce 150 kW / 201 hp, 190 kW / 254 hp and 250 kW / 335 hp. All engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. All engines have a stop-start system as standard. All 2015 Volkswagen Touareg have the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system and an off-road driving programme that is operated via a two-stage rotary switch. The system configures the ABS, EDS, and ASR systems for off-road use and activates hill climb assist and gearshift points of the automatic gearbox. The interior of the 2015 Volkswagen Touareg reflects an extraordinary alliance of rugged SUV elements and sophisticated premium-class elements. Also conspicuous is the white - rather than red - illumination of all controls. There are also chrome accents around the control panel modules and the running gear adjustment controls. A line-up of upholstery materials and wood accents are available for better interior customization. The interior is now more functional, the seats more comfortable and leg room in the rear is larger. The rear bench seat has 160 millimetres in longitudinal adjustment, and the backrest angle can be adjusted. The rear seats fold down in seconds to free up 1,642 litres of cargo space. Already standard equipment in the base version is a radio-CD and info system, which is intuitively controlled over a 6.5-inch touch-screen. The 2015 Volkswagen Touareg is now a more luxurious and striking SUV. Fuel economy has greatly improved and the list of standard features has been increased.
I know I'm not the first person to make this argument鈥攑eople have been saying the same thing since the Cayenne arrived on the scene in 2002 and quickly proved to be a hit. But, I think it bears repeating. What's a little less obvious is how the Macan injects Porsche values into what is, ultimately, a very mainstream car. You get the great steering, rock-solid brake-pedal feel, sharp chassis tuning, and best-in-class build quality that made us fall in love with Porsche in the first place. Porsche would probably sell a boatload of Macans even if it drove like every other luxury crossover. The fact that it doesn't means that the engineers and designers behind recognize and value of what made Porsche great. Driving the 2019 Macan was instructive鈥攏ot because the car is mind-blowing in any particular way, rather, because it was a reminder of how important this little SUV is. And for keeping the things we love about Porsche alive, it deserves our respect.
The rear has eye-catching LED tail-lamps running almost the whole width of the bootlid. Inside, the dash is modern and clutter free, while the 8.7-inch R-Link 2 Infotainment screen (an optional extra) groups together the sat-nav, driving modes and stereo controls in one clear display. It鈥檚 behind the wheel where the Megane is most attractive though as even a short drive is enough to know the Renault engineers have focused on comfort and refinement. The car rides well, noise levels are low and the range of engines offer impressive power delivery - although lower-powered models can feel a little lethargic at lower revs. All in all the Megane is an impressive addition to this list and definitely worth considering. The Honda Civic has a history as long as the VW Golf, and over that time it has grown from a supermini to a full-size hatch. The latest model is the tenth generation, and it features arguably the most radical looks yet, and that's saying something after the space age Mk8. There's almost a coupe-like profile to the car, while the angular panels mean the Civic still stands alone in the hatch class with its unique looks.
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