Comfort/Involvement Index: 2012 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

Variety: *

Controls: **

Drivetrain: *

Handling: *

Character: *

Involvement Notes: Due to its size, it’s obviously not meant to provide much in terms of sportiness. That doesn’t mean it is totally boring. A blown V-6 and torquey electric motor make the Touareg Hybrid shockingly quick for a large SUV, especially off the line. Still, the drivetrain doesn’t offer much sonically, particularly in low-rev cruising. This might be a valuable trait for its potential customers, but it doesn’t help the involvement score at all.

The Touareg is a typical VW otherwise, with a comfy but sporty suspension. Feedback is lacking, both from the wheel and through the seat-of-the-pants, which limits the Touareg’s score. Its isolated driving dynamics and, again, its general heft keep it from breaching the 70-point mark in our Involvement Index.

Visibility: **

Space/Seating: ***

Ride/Handling: **

Acoustics: *

Controls: **

Comfort Notes: The Touareg offers a decent ride and a good amount of room. The hybrid powertrain gives it quieter performance and some added smoothness, which is definitely part of the Hybrid’s charm. Still, the ride heaves a little too much over bumps, and there’s a shortage of luxury items on anything but the top-end model. This last bit is problematic, as this is an expensive vehicle to begin with. Other cars at this price will offer more content.