Volkswagen attacks the 2003 luxury market in earnest with a two-pronged strategy: the Phaeton sedan in the super-luxury segment and the Touareg sport/utility in the luxury SUV marketplace.

Co-developed with Porsche to save investment costs, the Volkswagen Touareg shares the Porsche Cayenne's basic platform and structure, but little else. The name stems from the African Sahara, where it means "knights of the desert," and is used to identify a people known for their traditions and ability to adapt to difficult conditions. It is sized to be a smidge longer and a skosh wider than a BMW X5.

While Volkswagen may change the name for the vehicle's launch in the United States, the hardware will remain the same as its European counterpart. A unibody crossover SUV, the Touareg sports permanent four-wheel-drive system comprised of a transfer case, multi-plate clutch and three locking differentials. Though the hardware sounds serious, the Touareg is designed to perform as well on the road as it does off, where the majority of owners are likely to drive. Still, up to 100 percent of the engine's power can be transferred to an individual axle if the need arises.

Two engines are likely to be available when the Touareg arrives stateside. Standard will be a 230-horsepower 3.2-liter V6, while the same 300-horse 4.2-liter V8 found in the Audi A6 and A8 will be available under the truck's aluminum hood.

Underpinning the new VW SUV will be a driver-selectable, fully pneumatic, double-wishbone suspension with continuous damping control and a feature that automatically lowers the truck closer to the ground as speeds increase. Volkswagen went to great lengths to keep noise, vibration and harshness from irritating occupants. For example, the front sub-frame uses special noise insulation to help keep the cabin serene.

Inside the Touareg there is room for five adults in a luxuriously outfitted atmosphere. Front passengers get multi-adjustable seats, while those in the rear benefit from a three-zone climate control system that lets them set their own temperature. The airbag system is comprehensive, including front, side and curtain airbags for maximum protection. Active head restraints further keep front seat occupants from getting hurt.

Other notable technologies that will appear on the Touareg include ABS with hydraulic brake assist (HBA), electronic stability programming (ESP), and engine braking control (EBC).

The Touareg is set to debut at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, and should arrive in U.S. showrooms in the middle of the 2003 calendar year.

2004 Highlights

The five-passenger Touareg is an all-new midsize SUV from Volkswagen. Designed to provide both excellent handling on pavement and a high level of off-road ability, the Touareg, despite its unibody design, is a real SUV, not a soft-roader. Alongside that, buyers can look forward to beautifully furnished cabins equipped with plenty of standard convenience and safety features.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.4593 reviews

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5(66%)

4(15%)

3(13%)

2(5%)

1(1%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

Where are you guys shopping at?!

Diana,01/30/2016

I bought this car used at 100,000 had it for over 2 years. I've had absolutely no issues. I've had my breaks changed and tires and it didn't break the bank. Word to the wise make friends with someone who is familiar with these cars. My mechanic changes my breaks for under $100 [i purchased the brakes] my tires are 20" run me $123 a piece cash! Shop around and you won't spend so much the

Been a great car for us

VW Fan,08/22/2010

The car has the amenities of a luxury car, handles like a sports car, has the power of a muscle car, all with great off road capabilities. 100K+ miles and has never left us stranded. The body style doesn't show its age and still turns heads on the road. We live in the country and it has survived the gravel roads as an everyday driver for my wife. Its great for travel (other than the

Almost Bought the Porshe!

Mumbo,01/03/2007

I would never believe a VW could be this nice without driving it. We drove all of the models in this price range. The Benz was a true let down. The Japanese cars are too plastic and too dated looking two years later. The VW Touareg is truly amazing. I have been a Benz owner for 20 year, this reminds me of when Benz was a true high end vehicle builder.

Love the vehicle - hate the repair bills.

farwest,04/04/2012

Wife uses this as a daily driver to work - 20 mile round trip - almost all highway miles. But is horribly expensive to maintain. $700 for heater blower motor (in California - so hardly ever used). $2800 for timing belt at 60K miles. Just got quoted $3500 to replace the [non-permissible content removed] alternator (have to lower the friggin engine to do it). As much as I like the

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Features & Specs

MPG

13 city / 19 hwy

Seats 5

6-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

220 hp @ 5400 rpm

MPG

12 city / 17 hwy

Seats 5

6-speed shiftable automatic

Gas

310 hp @ 6200 rpm

MPG

15 city / 22 hwy

Seats 5

6-speed shiftable automatic

Diesel

310 hp @ 3750 rpm

See all Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

More about the 2004 Volkswagen Touareg

Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg Overview

The Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg is offered in the following submodels: Touareg SUV, Touareg Diesel. Available styles include V6 AWD 4dr SUV (3.2L 6cyl 6A), V8 AWD 4dr SUV (4.2L 8cyl 6A), and V10 TDI AWD 4dr SUV (4.9L 10cyl Turbodiesel 6A).

What's a good price on a Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg?

Price comparisons for Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg trim styles:

The Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg V6 is priced between $4,750 and$4,750 with odometer readings between 122569 and122569 miles.
The Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg V8 is priced between $4,999 and$4,999 with odometer readings between 110429 and110429 miles.

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Which used 2004 Volkswagen Touaregs are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2004 Volkswagen Touareg for sale near. There are currently 2 used and CPO 2004 Touaregs listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $4,750 and mileage as low as 110429 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg. Then select Edmunds special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to $137 on a used or CPO 2004 Touareg available from a dealership near you.

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Should I lease or buy a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 2004 Volkswagen Touareg

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