| First Drive | Florence, Italy | 2010 VW Touareg |

Seven years ago VW entered the SUV market with the Touareg - developed in conjunction with Porsche's rather more controversial Cayenne - to challenge the established luxury 4x4 offerings. The same route has been taken for the second generation model, but notable efficiency gains were the target this time around. Hence VW is proud of a massive 200kg cut in weight, which, along with a new range of engines, has lead to a claimed 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption. On top of all that there's a hybrid model available from launch.

In the Metal

Technically the new Touareg is a substantial facelift rather than an all-new car and from some angles that's more obvious than others. The redesigned nose makes the biggest impression and the Touareg wears VW's latest horizontal grille design well. The headlights are jewel-like too, giving the SUV a thoroughly contemporary look. The length has been extended by 40mm and the fact that all of this growth is between the wheels indicates that there should be a little more room inside.

In fact, the new interior is probably the most successful aspect of the update. Along with more space, the rear seats now slide and tilt so you can choose between maximum legroom and maximum luggage space. It's the quality and tactility of the cockpit that impresses most though. Gone is the large flat expanse of big buttons; instead the centre console design has been simplified and it's much more pleasant to look at and use. That statement comes with a 'but', in that it will take an owner a while to learn the intricacies of the detailed menu system that shows up on a large colour screen between the rev counter and the speedometer.

What you get for your Money

In this part of the world the range will be divided up into SE, Altitude, Hybrid and Escape. VW has been pretty generous with standard equipment, with even the entry-level SE featuring 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control, heated seats and touch-screen satnav. Altitude and Hybrid versions are loaded with kit, while the Escape has a significant number of enhancements for buyers serious about taking their Touareg off-road.

The mainstay of the line-up will be a 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine producing 237bhp and 405lb.ft. Combined economy is 38.1mpg, with CO₂ emissions rated at 195g/km. Replacing the tremendous V10 TDI model of old is a new 4.2-litre V8 TDI option. It boasts 335bhp and 590lb.ft of torque. The price for those figures is 31mpg on the combined cycle and 239g/km.

The Hybrid model is of particular interest, as it's the first VW has produced. It is actually the highest performing Touareg thanks to its combination of a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine and an electric motor. Maximum system output is quoted as 375bhp and 428lb.ft. Its 0-62mph time of just 6.5 seconds is significant, yet it also manages 34.4mpg on the combined cycle and has the lowest emissions figure in the range with 193g/km.

Prices start at about £35,000 while the Hybrid and 4.2 V8 TDI Altitude top the range at £55,000 and £56,000 respectively. A cheaper version of the 3.0 TDI model will become available later this year with 201bhp for about £30,000.

Driving it

We tried four distinct versions of the Touareg at the launch, with a short off-road course tackled in the Escape model and a series of mixed on-road routes following in the 3.0 TDI, 4.2 TDI and the Hybrid.

First up, the Escape version had no trouble with the relatively easy obstacles presented to it. The low range transmission made fine throttle control possible, while the all-round camera view helped avoid expensive scrapes. However, we suspect that few British buyers will opt for this model, as the regular Touaregs should handle a decent amount of rough stuff anyway.

The addition of a hybrid model to the range was big news, and the bare figures make interesting reading. Along with the lowest emissions in the range, this model is the fastest in a straight line. We had high hopes for it. Yet it disappointed. Virtually the same 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine employed in the latest Audi S5 Cabriolet is paired with an electric motor. However, in this installation the engine note is completely uninspiring and though it's obviously a rapid SUV, higher revs are required than in the diesels, which makes it feel strained. Additionally, the cutting in and out of the engine while on the move, while to the benefit of economy and emissions, is just plain odd. We'd like to spend a little more time with this car before making a final judgement, but first impressions suggest you're better off with one of the diesel options in terms of driving enjoyment.

We expected to love the V8 TDI model and then have to turn around and admit that the 3.0 V6 TDI makes much more sense, but the former didn't blow us away at all. Sure, it can claim to be quicker and it does sound fabulous, but the more time we spent with the entry-level engine the more we realised that it's by far the best option. It really suits the Touareg and time on the road indicated that the best-seller could also be the most impressive car in the range. Response to the throttle is quick and the engine's output is well-matched to the eight-speed automatic's ratios. You can choose a Sport mode for the new transmission if you like, while three settings are available for the damping.

All models corner confidently while absorbing surface imperfections. Body roll is noticeable by its absence, the brakes are strong and feelsome and the steering, while a little long-winded, offers up some information on what is going on at road level. It's an effective cross-country car with commendable stability and composure under duress, yet it'll happily sit on the motorway all day long.

Worth Noting

While it's obvious we're not gushing with praise for the new Hybrid model, it contains a massive amount of technology in the pursuit of reducing fuel consumption. It has the ability to run purely on battery power at speeds up to 31mph (50km/h) for a start. VW opted for a system that allows the engine and motor to be completely decoupled, which is apparently much more expensive, but also of huge benefit in terms of economy. The Touareg is only the tip of the hybrid and electric iceberg for VW, with hybrid versions of the Jetta, Golf and Passat due on sale within four years, and electric variants not long after, beginning with the Up city car.

Summary

You can consider the VW Touareg to be far more than a mere facelift. Its interior has been substantially improved, while buyers have a choice of fresh powertrain options. Having sampled them all, our initial findings suggest that it's the basic 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine that's the pick of the line-up. While it's not a cheap car, the equipment count is generous and the price compares favourably with the best of the luxury SUVs. Job's a good 'un for another seven years we reckon.