Volkswagen family heritage is clearly evident in the Touareg, from the face of lights and split-frame grille that mirrors Eos and Passat to the large chrome circular logos.

The 112-inch wheelbase permits good occupant space and an overall length of less than 16 feet keeps the wheels near the corners. This creates both a muscular stance, with the glass areas rising out of strong shoulders, and maintains the approach and departure angles and clearance necessary for real 4WD use. Unlike virtually every other 4WD SUV and pickup, the Touareg's approach and departure angles are identical, meaning that regardless of which direction you encounter an obstacle, if the leading edge clears it so will the trailing edge. Large wheelwells do not have tacked on fender flares, instead using gracefully curved sheetmetal to house the large wheels and tires.

Touareg is essentially void of superfluous trim. The strip along the lower doors minimizes paint damage, a chrome strip protects the top of the rear bumper, and the signal mirrors transmit intentions to vehicles alongside. Finally, taillights are easy to see and cleanly integrated to avoid being subject to damage on tight trails or crowded market lots.

The entire structure is quite stiff. With a Touareg balanced on just two opposite corner wheels, the hood, hatch, and doors can all be opened and closed with no more than normal effort, an unusual feat. Even the glass section of the hatch, which opens separately and self-latches into the main hatch when it is lifted, is accessible.

While the Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Audi Q7 share some development background, the differences are so significant they can hardly be labeled competitors. The Q7, which uses the same engines and transmission as a Touareg, shares fewer than 15 percent of its parts with Touareg.

Interior

Opening a Touareg door makes a good first impression, as the door itself conveys that feeling of pinpoint-balanced heft and quality and the cabin only reinforces the notion. Few things here appear little or lightweight, from the big T-handle shifter in a wide console to the fairly large steering wheel suitable for a long-distance cruising yacht.

Materials appear first-rate as does assembly; even after days of trail twisting and pavement pounding we heard no squeaks, rattles or wind whistles. The VR6's V-tex upholstery makes a fair rendition of synthetic leather. Genuine leather comes with the Luxury and Lux Limited packages; it's called Cricket though it chirps and squeaks only if you're wearing leather as well. Even the lower door panels are done in soft-touch material. Dull hard plastic is very hard to find in this car. Leather wrappers for steering wheel and shifter are standard. With leather upholstery also come leather door pulls and very comfortable armrests. Silver-tinted trim is standard but all the aluminum accents pieces are real aluminum, and all models now feature some real walnut panels on the dash and console as well.

With a wide range of power adjustment, seat heaters and a big padded headrest, it's easy to sit for hours yet not restrained, so you can put your head out the window to see exactly where the near-side rocks and obstacles are or where your toll coin landed.

Rear seats are fixed at a good backrest angle balancing comfort and vision, and outboard riders enjoy big, cushy headrests and adjustable height shoulder belts just as front riders do.

Storage units are average in number and include a few useful touches. The bins at dash top center are deeper than average, and will not eject contents at quick starts or on steep climbs. With the Luxury Packages the center armrest slides fore-and-aft, has two stowage compartments, and the lid is articulated so it doesn't flip back and pinch a center rear rider's knees.

Apart from always-on headlights/daytime running lamps that will bring bugs with you to camp, the Touareg gives the driver full control choices. Air suspension, where fitted, and the four-wheel-drive system are switched by rotary dials behind the shifter, with Park Assist defeat, ESP, and seat heaters ahead of it. Climate control can be full automatic, or to any combination of outlet vents you choose. The transmission has two automatic shift modes, plus manual mode if you prefer to time your own. Column stalk controls are typical in layout, including the rear wiper, and fuel door and hatch releases are lift-up buttons near the door map pocket that are impossible to trigger accidentally.

The dominant tachometer and speedometer, and smaller numbered ancillary gauges that include both coolant and oil temperature (a better indicator of how hard the engine is working) all have flat faces with anti-reflective coating. Digital displays show miles/trip to right and time/date to left, with a redundant clock over the mirror where everyone can see it.

The Touareg's latest navigation system uses a touch-screen, and it works very well in any map view. While the systems in some other German brands have recently been upgraded for more intuitive operation also, the Touareg's is still very competitive. Night drives reveal excellent illumination of all instruments and switchgear.

Big outside mirrors provide generous views both near and far, yet are low enough relative to the seating position the driver can look over them rather than having to peer around them. Wiper and washer coverage is excellent at each end, there's plenty of glass area to avoid claustrophobia or blind spots, xenon headlamps follow the road supplanted by cornering lights and fog lamps for wide-angle lower speeds.

Accessed by full hatch or just the glass upper section, the cargo space features flat sides and floor for easy loading and a chrome skid-guard at the aft edge for sliding heavy or rough items in and out. Volume amounts to 31 cubic feet, not best-in-class but better than many and it's well-configured space: The split rear seat folds, the cushion tilts forward, the backrest down, for 71 cubic feet. But you have to remove the outboard headrests first. Four tie-down points secure the cargo. A partition for larger objects or pets is available. The cover is nice and high with 21 inches of space below it, there are two 12-volt and one 115-volt power points up high, lights are both sides of the opening, and you do not have to lie in the mud or snow to secure a flat tire underneath.