Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI: It Exists

Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI: It Exists

In light of my recent piece about European-market diesels, I’d like to highlight one of my favorite diesel cars in recent memory. And that car is: the Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI.

The Touareg V10 TDI debuted for the 2005 model year, and – like so many cars in this segment – it answered a question that no one really asked. That question was: Why isn’t there a Volkswagen that tows like a heavy-duty pickup?

Here were the particulars: 313 horsepower, which doesn’t really seem very muscular compared to the Touareg V8. 553 pound-feet of torque, which doesn’t really seem very muscular compared to a midsize ocean liner. And unfortunately, a sticker price of $59,500, which doesn’t seem very reasonable compared to anything. By comparison, the 2005 Touareg V8 started at $45,000.

For so many reasons, the Touareg V10 TDI didn’t sell well in the States. The fact that no one needs it. The fact that no stump-pulling diesel buyer is also a VW crossover buyer. The fact that people knew from day one that it would treat the dealership service department as a second home starting the day the warranty expired. The cost to buy. Our unfamiliarity with diesels.

VW ditched the Touareg V10 TDI after the 2007 model year and replaced it with a normal, fuel efficient V6 turbodiesel that a few people actually bought. But the next time you see a pre-facelift, first-gen Touareg, look close: it might be the one that can pull your house down the street.

8 Responses to “ “Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI: It Exists”

  1. Walt says:

    Hmm seems like it might be a good Carmax pick up (of course with the extended warranty).

  2. Kyle says:

    In 2006 I lived in an apartment in Sacramento, and one of the other tenants drove one of these. I just assumed that the cost of owning and servicing this beast relegated them to modest living conditions.

  3. Ltd783 says:

    I still check the back of every first gen Touareg to see if it’s one of these. So far, 1 sighting ever, in a small town in OK with no VW dealer. Either very, very brave, or they own stock in a local towing company.

  4. Patrikman says:

    There is one locally, and it has a tuner badge of some sort on it. Quite interesting to see it on occasion, most people have never seen the vid where it pulls a 747.

  5. CamaroCrazy says:

    I saw one of these once in Savannah, Georgia about 3 years ago. I took a long look at it because I knew it was probably the only one on the East Coast! I’d love to drive one. Were the fuel economy figures decent?

  6. HEADLAU5 says:

    I drove a V10 when I worked at VW a few years ago. It was extremely fun to drive. After driving a V8 through an ice storm and in good weather over 120 mph I have nothing but love for them. I am a bit confused about the crossover comment. I would never lump them into that terrible group.

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